The Naval History of Civil War

THE NAVAL HISTORY THE

OF

CIVIL

WAR

BY

Admiral DAVID

D.

PORTER,

U. S.

Navy

ILLUSTRATED FEOM ORIGINAL SKETCHES MADE BY REAR-ADMIRAL WALKE AND OTHERS

New York THE SHERMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY

1886

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1885, by

THE SHERMAN PUBLISHING

CO.

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. O.

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BOMBARDMENT AND FALL OF FORT SUMTER. —DESTRUCTION OF THE NORFOLK NAVY YARD BY THE FEDERAL OFFICERS. Gun of the Civil War Fired.— Batteries at Cummings Point.— Capt. McCready's Battery. — Capt. Hamilton's Floating Battery. — Major Anderson. — Sumter Returns the Fire. — Unequal Contest. Tardy Attempts to Relieve Sumter. Indignant People. Anderson's Gallant Fight, and Surrender to the Secessionists. — Effect of the Surrender of Sumter. — Lincoln's Position Toward Virginia. — Gen. Scott and the Virginians.— Commodore McCauley. Secrets of THE Navy Department Made Known by Disloyal Officers. — Conspirators at Work. A Plot to Seize Norfolk Navy Yard. — The Navy Department Powerless. Commodore Paulding Summoned. — Hostile Attitude of the People of Norfolk and Portsmouth. — Vessels at the Norfolk Navy Yard. — Ships that were Historic. — Aggressive Movements of the Confederates. — Commander James Alden.— Chief Engineer Isherwood. Indecision of Commodore McCauley. — The Torch Applied to the Navy Yard and Vessels by the Federal Authorities. — Vessels that were Saved. — The Greatest Misfortune to the Union Cause. The Merrimac, etc., etc.

FiEST

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

AT

hours, ere the South Carolinians would proceed to extremities had they waited until the 15th of April the garrison would have been starved out, and obliged to surrender for want of provisions. But that would not have suited them they wanted to strike a blow that would make separation inevitable, and one that would unite the whole South in the measures then pending to form a Southern Confederacy, or whatever kind

thirty minutes past 4 o'clock, on 12, 1861, the first gun of civil

—

April

war was fired, the battery on James Island discharging the

shell, which fell inblowing up a building; this was almost immediately followed by another shell, which scattered destruction first

howitzer

side Fort Sumter,

around. Fort Moultrie then took up the assault, and in another moment the guns from the gun battery on Cummings Point, from Captain McCready's battery, from Captain James Hamilton's floating battery, the enfilading battery, and every other point where a gun could be brought to bear on Sumter, opened in succession; and the guns poured forth their wrath as if the fort standing out in the bay had been some vengeful foe on which they desired to wreak their vengeance, instead of considering that it had been placed there for their protection against all foreign enemies. It was well understood by all those in that beleagured fort what would be the result of building all those earth-works, and that it was only a matter of a few days or perhaps

;

all

government they might finally drift into. Major Anderson, the Commander of Sumter, received the first shot and shell in of

silence; the batteries at regular intervals continued to belch forth their deadly mis-

no answer was returned by an hour after the firing commenced, then two shots were fired from Sumter and glanced harmlessly from the face of Fort Moultrie. Sumter fired no more until between six and seven o'clock when, as if enraged at the onslaught made upon it and kept up with increasing vigor, it then opened from casemate and parapet a hail of shot and shell on Moultrie, steam siles,

and

still

the besieged, until about

iron battery, fairly (25)

and the

made them

floating battery, that

shake.

This was re-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

36

turned with great vigor by the South Oarolina gunners. There were good soldiers on both sides, men trained to arms and neither to be daunted by a few shot and shell. all

The story

of that

day

is

known

to

who

read history, and it is not necessary to further refer to it, excepting in connection with the naval expedition which was fitted out in the earlier part of April to go to the relief of Sumter, the history of which will appear further on in this narrative. Secretary Welles, with a decision worthy of the occasion, did fit out an expedition for the relief of Sumter, the last vessel of which sailed from New York on the 9th of April, but owing to various reasons did not reach Charleston harbor in time to be of any use, and the attack on the fort commenced soon after the leading vessels showed themselves off the bar. A number of the smaller vessels never arrived at all, and under the circumstances could have been of no use had they arrived twenty-four hours before the attack. The expedition arlived only to see the declaration of war between the North and the South, which was

promulgated by the thunder of cannon and the hissing of the shot and shell, as they carried death

and destruction

to those

who had

been united by the strongest bonds of love and friendship. Those who fi'om the ships witnessed the fiery shells as they crossed each other in the night, knew that this was war that would never cease until one or the other of the contending parties were deprived of the resources to carry it on; war that would oblige the Government to call forth large armies to put down rebellion on the field of battle, and to build and equip large fieets to blockade the insurgent's ports, and bombard the heavy forts the enemy had snatched from the hands of their lawful owners. The men in that fleet of succour to the besieged Sumter knew then that ten times the number of vessels could not have rendered aid to the fort in face of that terrible fire, and that their missions might better have never been undertaken. They started homeward to carry the news to the startled North, but the telegrams far out-traveled them, and as its messages on the wires were announced to an indignant people, there was but one general feeling, namely, to resist the audacity of the insurgents and bring them back to reason, if it took every man in the country to do it. The rebellion was a dreadful thing to inaugurate, to be sure, and those who undertook to bring it about must have been imbued with some other ambition than was apparent, or the desire to escape from a form of governiTient which had so far proved the best j^et known to man there must have been greater inducements to break up this most :

beneficent union than has ever appeared on the face of events. The South was a great oligarchy, holding their millions of slaves, and they aimed to be recognized by the world as a power above the gift of the people. Perhaps the best thing that ever happened to this great country was the firing on Fort Sumter with the guns of Moultrie and other forts. Who can say that we are not a greater nation to-day, with freedom throughout the land, than we were in the days of the errors and follies of the South, and the anger and prejudices of the North, which embittered one against the other, and made the great Council Hall of the nation a place of violence and discord ? All that has been swept away with the fall of slavery, and instead of it has come a union of all the States, more earnest and fraternal than before, with the Southern section of the

country growing more prosperous and more happy under free labor and equal rights for all those who live in the South. In another generation people will likely bless the day when James Island and Moultrie opened their guns on Sumter, and caused to be wiped out that dark blotch on our escutcheon, which the whole world were pointing at and asking us how we could call ourselves a free country while four millions of people were held in bondage. Who knows what we might have been but for that long war, which brought so much sorrow and desolation to so many homes ? Slavery, with its

all

seductive influences, might have led us away, and in the course of a century

our country might have become a land of slaves. Let this

country not forget, then, the men so nobly risked their lives in the cause of freedom, and let them erect monuments to those who died that this union of States might live to be an asylum for all time to come for those who love not despotism, and

who

love liberty.

The Navy had a large share in bringing about the happy results which grew from the war, and many on both sides do not hesitate to say that, but for the Navy the South never would have been brought "back into the

Union— and

yet.

who

is

has taken the trouble to erect a

there that

monument

to the sailors ? As this narrative continues people

will

learn with surprise that the Navv did so much towards putting down the rebellion; yet the author will scarcely flnd time or space to give a fair account of all the Navy did do, and must leave untold many events to be related hereafter by some more graphic historian. As years pass on. people who have been born long after the great War of the Rebellion, will long to know of

OF THE the great battles by land and sea. which took place from 1861 to 1865, and it is to be hoped that by each one contributing his mite, in the course of time a true history will be written. The best of efforts will be made in this history to make it a true if not an interesting one. When President Lincoln entered upon the duties of his office, his position towards differed somewhat from that which he assumed towards the States farther South. It was deemed desirable that

"Virginia

the Administration should do nothing to the sensitive feelings of the Virginians, and General Scott, the General-inChief of our Army, was particularly solicitous that the Government should give the State of Virginia no excuse to secede. There were several reasons for this extra tenderness towards Virginia one of the principal navy yards, filled with Southern officers, was within the limits of the State.

wound

—

CIVIL WAR.

37

Sumter was fired on, the Commandant, with most of those under his

just after

command, including his new signed their

son-in-law, reand left the to take care of it-

commissions

Washington Navy Yard self.

At that very time the secession of Virginia had been resolved upon, which was known to these disloyal officers, although not to the Government; for the action of the Secessionists had been delayed and kept secret, so that the blow would be more decisive and enable the conspirators to seize the public property at Norfolk and elsewhere, to help them carry out their designs. At one time it was even thought doubtful if Washington could be held, as the people at the North, unprepared for such an emergency, were slow in getting troops to the Capitol.

Those who had been plotting against the in the Navy Department, felt

Government

The commanding officer, Commander McCauley, was considered loyal, and had in his day stood high in the service; but he was now old, and at a time when he should have

sure that the Norfolk Yard must fall into the hands of the Secessionists, as everything possible had been prepared for that event.

maintained his self-possession he appears to have completely lost his head.

the

The Secretary of the ISTavy, Mr. Welles, had not yet made himself familiar with the conditions of affairs in his department. His position was a difficult one for a man advanced in years, for tlie duties were complicated, and such as only an expert could be expected to fathom in so short a time.

Mr. Welles was surrounded with officers

and

clerks,

some

of

whose

loyalty

was

doubted, and one bureau of the Department in particular, presided over by an officer of Southern birth and of national reputation, was the headquarters of naval officers who were plotting the downfall of the country to which they owed their position and whatever importance they possessed. It was bad enough for officers to openly desert their flag, but far worse treachery to continue holding positions in order to hamper the Government and betray its secrets. Every official act in the Navy Department was known at once to these plotters, and immediate steps taken to render it abortive. Officers with pleasant faces, but with treason in their hearts, assembled in conclave in the Department to devise plans for the overthrow of the Government. A short time before Fort Sumter was fired upon, the commandant of the Washington Navy Yard gave a large party at his quarters, on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter, to which the President and his cabinet were invited. A number of disloyal naval officers were present, and the house was everywhere festooned with the American flag, even to the bridal bed; yet

They lost no opportunity mind of the Secretary

to impress upon of the Navy the nothing to offend the

importance of doing State of Virginia and give it an excuse for seceding from the Union on the ground of invasion of " State rights;"

which meant

that the Government should exercise no authority over its own property within the limits of a seceding State. The Naval Department at that moment seemed powerless to preserve the public property at Norfolk against the rebel troops then assembling in Virginia. General Scott threw cold water on every attempt to hold the Norfolk Yard, on the ground that he had no troops to spare, as he could not deplete Fortress Monroe, which must be held at all hazards. It seems a pity that the Secretary should not have selected some loyal and energetic officer, placed him in command of a few gunboats and armed tug-boats and sent him to Norfolk with orders to bring all the vessels away, and even put the Commandant under

arrest

A

if

he should interpose any obstacles.

marines would have been overawe all malcontents. These proceedings would not have influenced the secession of Virginia, which was

guard of

sufficient

fifty

to

already decided upon. The Secretary of the Navj^, finding himself unable to cope with the difficulties of the situation, summoned to the Navy Department Commodore Hiram Paulding, a loyal officer, but who was now declining in years and not equal to a position which required not only energy of mind but great bodily vigor. Commodore Paulding broke up the conclave which was in the habit of meeting in the Bureau of Ordnance, for he

THE NA VAL HISTORY

28

these officers were inimical to the government, and he recommended the Secretary of the Navy to change the suspected Chief of Bureaux for another known to be

felt that

loyal.

Frequent accounts reached

Washmgton

of the hostile attitude of the people in Norfolk and Portsmouth towards the government, and their determination that the Navy Department should not remove a ship or a gun from the station. Large bodies of troops were reported moving towards Norfolk to enforce this decision. In fact, Norfolk, which had for many years lived on the bounty of the government and flourished by the appropriations for the support of the Navy Yard, was now the very hot-

bed of secession.

The steam frigate " Merrimac," of 40 guns, the same vessel which, after being converted into an ironclad by the rebels, made such havoc among our ships at Hampton Roads; the sloop of war. "Germantown," 32 guns sloop of war, " Plymouth," All brig, " Dolphin," 4 guns. 22 guns these could have been prepared for sea in a short time. There were also the following named old ships which were of no great use, but they had been associated with the history of the Navy and were dear to the country. These were the "Pennsylvania," "United States," "Raritan," "Delaware," "Columbus," _

;

;

and "Columbia." There was also an unfinished ship-of-the line, the "New York," in one of the ship houses.

The sloop-of-war " Cumberland," was moored at the Navy Yard. These vessels were valued at about two millions of dollars.

Any one to see these ships lying quietly at their moorings, the officers and men going to and fro about their duties, the sentries pacing up and down guarding public preserving order, would property and have supposed that the interests of the United States Government were being well taken care of; but this was merely the calm which precedes the storm the fearful storm which was soon to burst upon the country, when " Hope for a season bade the world farewell," and truth and honor hung their

—

COMMODORE HIEAM PAULDING.

The Southern officers could hardly restrain their impatience until the State of Virginia should secede, so anxious were they to show their gratitude to the United States Government, which had conferred upon them whatever importance they possessed, by pulling it to pieces, and endeavoring to dim the glory of the flag under which they had served from boyhood. Most of the officers of the Navj^ Yard were Southern men whose honor had heretofore been unquestioned, but their heads were now so turned that they were as wild as the sans culottes of the French Revolution. Commodore McCauley, who commanded the Navy Yard, had long and faithfully served the government, but was now advanced in years and no match for the wily secessionists about him, who so hampered and bewildered him, that he for a time rested under the suspicion of being luke-

warm

in his allegiance.

At this time there were lying at the Navy Yard the following named vessels:

heads with shame. Early in April tlie Navy Department began to get very uneasy for the safety of the Navy Yard, for it was by this time well understood that the Secessionists would make an aggressive movement on the first favorable opportunity.

The Department was most anxious to get the Merrimac " away from the yard to a place of safety, but was informed' by Commodore McCauley that it would take a month to put her machinery in working '

'

order.

The department did not seem to reflect that a few armed tow-boats with marines on board, could have been sent from New York to tow all the vessels under the guns of Fortress Monroe. One tug with a twenty four pound howitzer on board, properlv handled, would have been master of the situation, and if the Navy Department had displayed a little forethought in this emergency, the government would have been saved deep humiliation and a loss in ships, guns and stores not easy to repair. On the 31st of March 250 seamen and landsmen were ordered to be transferred from the New York Navy Yard to Norfolk, and fifty seamen were transferred to the

OF THE revenue steamer " Harriet Lane," which vessel was ordered to proceed at once to NorIt shows the miserable condition of the Navy when the department had nothing but a revenue cutter to depend upon. Days went by before anything else was attempted. On the 11th of April Commodore James Alden was ordered to report to Commodore McCauley to take command of the " Merrimac," and Chief Engineer Isherwood was sent to Norfolk to get the ship's engines in working order as soon as possi-

folk.

ble.

On the 14th the work was commenced, and on the 17th the engines were in working order so much for the Commandant's assertion that it would take a month to get the ship ready to move, as he was made to

—

believe. It is

no wonder, under these circumstances

CIVIL WAR.

29

The work was all done with the consent Commodore McCauley; but when he was informed that everything was ready to fire up, he replied that next morning would be time enough. At midnight the fires were started and the engines worked at the dock, and were found to be in good order. Next morning the Commandant was again informed that everything was ready, but he replied that he had not decided to send the "Merrimac" out. It was in vain that he was reminded of the peremptory character of the order which Mr. Isherwood had brought from the Secretary of the Navy to get the "Merrimac" out at the earliest possible moment. He only replied that he would let his decision be known in the course of the day. He gave as a reason the obstructions that had been placed in the of

channel, but

when assured

that they could

THE STEAMER HARRIET LANE."

that the loyalty of the Commandant should have been questioned, yet he was simply influenced by officers whom he trusted and who were desirous that the "Merrimac" should be retained for the future navy of the Southern Confederacy. In a majority of instances when South-

ern officers had determined "to go with their States," they turned over their commands or trusts to the government and went away with clean skirts, but in the case of navy yards this rule did not seem to hold good, as was shown at Pensacola

and Norfolk; and every impediment was thrown in Commodore McCauley's way by

own subordinates to prevent his carrying out the orders of the department. The disloyalty which existed to such an extent among the officers did not at that time extend to the mechanics, for they worked night and day until the " Merrimac's " machinery was repaired. Then forty -four firemen and coal-heavers volunteered for the service of taking the " Merrimac " out. his

be easily passed, and that every moment increased the danger, he gave orders to haul the fires, and thus the noble "Merrimac " was finally lost to us. It is difficult at this late date to tell all the motives that influenced the Navy Department and the Commandant at Norfolk. Indecision seemed everywhere to exist, and some of the best officers in the Navy were apparently quite dazed at the course which events were taking. Commodore McCaulej^ at one time was master of the situation, and with promptness and decision might have saved all the ships, guns, and stores, even if he judged it advisable to abandon the

Navy Yard. The Commodore probably thought

that

by retaining the "Merrimac" and her battery he would have a strong force to repel any attack that might be made from the outside. The old Commodore, who had fought gallantly for his country in former days, was completely acquitted of anything like disloyalty by the officers who were sent down to take the " Merrimac " away from

THE NAVAL HISTORY

30

Norfolk, but it is unfortunate that he did not show more decision of character when the crisis came upon him. Every officer connected with the destruction of the Norfolk Navy Yard came in for a share of censure, which is not to be wondered at when it is now known that every The ship and gun could have been saved. " Germantown," which was Id roadside of the all ready for sea and only waiting a crew, or the "Plymouth," in the same condition, would, with a few men on board, have saved the Navy Yard against attack, overawed Norfolk" and Portsmouth, and prevented the channel from being obstructed by the Confederates. Even when the yard was abandoned and the buildings set tire to, the work was done in a panic in which the coolest persons seem to have lost their heads. The destruction took place when the yard had been re-enforced by a regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers under Colonel Wadsworth, while the " Pawnee " of fifteen guns

had brought Commodore Paulding from Washington with instructions "to save what he could and act as he thought proper."

When Commodore

Paulding arrived at the Navy Yard he found that all the Southern officers had sent in their resignations

and abandoned

their posts.

The mechan-

following their example, had left the yard in a body, and persons had even come in from outside and possessed themselves of the Government arms. It was reported that several thousand men were organizing for the purpose of seizing the yard. The powder had been taken from the Government magazine near Norfolk, and batteries were being erected along the approaches to the Navy Yard, and hulks sunk in the channel near Craney Island and Sewell's Point, three light boats having been used for the purpose; and this was done, notwithstanding the Commandant of the yard had ample force to have prevented it. Actual war existed between the Government and the inhabitants of Norfolk, who were doing all in their power to destroy public property and obstruct the public highway. Worse than all, the "Merrimac," ics,

"Germantown" and

"Plymouth"

had

been scuttled by orders. All the guns in the Navy Yard had been spiked, with the exception of some two hundred, as well as those on shipboard, except five heavy guns on a side on board the "Pennsylvania," which sturdy old castle commanded the whole yard; and fifty good seamen on board could have bid defiance to 5,000 Confederates in arms, and held Norfolk and Portsmouth under her

until every ship was hauled out of harm's way. After the arrival of the "Pawnee "had made the yard doubly secure, the shells were drawn from the "Pennsylvania's" guns and the guns spiked The whole thing looked so hopele&s to Commodore Paulding that, in view of the orders he had received from the Department not to let anything fall into the hands of the Confederates, he determined to de-

guns

!

stroy everything.

must have been a painful alternative

It

that

to

faithful

old

officer.

Commodore

Paulding, who abhorred everything in the shape of rebellion, to be obliged to apply the torch to the historic ships of the Navy, and destroy the other valuable property the Government had been so many years accumulating; especially since he was aware that most of the destruction might easily have been prevented, had not so many days been lost in

deciding what to do.

fiat had gone forth, the mania for destruction had seized upon every one,' as we see boys go mad over the burning of a hay-rick, which they have set fire to in wan-

But the

ton sport. All the ships, except the "Cumberland," were well filled with combustibles, and the whole saturated with oil and turpentine. The ship-houses and other buildings were prepared in the same manner, and nothing left to chance so that the rebels could derive

any The

benefit

from what was

left

behind.

dry-dock that had cost millions to build was undermined, and a hundred men ran to and fro with heavy hammers trying to knock off the trunnions of the heavy guns, but with a few exceptions these attempts fine

were It 20,

failures.

was a

when

pleted.

beautiful starlight night, April the preparations were comThe people of Norfolk and Portsall

mouth were wrapped in slumber, little dreaming that in a few hours the ships and pubhc works which were so essential to the prosperity of the community would be a mass of ruins, and hundreds of people would be without employment and without food for their families.

The "Pawnee" had towed the "Cumber" out of the reach of the fire, and laid

land

at anchor to receive on board those who were to fire the public propertv. Commodore McCauley had gone to bed that night worn out with excitement and anxiety, under the impression that the force that had

arrived at Norfolk was for the purpose of holding the yard and relieving him of responsibility, and when he was called at midnight and informed that the torch would be applied to everything, he could hardly

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THE NAVAL HISTORY

33

realize the situation, and was chagrined and mortified at the idea of abandoning his post without any attempt to defend it.

At

2:30 A. M., April 21st,

a rocket from the

the signal; the work of destruction commenced with the " Merrimac," and in ten minutes she was one vast sheet of flame. In quick succession the trains to the other ships and buildings were ignited and the surrounding country brilliantly illuminated. The inhabitants of Norfolk and Portsmouth, roused from their slumber, looked with awe at the work of destruction, and mothers clasping their children to their breasts bewailed the fate that cut them and their offspring off from their support. Yet this was but a just retribution for the treason which the inhabitants had shown towards the best government on earth. They had killed the goose that laid the golden egg. As the boats containing the firing party moved off down the river to the "Pawnee " and "Cumberland," the rebels from Norfolk and Portsmouth rushed into the Yard to save what they could from the flames, and were more fortunate than they expected to be. The dry-dock was not materially injured, some of the work-shops and officers' quarters were preserved, and the frigate " United States " was not much damaged. Even the " Merrimac," though burned to the water's edge and sunk, was afterwards raised and converted into the powerful ironclad which wrought such havoc in Hampton Roads and carried consternation through the North. The loss of the Navy Yard at Norfolk was felt all through the North to be a great calamity. Misfortunes seemed accumulating, and people began to doubt whether the administration had sufficient vigor to meet the emergencies that were continually arising. The destruction of the Navy Yard seems now to have been the result of a panic which was not justified by the facts of the case, but the actors in that scene believed they were consulting the best interests of the Government. No one can doubt the loyalty of those gallant old seamen, McCauley and Paulding, for undoubt-

"Pawnee" gave

edly they had the best interests of the country at heart, and acted with good intent.

midst of our other misfortunes Navy Yard was soon forIt was abandoned by the Conafter the defeat of the "Merrimac" by the "Monitor" in a panic quite as causeless as our own, and has not yet risen like the Phoenix from its ashes, its reconstruction progressing very slowly. Congress has apparently viewed with disIn tlie the loss gotten. federates

of the

trust appropriations made for this yard, scarcely yet realizing that the people employed there are worthy of confidence in consequence of their past acts of rebellion, which caused the destruction of the most important naval station in the United States. The greatest misfortune to the Union caused by the destruction of the Navy Yard, was the loss of at least twelve hundred fine guns, most of which were unnumber of them were quickly injured. mounted at Sewell's Point to keep our ships

A

from approaching Norfolk; others were sent to Hatteras Inlet, Ocracocke, Roanoke Island and other points in the sounds of North Carolina. Fifty-three of them were mounted at Port Royal, others at Fernandina and at the defences of New Orleans.

They were met with at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Island No. 10, Memphis, Vicksburg, Grand Gulf and Port Hudson. found them up the Red River as far as the gunboats penetrated, and took possession of some of them on the cars at Duvall's

We

Bluff,

on White River, bound for

Little

Rock. They gave us a three hours' hard fight at Arkansas Post, but in the end they all returned to their rightful owners, many of them indented with Union shot and not a

few permanently disabled. Had it not been for the guns captured at Norfolk and Pensacola, the Confederates would have found it a difficult matter to

arm

their fortifications for at least a year after the breaking out of hostilities, at the expiration of which time they began to manufacture their own ordnance, and import it from abroad. Great as was, therefore, the loss of our ships, it was much less than the loss of our guns.

CH

A

PTE

R

III

—

Closing of the Southern Ports. Operations Against the Federal Commerce by Privateers. Triple Task op the Navy Department. Increase of the Navy. — Purchases Unwisely Made. British Vessels and the Blockade. Sufferers by THE Blockade. Flag Officers Appointed to Commands. Difficulties of the Blockading Forces Energy and Watchfulness of Naval Officers. Remarkable Activity op THE Confederates. Inadequate Appropriations by Congress. Condition of the Navy. List of Vessels ano their Stations Available Vessels. The Home Squadron.— Old Navy. Purchased Vessels. Vessels Constructing. Reorganization of the Service. Promotions. Three Grades Added. —Schools of Gunnery and Naval Training Established. Patriotic Volunteer Officers. The Commercial Marine. High Tribute to the Secretary of the Navy.

—

—

THE

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

— —

— —

—

Navy Department, with

its lim-

had a weighty task imposed upon it from the very outited resources,

break of the civil war. In a very brief period the rebellion assumed such formidable proportions, and naval operations had to be maintained on such an extensive scale to include over three thousand miles of coastline, that the energy and ability of the naval authorities were put to the severest

tests.

There was the closing of all the ports along our Southern coast under the First.

TQOst exacting regulations of an international blockade, including the occupation of the Potomac River from its mouth to the Federal Capitol.

Had the Potomac been blocked by the enemy's guns at any time during the war, it would have rendered the position of our armies in Virginia and around the Capitol very embarrassing. Second. The necessity of establishing an effective organization of combined naval and military expeditions against various points on our Southern coast, including also all needful naval aid to the Army in cutting off communication with the rebels. Besides this it was seen at an early date that a large naval force would be required on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Third. There had to be provided a suitaT^lci

miTYiKoT'

n-p a-viTif-t.

— —

Trocaola

fr\T»

+Ti*:i

Gr^+iira

—

—

— —

—

pursuit of the Confederate cruisers, which might elude the vigilance of our blockading forces and proceed to prey upon our commerce in every part of the world. Immediately on the breaking out of the rebellion the Confederates prepared to operate against Federal commerce, and after the escape of their first privateer the destruction of our vessels became very common. This was the triple task the Navy Department was called upon to perform, and it is but fair to say that, considering the disadvantages under which the Department labored, never were duties better performed. When the proclamation was issued declaring all the Southern ports under blockade, it found the Navy Department totally unprepared for such a contingency. Congress had adjourned without providing for it, and it devolved on the Secretary of the Navy to meet the difficulties of the situation in the best way he could. There were but few vessels in the Navy which could be relied on for blockading service, and none suitable for the pursuit of Confederate cruisers, which would naturally be very swift steamers. The only thing to be done was to put into commission every vessel in the Navy that was tit to go to sea, and to purchase from the mercantile marine such as would answer for temporary service: but so few vessels in the merchant coT*Trir^^

WTC^ra

fif

cnrtm

-fz-i-t.

l-il/-vr*T-ri/1^

/1it*-tt-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

34

much

less for ships of war, tliat it was with difficulty that a sufficient number could be

obtained to

make such

a blockade as was

by the law of nations. Purchases were unwisely made, and some unfit vessels were thus added to the Navy through that spirit of grasping cupidity which is sure to come to the surface in time called for

of war.

Some men who had always been

consid-

ered honest and patriotic, did not hesitate to take advantage of the necessities of their country, and deplete the Federal treasury without adding to the efficiency of the IS avy, thus hampering the naval authorities at the

very outset of hostilities. Purchases and contracts were made to meet the exigencies of the times. Orders were issued to equip vessels that under ordinary circumstances would not have been considered safe to go to sea in. The force thus hastily gathered and stationed along our coast would scarcely have been considered an " efficient blockade " if a European power had thought fit to institute close inquiries into our proceedings. Now and then a British vessel of war made her appearance for the purpose of observing that the blockade was effectual, but as far as the writer's observations are concerned, this duty was always performed in the most delicate manner, and the British commanders were satisfied with the appearance of a blockade that was far from satisfying to the

Federal Governniont. A great deal has been said by Boynton, the naval historian, about the exacting character of the British Government in relation to the blockade of our coasts, but we rather think his style of writing was adapted to the public sentiment of the time, which was prepared to find fault with any nation that did not sympathize with the

Union cause. The English people were the great sufferers in our war by the loss of a commerce that was absolutely necessary for them to keep their manufactories going, and they exercised no greater surveillance than the Federal Government would have done had there been a blockade of the Irish coast established. Flag Officers were appointed to the command of the different stations, and vessels were sent to each according to the necessity of the case as fast as they could be purchased and fitted out. Under the supervision of these flag officers the coasts and harbors of the Confederates were subjected to as close a blockade as the limited force of vessels would admit. The difficulties of the blockading forces

were much increased owing to the number of great bays, sounds and rivers of the South, but in spite of all drawbacks the

duties of the blockade were remarkablywell performed. What was lacking in vessels was more than compensated for by the energy and watchfulness of the naval officers on the different stations. The expectation of prize-money was doubtless a stimulus to both officers and men, yet there was a higher motive governtlieir conduct, a determination to dothe rebellion all in their power to put

ing

down

by cutting off foreign supplies, withoutwhich they felt the Confederate resistance would soon terminate. One of the most remarkable features of the war was the manner in which at an early date the Confederates had seized upon and fortified so many important points oa the Southern coast, actually cutting Federal vessels off from any port of shelter in stormy weather, and compelling supplyvessels of the different squadrons to keep out to sea. Our ships were compelled oftentimes to anchor in heavy gales on the open coast, where in case of accident to machinery or cables a steamer would be liable to drift on shore into the heavy breakerswhich lined the coast, and where a sailing vessel under like circumstances would have great difficulty in clawing off a lee shore. The Confederates doubtless considered all these circumstances when they undertook the task of freeing themselves from what thej^ were pleased to consider the thraldom of the North. With all ports of shelter closed against the Federal Navy, and storms continually raging along the coast, they laughed at the idea of a blockade. They did not know the energy which animated the Federal Navy when circumstances should arise to call it forth. The officers themselves did not know until called upon to act what zeal and energy they could evince, and the present generation, can hardly realize the hardships and dangers of the work then performed. To many of the survivors of those scenesit may seem like the dreams of early childhood, shadows of which flit through the mind, dim and shapeless as reflected images

from misty waterfalls. The necessity of seizing some of the

Southern ports soon became apparent; for though our officers had shown great ability in takmg care of their ships on the blockade the most tempestuous weather, and at the same time had rendered it difficult for blockade runners to enter Southern ports, yet it was found that harbors of refuge were indispensable to properly carry on such extensive operations. Great demands were made upon the Navy, notwithstanding Congress had adjourned in 1801 without making adequate appropriations, considering the condition of affairs.

m

o w CO o a > o to o •^ o -rl

iH IB

M 2 O (=!

(35)

THE NA VAL HISrORY

36

It is true that the measures adopted by Mr. Secretary Welles in advance of the session, and which had been rendered necessary in consequence of events that had been precipitated upon tlie country, had been approved by Congress, but that, after all, only provided for a comparatively small force of vessels and men, not even enough for ordinary police operations along the Atlantic coast, much less a strict blockade. In order that the condition of the Navy may be understood, the list of vessels and their stations is herewith inserted. In the eyes of one not familiar with naval affairs it appears like a large show of available vessels, but not half of them were really fit for the service required of them. The Home Squadron consisted of twelve vessels, and of these only four were in Northern ports and available for service, viz. Name.

OF THE Purchased Vessels.

CIVIL

WAR.

37

38

THE NAVAL HISTORY

more to build up a commercial marine such as we possessed at the outbreak of the Civil War, its officers will be our dependence in time of need to fill up the complement required by the addition of ships, that will then have to be made, to the Navy, and if they exhibit the same qualities evinced by the volunteer officers of the late war, the honor of our country will be safe in their hands. The trained officers who are at present in the Navy would be a mere handful in case of a foreign war. They would serve as a nucleus and as instructors to those taken from the commercial marine. The cry of demagogues that the Navy is overburdened with officers, is as shallow as it is false, and should be treated with the contempt such misrepresentations deserve. There was comparatively little opportunity during the year ISGl, except at Hatteras and Port Roj^al, for the Nav}^ to exhibit the zeal, courage and ability which it manifested at a later period. Yet in liis report for that year, Mr. Secretary Welles pays the highest tribute of praise to the officers and men of the service. The Honorable Secretary says: " To the patriotic officers of the Navy and the brave men who in various scenes of naval action have served under them, the Department and the Government justify owe an acknowledgement even more earnest and em-

—

phatic. Courage, ability, unfaltering fidelity and devotion to the cause of their country,

have been the general and noble characteristics of their conduct in the arduous and important service with which they have been

We

intrusted. state in all confidence, that in their hands the historic renown of the

American Navy has been elevated and augmented." This

is

not too

much

to say about the

Navy, which even in the beginning of the civil war showed its determination to wrench from the grasp of the insurgents the property seized by them from the Government, and it is but just to the Secretary of the Navy, who paid its officers and men so high a ti-ibute, to assert that he showed a spirit of loyalty and devotion to duty which was worthy of his high position, and that he met the very heavy responsibilities with which he was burdened with entire honesty of purpose, laboring faithfully to the end.

Mr. Welles made mistakes during the war, as any man in sucli a perplexing condition of affairs must have done, and was

sometimes unjust, owing

to intriguers who representations against certain officers, by wiiich the Secretary allowed himself to be influenced; but when left unbiased to the exercise of his own judgment he was as impartial as any man who

made

would likely position.

have been selected for

his

C

H A PTER IV.

DEATH OF ELLSWORTH. — CAPTUEE OF ALEXANDRIA,

VA.

POTOMAC

FLOTILLA.

—

oonjectures and uncertainties. — secessionists and the potomac. secessionists Erect Batteries in Sight of the Capital. The Potomac Flotilla Established. Landing of Ellsworth Zouaves at Alexandria. Death of Ellsworth. — Commander Rowan Demands the Evacuation of Alexandria. Alexandria Evacuated BY THE Secessionists. Batteries at Aquia Creek. Arduous Duties of the Potomac Flotilla. Engaging the Batteries at Aquia Creek.— The Batteries Silenced. The "Freeborn," "Anacostia" and -'Resolute." — Renewal of the Attack Against THE Aquia Creek Batteries. — The •"Freeborn" Damaged. The "Ball Opened" Along the Potomac. — Attack on the Batteries at Matthias Point. — Repulse of the Flotilla. Death of Commander Ward. Secessionists AND Their Supplies. Lieut. Harrbl Destroys a Schooner in Quantico Creek. Undeserved Criticism of the Flotilla. The Public Obliged to Acknowledge the Value of the Flotilla. Vessels Arriving from Foreign Stations. — Officers

—

—

—

—

—

—

— —

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Resigning, Cashiered, etc., etc.

AT

the

commencement

of the war,

many wild conjectures were made as to its duration, and many of those who had hitherto stood high

in the nation's opinion, were list•ened to anxiously, as if on their views depended the life and safety of the country, iDut as the war went on it was seen that the wisest statesmen and the ablest soldiers were at fault. Indeed, as events multiplied, the question of the Republic's future baf-

sary to increase the Navy, not only for the protection of our long line of sea-coast, but to guard our great lines of river transportation which the enemy was rapidly seizing vipon for the purpose of strengthening their great lines of defence, the speedy maturing of their plans enabling them to get possession. One of the first ideas of the Confederates was to get possession of the Potomac River, fortifj^ its banks, and thereby cut off all

fled all

communication between Washington and

men

the sea. Their object was to prevent the transportation of troops from the North to the seat of government by sea, for as there was but one line of railroad between Baltimore and Washington, the Confederates were of the opinion that the North could not supply troops in sufficient numbers by that route; besides, at any moment, it might pass So satisfied into the hands of the enemy. were the rebels of this fact that they considered the fall of Washington as certain. The authorities of Maryland forbade the passage of troops across that State, heavy batteries were rapidly thrown up by the rinnffirlfiratfis aloiip- the hanks of the Pntn-

human ingenuity. That which all predicted did not come to pass, and that which all declared impossible, was constantly being done, and our leaders were compelled to adopt measures they had liefore rejected, not only as unsound, but impossible.

not our province to write about matconcerning our Army, or about the im-

It is

ters

mense line of insurrection which early the war stretched across our country

in in

•chains of military posts within supporting distance of one another, but as these increased and Rebellion continued to raise its hydra head from Chesapeake Bay to South-mt^atfr-n MiHsniiri it. was fniind to bfi npY>,Ps-

THE NA VAL HISTORY

40

atid parties of rebel soldiers, with their colors flying, were in sight of the Capitol on the west bank of the river.

mac,

The

first

thing the

Navy Department

effected amidst all the difficulties of the situation, was the establishment of a flotilla of small steamers, armed with light guns, upon the Potomac. It could hardly be supposed that the Navy would attempt, with these fragile vessels, to contend with the guns in battery on shore, or that they would be of any other service than that of patrolling the river, watching every movement of the enemy along the banks, and their operations but those who are left to remember those days, will not forget the daily watchfulness, the sleepless nights, the sickly toil, and the hazardous character of the expeditions upon which the officers and crews of those vessels were engaged. ;

ings of the Navy, and how ready was the service to put down secession on the first opportunity offered. The death of Ellsworth created a great impression upon the minds of the naval officers and sailors from its brutal accompaniments, and showed them forcibly that treason would only carry in its train rapine and murder, with all the horrors attending vindicative warfare. As earlv as the last of May, 1^61, th& Confederates had completed three batteries on the Potomac, at Aquia Creek—railroad terminus and others above and about the The guns mounted in these landing. works were mostly rifies, giving the Confederates an advantage over our vessels,

—

which mounted only smooth-bore

thirty-

two-pounders. As the Government had already, on several occasions, shown great decision, it is remarkable that it did not at once proceed to put down this work of the Confederates in fortifying the commanding points of the Potomac, but there seemed to have been an indisposition on its part at that moment to take any hostile action; and amidst the daily increasing confusion of affairs which startled the Nation, even the Navy Department did not exhibit an unusual activity.

The Potomac fiotillawas chiefly engaged moving up and down the river, gaining information of the enemy's movements, convoying transports to and from Washington, often fired upon, and only able te return the fire without much effect, and with no power to land and capture the batteries for want of a proper landing force which had been declined by General Scott whenever application had been made tohim. It was a national disgrace, and bespoke the weakness of a country when, in

C03IMANDEK JAMES

H.

WABD.

at the very outset

The first landing of Northern troops upon the Virginian shore was under cover these improvised gun-boats, when the gallant Ellsworth landed with his Zouave of

regiment at Alexandria, and went to almost instant death at the hands of an assassin an event which, unimportant as it Avas

compared with others at the time, so fired the Northern heart that it added thousands of soldiers to our armies. In this case Alexandria

was evacuated by the Confederates upon demand of a naval

officer

— Commander "

commanding

S.

C.

Rowan

Pawnee." carrying a battery of fifteen guns, and Avhen Ellsworth's troops were landed the American fiag was hoisted on the Custom House and other prominent places by the officer in the

—

charge of a landing party of sailors Lieutenant R. B. Lowry. a very important This, though not achievement, gave indication of the feel-

of

the war, a great

—

highway — the Potomac could be closed, and our own people slaughtered in transitby these rebel batteries, which seemed te increase in numbers with a rapidity never conceived of, while it appeared as if they had all

the military depots of the country

to-

draw from. It was at last determined by the Department that the Potomac fiotilla should take the initiative, and make an effort to clear the river banks of the rebel batteries. Commander James H. "Ward, an energetic officer, had been placed in command of the fiotilla, and on the 20th of May. 1861, he started to engage the batteries at Aquia Creek, with no expectation, we imagine, of any great success against them with the small and fragile vessels under his command. These consisted of the " Freeborn," a paddle-wheel steamer of two hundred and fifty tons, and carrying three guns; the "Anacostia, a small screw steamer of two

OF THE CIVIL WAR. hundred tons, and the " Resolute," a small craft of ninety tons and two guns. The largest gun on board this little squadron was a thirty-two pounder, most of the others being small howitzers. The impoverished condition of the Navy may be imagined when it had to depend upon such craft as these to crush a rebellion, while two or three thousand rebel troops were in the field with batteries against them.

No one who knew anything about such matters would form any favorable idea of succeeding against land batteries with this small flotilla, but notwithstanding the disparity of force, the batteries were silenced altogether in two hours, and the Secessionists driven to their earthworks on the hills overlooking the landing. These hills proved too high for the elevation to be obtained from the guns of the vessels, and the enemy's shot falling all around them without chance of return, the flotilla was with-

ATTACK ON THE AQDAIA CEEEK BATTERIES BY THE

drawn out

of range.

Little

U. S.

damage was

done to the vessels, the enemy not proving to be very good marksmen. I believe, the flrst battle of the the enemy's batteries were engaged by the Navy, and though not an important affair, it marks an era in the struggle which shows how remiss our Government had been up to that time in not having in the Navy a class of vessels suitable for just such occasions as this, and how poor indeed was our merchant marine when it could provide nothing better than the "Freeborn," " Anacostia " and the " Resolute " three high-sounding names, which seem now so insignificant beside the " Miantonomoh," " Puritan," etc., vessels that eventually revolutionized the navies of the world, and made us, at one time, as regards the defence of our coast, equal if not superior to England and France. On the following day Commander Ward resumed the engagement at Aquia Creek,

This was,

war where

41

keeping up an incessant fire for five hours, only ceasing upon the over-fatigue of his men. The enemy were again driven out of their works, but carried their artillery away with them. Some damage was done the flotilla, and the "Freeborn" was obliged in consequence to go to Washington for repairs there was no loss of life, nor were there any wounded on this occasion. The flotilla had been increased by the " Pawnee," Commander Rowan, who had reported on the previous evening. More than a thousand shot were flred by the enemy, but though a number struck the hulls of the vessels, there was no irreparable damage done. This little affair may be said to have "opened the ball" along the banks of the Potomac, and it gave the Secessionists some idea of what they might expect in the future under the energetic management of Commander Ward; but unfortunately the career of that officer was cut short soon ;

STEAMERS

'

FREEBORN," "ANACOSTIA" AND "RESOLUTE.'

after in the attack on Matthias Point, when he attempted to disperse some batteries, having also made preparations to land; but in the heat of the action, and while sighting a gun, he was shot in the abdomen and soon after died. The Navy lost a gallant officer, whose example would have inspired his men to deeds of daring if any example was needed, for it was a noticeable fact that the blue-jackets of the Navy were up with the foremost in their devotion to the flag, and viewed these hostile movements on

the Potomac against the government with something akin to horror. Let us remark here, that, during the war,we do not remember an instance where a sailor was found untrue to the flag of the Union, or where one ever hesitated to volunteer for an expedition, no matter how dangerous it was. In the affair at Matthias Point our party was overwhelmed by numbers, and Lieutenant Chaplin of the " Pawnee," who had charge of a landing party, only succeeded

43

THE NAVAL HISTORY

in bringing off his men by his coolness and intrepidity under a perfect shower of bulIn those days, when the war was in lets. its infancy, the soldiers of both sides lacked that precision of fire which tliey acquired later in the contest, and which made the batBut for this our repulse at tles so bloody.

Matthias Point would have been a bloody one, indeed. Criticism of this expedition is disarmed when we reflect that the gallant officer who planned it sacrificed his own life in the performance of a duty he considered necessary to clear the Potomac of the bushwhackers that lined the banks of the stream all along, and were firing on unarmed merchant vessels and transports as they pursued their course up or down.

SKIEMISH BETWEEN THE "FBEEBOEN" AND

prize.

So great were the facilities of communication between the shores of Virginia and Maryland that the Secessionists could hold intercourse with their friends in the latter State by means of small boats, and obtain not only information, but supplies of all kinds, including munitions of war which the Marylanders were too willing to provide them with. Hence it became a necessity not only to guard every salient point onthe river^ but to capture all boats that were secreted in the numerous creeks and nooks with which the river abounded. This duty, apparently insignificant, was

KESOLDTE " AND A SECESSION FORCE, AT MATTHIAS POINT.— DEATH OF CAPTAIN "WARD.— JUNE 27. 1861.

Had Commander Ward lived, he would have made as high a mark as any officer in the Navj'; no one ever entered the contest with more zeal and activity than he, and to this day the shock of hisdeatli has not been forgotten, though thousands died afterwards on more important occasions. It was only wlien these deaths of gallant officers occurred that the countr}- began to realize the Secessionists were ani-

mated with a

small affairs which took place on the river rose to importance from the fact that there was then no other field of naval enter-

fell purpose which would not be appeased until the whole land was saturated with blood and sorrow walked over the battle-fields where friends and foes lay mingled together in the arms of death. The Potomac naturally became the first theatre of v/ar as regards the Navy, for the Department at that moment had no ships with which to operate elsewhere, and some

most important, for the mischief carried on by these small boats, which performed postal service and transported spies back and forth, was so constairt that it was necessary to repress it if possible. On the nth of October, Lieutenant A. D. Harrel was informed that a large schooner was lying in Quantico Creek, and that a body of troops had assembled there for the purpose of crossing the Potomac, and he dein fact

make an attempt to destroy her. He manned three boats, and under cover

termined to

of darkness, started up the creek, boarded the schooner and set her on fire, then pulled away under a heavy volley of musketry from the rebel soldiers. The vessel was totally destroyed, and the crossing of the Secessionists put a stop to. In all this river service performed bv of-

OF THE CIVIL WAR. ficers of the

Navy

there

was great

peril,

of reward held out as remuneration for the risk of life. Every covert on the banks of the river held men in ambush, and many unerring riflemen, who would wait until our people atttempted to land, or came near their place of concealment, when they would pull trigger on them with as much malignity as if firing upon the bloodiest pirates instead of conservators of the peace. They seemed to f oi-get alto-

and no hope

gether that the men they were slaying not long before may have met them in amity at the festive board. Such was the strife already begun, and it could not be hoped that it would diminish as the war progressed. In this river work, as in all other where the Navy was called upon to act, it performed its duty with unflinching courage. The public did not know what the service had to contend with, or how much good work they were actually doing; with all their discomforts, toil and suffering they received but little commendation; the country was too busy watching the black clouds gathering in the South and West to note the ordinary events that were taking place on the Potomac, yet they formed the small links in the chain which, in the end, shackled the arms of the great rebellion. A steamer captain coming up the river would be fired upon from some point Avhere there were none of the flotilla in sight, and though he might receive no damage whatever, he would make complaints of what he called the useless Potomac Flotilla, which complaints would flnd their way to the papers, with the usual result of abuse; but in the end the public were obliged to acknowledge the value of the service, for though the intercourse between the opposite banks of the river could not be altogether prevented, it was made so harrassing and dangerous to those who followed it that its effectiveness was destroyed. The Secessionists, finding they could neither close the river against the Government transports, nor keep it open for their friends, abandoned the plan of erecting batteries, and in 1862 withdrew from the line of the Potomac Eiver. The patrol of

43

Potomac was, however, carried on by the nearly all the war, and though the river bad been freed of the

the

Navy during

hostile batteries, the duties of

and men

still

the officers less haz-

remained more or

ardous.

The public, as a general rule, are not attracted by events which have not some brilliancy in them they read only of batthey never then tles by land and sea stopped to consider the importance of such tedious work as occurred on the great highway from Washington to the sea, nor did they ever seem to reflect that if the river was once closed the very life of the Union would be imperilled. It was only in reading over the accounts of a successful battle that they became really interested in the subject, and their minds rested simply on the central figure of the successful chief, who monopolized for the moment all the ;

;

glory.

Few ever thought of all the toil and hardships officers and men had to undergo to win one of these battles, or cared what became of the workers and sufferers in Nor, while carried away the conflict. with the glamour of a great contest, did they ever reflect upon the dead and wounded, who. to secure victory, had given up their life's blood that their country might live, and the time-honored flag under which they received their first inspirations of glory might float proudly at the peak, without a stain to dim its stripes and stars. While these apparently unimportant matters were carried on along the Potomac, the Navy Department was putting forth all its energy to get every ship to sea vessels were beginning to arrive from foreign stations, many of the officers tinctured with secession sentiments, and handing in their resignations, some departing without, and ;

being cashiered about two hundred and leaving the Navy. The ships, after undergoing hasty repairs, were put into commission as soon as possible, and from this time commenced that series of :

fifty in all

brilliant actions which gave the Navy a name it will never lose, and which ought to make it dear to the heart of every true

American.

CH

A

PTER

V.

CAPTURE OF THE WORKS AT HATTERAS mLET BY FLAG OFFICER STRINGHAM.— DESTRUCTION OF THE PRIVATEER "JUDAH." Determination of Lincoln to Regain Possession of the Southern Ports and Harbors. A Board of Eminent Civilians and Naval Officers Convened. The Sounds of North Carolina, their Defences, etc. Hatteras Inlet. A Squadron Fitted Out to Capture Hatteras Inlet. Vessels Composing the Squadron and their Commanders. Commodore Stringham.— The Squadron Leaves Hampton Roads.— The Squadron Anchors at Hatteras Island. Bombardment and Capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark. The Garrison Surrender to General Butler and Commodore Stringha.m.— Effect op the Capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark on the Confederates. Destruction of Fort Ocracoke. The Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. Colonel Hawkins Sends a Regiment to take Possession of ChicaPlans coMico. Capture of the Transport •'Fanny by Confederate Steamers, of the Confederates Frustrated. Colonel Brown and Colonel Hawkins Join Hands. The " Monticello Renders Good Service. Disastrous Retreat of the Confederates. Cutting Out op the Confederate Privateer '• Judah."

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

"'

—

—

—

"'

—

^^T

was evident to any one who had studied the subject, that the United I States Government could make no I headway against the Confederates M while the seaports and their defences remained in the hands of the latter. From the beginning President Lincoln had boldly avowed his purpose to regain possession of all the Southern ports and harbors.

Chowan, Neuse and Roanoke Rivers by which any amount of stores and munitions of war could be sent by blockade runners

I

to supply the South. The numerous inlets are navigable for light draft vessels, but owing to their shallow water our vessels of war could not

penetrate them.

The main channel for entering the Sounds was Hatteras Inlet, and here the enemy had

A

board of eminent civilians and naval officers had been convened by the Navy Department to consider the whole subject,

thrown up heavy earthworks to protect the most important smuggling route then in operation for, althoug:h Charleston and Mobile were considered important ports for smuggling supplies to the South, Hatteras Inlet was none the less so. For the purpose of capturing the defences of Hatteras Inlet a squadron under command of Commodore Stringham was fitted out. It consisted of the "Minnesota," Captain Van Brunt, '^Wabash," Captaia

and report upon the best means of approaching and attacking the ports then in the possession of the Secessionists; and the result of their labors,

when placed

;

in the

Navy, was of great service in enabling the Department promptly to take proper measures for the recapture of the ports along the Southern hands of the Secretary

—

—

—

—

—

of the

coast.

From the beginning the Secessionists had appreciated the necessity of securing possession of the Sounds of North Carolina and defending their approaches against our gunboats. There is in this region a network of channels (X)mmunicating with the

Mercer. "Monticello,"'

Commander

J.

P.

••Susquehanna," Captain Chauncey, ••Pawnee," Commander Rowan. "Cumberland," Captain Marston, and the Revenue Steamer "Harriet Lane," Captain Faunce. Three transports accompanied the squadGillis,

(44)

THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE The " Adelaide," Commander Stell"George Peabody," Lieut.-Commanding Lowry, and the " Fanny," Lieut.Commanding Crosby. They carried about Ton.

wagen,

900 troops under command of Major-General B. F. Butler. On the 27th of August, 1861, the day after leaving Hampton Roads, the squad-

CIVIL WAE.

45

on shipboard, but even this allowance the squadron superior to the forts, without considering the heavier guns and better equipments of the frigates. Part of the troops landed on the island under cover of the guns of the squadron, and at 8:46 on the morning of the 28th, the five

made

battle

commenced. The " Wabash,"

of fifty

•yba J/aXicrtts

^zt'^es

THE SOUNDS OF NORTH CAEOLINA.

Ton anchored off Hatteras Island, on the extreme southwestern point of which were Forts Hatteras and Clark, separated by a shallow bay, half a mile wide. Of these works Fort Hatteras was the larger, and "together they mounted twenty-five guns. In those days of wooden ships one gun mounted on shore was considered equal to

guns, with the "Cumberland" in tow and followed by the "Minnesota," stood in towai'ds Fort Clark and opened fire, and were soon joined by the " Susquehanna." The plan of attack, althougli afterwards followed in several cases during the Civil War, was not the best calculated to bring an

engagement

to a speedy conclusion.

The

THE NAVAL HISTORY

46 i-^r^t

1

mntinn in a circle or

ir,

has the advantage of bothering the enemy's gunners, as

""tS plan

At 2:30 p.

M.

General Butler went on board

commanding naval defences

of

Virgmia

the ships are constantly changing their range, but it detracts from the accuracy of the nre on board the vessels and it tends to lengthen out an

At H a t what should have

engagement. teras

been finished in six hours required twentyfour to accomplish. In our opinion had all the larger vessels anchored in line abreast of the forts, with the smaller vessels on their flanks, the enemy's batteries

would have been quickly silenced. As it was the people in the forts were almost smothered by the the frigates, fire from and their aim made so

that

little

damage was done

to the

uncertain, ships.

Shortly

noon the flags

had

after

Confederate disappeared

from both forts, and the enemy were evidently abandoning Fort Clark, on which our troops moved up the beach and hoisted the Union flag on that work.

Fort Hatteras

still

kept

up the fire, and at night the squadron hauled off. At 7:30, on the morning of the 39th, the ships again opened on Fort Hatteras, and continued the fire with vigor until 11:10, wlien a white flag was displayed by the

enemy. Although the reduction of these works was not a very great achievement for a squadron mounting 158 guns, yet the work was well done,

and little damage was received from the enemy.

COMMODOEE

As soon as the white flag was shown from some of -^ the light draft Hatteras, .„„, „„ Fort ^„,„ ^^ vessels entered the inlet and drove off the reinforcements that were evidently endeavoring to reach the forts.

SILAS H. STEINOHAM, U.

S.

N.

(attehwauds ee.vr admiral.)

and N. Carolina, Col. Martin, 7th Reg.,]Sr. C. Infantry, and Col. Andrews, commanding Forts Hatteras and Clark, who had surrendered unconditionally with their commands.

OF THE

CIVIL

WAR.

47

Soon after the Commodore proceeded in the " Minnesota " to New York, where all the prisoners were transferred to Gover-

" Pawnee," who rendered useless twentytwo guns and a quantity of munitions of

nor's Island.

The closing of these inlets to the Sounds of North Carolina sent the blockade runners elsewhere to find entrance to Southern markets, but as channel after channel was closed the smugglers' chances diminished and the labors of the blockading vessels were much reduced. The great value of the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds may be judged by reference to subsequent events, when they formed a base of operations for the enemy which we found it extremely difficult to

war.

This was our first naval victory, indeed our first victory of any kind, and should not be forgotten. The Union cause was then in a depressed condition, owing to the reverses it had experienced. The moral effect of this affair was very great, as it gave us a foothold on Southern soil and possession of the Sounds of North Carolina, if we chose to occupy them. It was a death-blow to blockade running in that vicinity, and ultimately proved one of the

Pawnee.

Minnesota.

CuirBERLAND.

Harriet Lane.

Fort Clark.

Susquehanna.

Wabash.

CAPTURE OF THE POETS AT HATTEEAS INLET.— FLEET OPENING FIEE AND BOATS LANDING THEOUGH THE

AUGUST

most important events of the war; and if we recall the pertinacity with which the Confederates fought for these Sounds, even to the end of the war, we can appreciate the value they placed upon them. To prevent Hatteras Inlet from again falling into the hands of the Confederates, the forts were garrisoned, although diffi-

SDEF.

28, 1861.

break up, and it was not until the Navy had been largely increased by the addition of the proper kind of vessels, that the United States

Government was able

to get possession of the important points in the Sounds. "The subsequent operations upon Pam-

all

lico

and Albemarle Sounds and

their rivers

to unforeseen circum-

stances.

show how important a base these formed for the Confederates, and how difficult it would have been to crush the rebellion had

Fort Ocracoke, on the inlet of that name, twenty miles south of, Hatteras, was abandoned by the enemy soon after the fall of Forts Hatteras and Clark, and was destroyed by a party from the U. S. S.

they remained in their possesion." Colonel Hawkins, who had been left in command of Fort Hatteras after its capture, found his position to be an uncomfortable and dangerous one.

cult to hold

owing

THE NAVAL HISTORY

48

The troops were subjected to annoying on privations and dangerous exposure, and

one occasion narrowly escaped capture by the Confederates.

On September 29th,

1861, Colonel

Hawkms

possent the 20th Indiana Regiment to take the session of and fortify Chicamacomico, Island. Hatteras of point northern

As soon as the Confederates learned the true condition of affairs, they conceived the bold design not only of capturing the six hundred men of the Indiana regiment, but Their of retaking the forts at Hatteras. men above of body large land a plan was to the Union regiment and another below, between them and Hatteras, and thus render

\ 1

*
^

^r^^A,

THE NA VAL HISTORY

110 script

affair.

It

was made up

of river

steamers, ferry-boats, tug-boats and almost anything that would turn a wheel or screw. It was a great change for our naval officers to come down from the staunch old ships of live oak (in which they had been accustomed to sail about the world) to these frail craft loaded to the water's edge with guns of heavy calibre, not knowing whether they would ever reach the place for which they were destined, much less hoping to get home safe and sound to their anxious relatives. It was a mere matter of luck with them, as their success depended on whether thev should meet a gale of wind or not, while off the coast. Our government was not always careful as to what kind of vessels it purchased, and if the people of the country could have seen the craft in which our sailors went to sea and fought their country's battles they would have

given them more sympathy.

But there were hearts of oak in that nondescript squadron, and they never stopped to inquire whether there was danger in the enterprise or not, or whether their vessels would sink or swim; all they cared for was to reach the post of danger, well knowing that when once in the smooth water of the sounds they would be amply repaid for any risks they might run in getting there. The reason why such vessels had been selected for this important work was that the Navy Department had no others. Gun-boats were built as fast as possible, but all of them were of such draft of water that they could only with great difficulty cross the bars at the southern inlets. The Army transports were worse even than the so-called naval gun-boats, for the War Department had been even more unfortunate than the naval authorities in selecting vessels. They had no skill in such matters, and were easily deceived by the harpies who are always ready to take advantage of their country's need, without regard to any sacrifice of life which might result from their avarice: and yet some of these men were considered to be loyal citizens, working for the Government. They took good care to make close contracts, securing themselves from loss in case of damage to their chartered steamers. This heterogeneous crowd of naval vessels and transports arrived at Hatteras Inlet on the morning of the 13th of January, 1862, and were all taken across the bar, where there was barely seven and one-half They arrived at the beginfeet of water. ning of a northeast gale which lasted two days, during which time many of the vessels were severely battered ere they could reach safe quarters. On the 20th seventeen naval armed steamers were over the bar and safely anchored inside, under the

command

of

Com.

Rowan. This in effect gave the Federal forces full control of Pamlico Sound, S. C.

but the military command could only be retained by the capture of Roajioke Island. It was not"until the 22d that Gen. Burnside was able to get all his transports over the bar and into still water. Had the enemy been on the alert with what gun-boats they had, they would have caused great disturbance to our fleet while it was beset with dangers on the bar, where the naval vessels would have found it difficult to use their guns, and where great havoc might have been made among the closely packed troops on board the transThe enemy's gun-boats did not take ports. advantage of their opportunity, however, but kept close to their fortifications, merely amusing themselves by throwing an occasional shell from their long range guns at the vessels in the harbor, but never reaching the danger point. On the 21st, Rear-Admiral Goldsborough sent a steamer out to examine a certain, buoy, to see whether it was in the right

While engaged upon this service place. two steamers were descried in the distance. On the fact being signalled to Com. Rowan he gave chase to them with several of his vessels, but the

enemy

escaped.

must have been very evident

to the Confederates, when they beheld the comparatively large force that was sent against them, that they would have a hard tussle to keep possession of the sounds; but they had a strong position, and seemed deterIt

mined

maintain it. everything was in readiness for the movement to commence, the naval vessels were all placed under the command of Commander Rowan, who was to take the lead and open the way for the transports. Before giving any account of the operations it will be necessary to give the readto

When

ers some idea of the defenses of Island.

Roanoke

This island is about ten miles long and three wide, running in a northwesterly and southeasterly direction. By the capture of Hatteras Inlet forts the Federal Government gained possession only of Pamlico Sound, and therefore the first object of this expedition was to gain possession of Albemarle Sound and the connecting waters, through which the Confederates were carrying on an active trade. Roanoke Island barred the way between these two sounds, and the Confederates had made it a formidable barrier by the erection

heavy fortifications The channel connecting Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds in which Roanoke Island lies is very shallow, and could therefore be easily obstructed by sunken vessels or piles. The RbpP>t of Wrnf.OT' r»n +.Vi£a -»XTC»o+ oii^£k ^-p +llA of

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

island is called Croatan Sound, and that on the east side Roanoke Sound. All of these waters are navigable to a certain extent, but large vessels can only pass through the western channel. (See the plan, which will more fully explain the situation than any description.) It is quite clear that Roanoke Island in the hands of the Confederates was the key to that great chain of sounds and passages

VICE-ADMIEAL

running from Hatteras Inlet to the Dismal

Swamp

canal, and that in order to retain control of these highways it was necessary for the Unionists to capture this position at all hazards. It was a great strategic point which enabled the Confederates to cover Norfolk in the rear, Welden and the Northeast railroads, and keep open their communications with Left's armv at Richmond.

Ill

If the Northern Government had established a formidable army in North Carolina, in the neighborhood of Plymouth, Greenville and Newbern, connected by lines of communication and supported near these places by a fleet of gun-boats with powerful guns, the Wilmington Railroad, Raleigh

and Welden would have been within striking distance of our army, and the Confederates would have been obliged to use more

S.

C.

KOWAN.

northern railroads to obtain their supplies, even if they did not have to evacuate Richmond. The final movement of our army under Sherman in his "March to the Sea," was directed towards some of these points in North Carolina, and it was not long after this that Lee surrendered and General Joe Johnston laid down his arms. When the Confederates found that the Hatteras forts were incanable of keenins- the

THE NAVAL HISTORY

112

Federal gun-boats out of the sounds, and that the Neuse and Pamlico Elvers must fall into our hands, they determined to fortify Roanoke Island and prevent our getting into Albemarle Sound so that they could ;

hold communication vs^ith Norfolk through the Currituck Inlet and save Plymouth and the Roanoke River. They were building iron-clads up that river, and all the material, machinery and guns had to be transported from Norfolk and Richmond. The defences of Roanoke Island consisted of six separate works. Five of these guarded the water approaches and the sixth was a masked battery intended to prevent troops from landing and attacking the main works in the rear. This last battery was armed with three guns and was flanked on either side by a dense cedar swamp, so that an army landing at this point was only supposed to be able to advance by the roadway, towards the water defence at Pork Point, where their principal work, Fort Bartow, was situated. The swamp was considered impassible, and to render further protection a barrier of fallen trees was formed on each side of the

some heavy

road.

The following is a list of the defences, taken from Rear- Admiral Goldsborough's report " They consisted of two elaborately constructed works, mounting altogether twenty guns, three of them being 100pounder rifles four other batteries, mount:

;

ing together twenty guns, a large proportion of them being of larger calibre and some of

them

rifled; eight steamers, mounting guns each, and each having a rifled with the diameter of a 32- pounder; a longed obstruction of sunken vessels

two gun pro-

and

thwart our advance, and, altogether, a body of men numbering scarcely less than 5,000. ..." This was a strong position, and a large number of guns (66 in all) to meet the attack of 48 guns on our frail steamers without any protection to hull or machinery. The naval vessels, under the lead of Com. Rowan, made the attack on the works and vessels at Roanoke Island, on February 7th, at nine o'clock in the morning. The plan of battle was for the naval force to lead up to the attack, and engage the batteries at Pork and Sandy Points and the Confederate vessels. While this was going on the Army was to advance and land under cover of the naval fire. A naval brigade of artillery was also detailed to land from six launches, at Ashby Harbor, or, if possible, at Sandy Point, half a mile above. The naval division under Com. Rowan was arranged in three columns, commanded respectively by Lieuts. Worden, Murray and Davenport, these to be followed by the

piles to

Army

transports, also in divisions.

Two days were occupied by our fleet in threading its way through the intricate channels of the marshes, owing to fogs and These channels were so foul weather. narrow that only two vessels could proceed abreast, and in this order they continued until reaching the wider and deeper waters of Croatan Sound. The naval division, composed and cooit manded as stated above, was accompanied, as predetermined, by the ' Picket," Capt. "Huzzar," Capt. Frederick T. P. Ives; Crocker; -'Pioneer," Capt. Charles E. Baker; " Vidette," Capt. John L. Foster; " Ranger," Capt. Samuel Emerson; " Lancer," Capt. M. B. Morley, and "Chasseur," Capt. John West, of the army division. Keeping in close order it approached the enemy near enough to begin the attack, and to devote most of its firing against the fort on Pork Point (not neglecting the enemy's vessels), a battery between Pork and Weir's Points, and another on Redstone Point (see plan), all of which returned the fire of the Federal fleet, but without much effect. The Federal vessels having obtained position the action became general between them and the enemy, the army transports also joining in with the rifle guns they had mounted.

At 1:30 the shells from, our fleet set fire to the barracks behind Pork Point, and in a short time they were in full blaze and beyond control, as at this time the Federal vessels, having got their range, were throwing in a very destructive fire. At 3 p. M. the troops shifted to light-draft steamers and boats and started to land at Ashby's Harbor. This place was guarded by a large body of the enemy with a field battery, but Commander Rowan in the " Delaware," taking up a flanking position to the southward of Pork Point, turned his 9-inch guns towards the harbor and compelled the enemy to retreat," thus clearing the way for a landing. At 4.30 Pork Point Battery and the one next to the northward of it ceased firing; five of the Confederate steamers went behind Weir's Point disabled, and the first landing of our troops took place. At 6 p. M. these batteries re-opened, and the enemy's steamers having repaired damages put forth again and opened fire. In a short time, however, the steamers were again obliged to retired and one of them, the '• Curlew," in a disabled condition, took refuge under the battery at Redstone Point. As evening came on, the Rear Admiral

commanding made

signal to cease firing— not wishing to waste ammunition. In the course of the afternoon, six launches, under the command of Midshipman B. H. Porter, had landed their howitzers and a bodv of men. which were em-

OF THE CIVIL WAR. ployed during the night in guarding the main road and its two forks. On the following morning they assisted in the active operations of the Army. ~Bj midnight some ten thousand of our troops had been landed safely at Ashby's Harbor. 8th it was arranged by GenBurnside that his forces should move at an early hour in the morning, and begin their

On February

eral

attack upon the enemy; and as the direction they were obliged to take would bring them in the line of fire occupied by the Navy it was agreed between the two com-

from Gen. Burnside. The fleet continued its fire upon the forts until the firing in the interior of the island sensibly slackened, when it was taken for granted that our troops were approaching the batteries, and carrying everything before them. Then came the order to clear the channel of obstructions, to enable the squadron to pass up and destroy the battery on Eedstone Point, which had only one gun left to fire, and also the " Curlew," which lay disabled under the enemy's batteries. In two hours and a half this service was perto hear

MAP AKD PLAN OF THE ATTACK ON EOANOKE

manders, that the naval fire should cease until the General gave notice that it would not interfere with his operations. At daylight none of the enemy's vessels, except the "Curlew," could be discovered. At 9 A. M. a continuous firing in the interior of the island showed that the Army was hotly engaged with the enemy between Ashby's Harbor and Pork Point. The Admiral being thus informed of the position of our troops, and seeing that they were now beyond his line of fire, at once moved up and engaged the forts, without waiting

113

ISLAND.

formed by the "Underwriter," "Valley Citv," "Seymour," "Lockwood," "Ceres," "Shawsheen," "Putnam," "Whithead" and "Brincker," and these vessels passed through. Just at this moment our troops hoisted the American flag on the battery at Pork Point, and in a feW minutes afterwards the enemy himself fired the works at Eedstone Point and the Confederate steamer "Curlew:" both blew up early in the evening. Thus ended the attack on the forts of Roanoke Island, the Confederate works

THE NA VAL HISTORY

114

being

completely in the hands of the

now

Army and

Navy.

To discriminate between the two branches of the service on this occasion would be making an invidious distinction; both performed their duties in the most admirable manner, and worked together most harmoniously. The casualties among the naval vessels were few in number, which is considered strange when the light character of these steamers is taken into account and the number of guns (56) which were brought to bear

upon them by the enemy; but the fire from the eight and nine-inch shell guns and rifles of the fleet was so vigorously kept up and accurately aimed that it was the same old story of Port Eoyal — hearts of oak in wooden ships. Tlie military forces had some hard fighting on shore, and the attack was conducted with great skill. The entire force of the enemy stationed in the batteries and as sharpshooters was 4,000. Governor H. A. Wise had a force in reserve at Nag's Head, but retreated when he heard of the fate of the two forts. The enemy's troops were well posted and their batteries well masked, so that the Federal forces were really fighting an un-

seen foe.

Over

150 officers

and

2,500

men

surren-

dered to Generals Foster and Reno. The losses of the Confederates are unknown, but they did not exceed 150 killed and

Our Army lost 15 officers and 32 men killed, 10 officers and 264 men wounded, and 13 men missing. wounded.

Thus was a very important capture raade, ,

:

little loss of life, when it is considered that the enemy held a strong position and was completely concealed in bushes

with but

and masked batteries. The advantages which resulted from the capture of this

A

island cannot be over-estimated. large quantity of military stores of all kinds fell into the hands of the Federal Army which the enemy could not well spare, and alto-

gether

it

was a very happy ending

promised at

first to

be a very

of

difficult

what

under-

taking.

The only regret was that the enemy's fleet escaped. These vessels mounted 16 or 17 heavy guns, and had taken a secure position behind the barricades, prepared to defend the way against the Federal fleet. Commodore

Lynch

(the

and many,

commander

of this naval force)

officers, had once served in the United States Navy but they could not stand the attack of their old comrades and were obliged to retreat. Strange to say, all of these steamers, except the " Curlew," made good their escape. As refards vulnerability these vessels were as efective as those of the Federal fleet, and if

not all, of his

;

their commanders saw from the first what the result would be, and took advantage of the darkness to move away to a safer position.

Great praise was given to General Burnside for the manner in which he conducted his part of the affair. There was no instance during the war where the Army and Navy worked together more harmoniously. It was a case where each was necessary to the other and where neither could have won alone.

History will show that, throughout the war, whenever the Army and Navy cooperated harmoniously success followed: but when difficulties occurred between the military and naval commanders the results were unsatisfactory. By the capture of these works and their garrisons, all the sounds of North Carolina came under Federal jurisdiction, as the naval vessels and military transports were now able to reach all parts of these waters and soon swept from them all traces of the Confederate power: a great loss to the enemy and one that he deeply mourned. The casualties in the Union fleet were 6 killed, 17 wounded, 2 missing.

Admiral Goldsborough

lost

no time

after

the surrender of the forts on Roanoke Island in chasing up the Confederate Navy,

which had disappeared entirely; and on the 9th of February he directed Com. Rowan

them with the following vessels "Louisiana," Lieut. -Com. Murray; "Hetzel," Lieut. -Com. Davenport; "Underwriter," Lieut.-Com. Jeflfers; "Delaware," Lieut.-Com. Quackenbush; "Commodore Perry," Lieut.-Com. Flusser; "Valley City," Lieut.-Com. Chaplin; "Morse," ActingMaster French; "Lockwood,"Acting-Master Graves; "Ceres," Acting-Master McDiarmid; " Shawsheen," Acting-Master Woodward; "Brincker, "Acting-Master Geddings; "Putnam," Acting-Master Hotchkiss. This was not a very formidable squadron, but it was equal to the occasion. Late in the afternoon of the 9th this fleet of vessels entered Albemarle Sound in search of the enemy, and soon after sighted the smoke of two steamers, which were seen to be heading for Pasquotank River. Chase was given and an attempt made to cut them off, but without success, and the Confederates escaped over the bar and then up the river. The Union fleet was then anchored for the night, ten miles distant from Fort Cobb. Commander Rowan knew very little about the condition of affairs up the river, whether there were any batteries, torpedoes or obstructions, but he well knew that if there ivere any forts the Confederate gun-boats would naturally seek their protection and rely on their aid in any encounter that might follow with the Federal forcAs. The

to pursue

> H > o ?o

o > a o

p]

w O ca

o o o o o so Tl

THE NAVAL HISTORY

116

enemy

could select their point of attack or defence, and the Union commander was obliged to advance against them without having the slightest idea of the strength of their position.

The

little

steamers under Rowan's com-

mand were

certainly the frailest vessels that had ever been improvised for meeting the stern hazards of war. They carried heavy guns, however, and the gallant spirits who manned them were determined to win, no matter what the risks. Commander Rowan's plan was to avoid a protracted combat, and to bring the enemy to close quarters as soon as possible, for the reason that his ammunition was reduced to 30 rounds for each gun in the fleet (owing He made to the battle of Roanoke Island). signal for the commanders of vessels to come on board the flagship, and after conferring with them in regard to the proper measures to be adopted he gave them their final orders. It was naturally expected that the Confederate fleet would take position behind the battery at Cobb's Point, and there await the attack; but the result was not feared, as it had been shown in the battle of Roanoke Island that the Confederate vessels could not hold their own, even when supported by heavy forts. The plan of attack was that the gun-boats should approach in close order and proceed up the river without flring a shot until ordered to do so, dash through the enemy's

crushing and sinking him if possible, or engage in hand-to-hand conflict; after capturing or destroying the steamers to take the forts in reverse and act according to siglines,

nal.

The little fleet weighed anchor at daylight on the 10th of February, and proceeded up the river in the prescribed order: the " Underwriter," " Perry," " Morse " and " Delaware " keeping in advance as pickets, the little "Ceres" nearer shore on the right flank, and the " Louisiana " and "Hetzel" leading up the remaincter of the flotilla. The " Valley City" and " Whitehead" were ordered to leave the line as soon as the fort was passed and attack it in reverse. The Confederate steamers were soon discovered drawn up in order of battle behind the fort, which mounted four heavy 33pounders. Opposite the fort on the other side of the river a large schooner was moored, mounting two heavy 33-pounders, and the enemy's line of vessels, under Commodore Lynch, was anchored diagonally across the channel between these two defences.

Thus they may be said to have held a very powerful position, and it looked almost like rashness for the Federal commander to attack

an enemy so

situated.

But there

was no

part of Com. as the Federal vessels got within fair range, the Confederates opened upon them from their 32pounders from the fort and the schooner "Black Warrior," followed by the 80hesitation on the

Rowan or

his officers.

As soon

of their gun -boats. shot and shell passed thick and heavy over the foremost vessels and fell in the midst of the main column, not a shot was fired by the Federal vessels in return until they got within short range, when the signal was made "Dash at the enemy." Throttle valves were opened and the steamers put at full speed, at the same time opening fire all along the line. Sweeping forward as rapidly as their engines could drive them they were quickly in the naidst of the enemy, who were completely panic-stricken by this bold and unexpected attack and offered but a feeble resistance to the oflicers and men, whojumped on board their vessels with sword and pistol in hand. Those in the batteries seeing what had happened to' their gunboats immediately deserted and fled. Those onboard the " Black Warrior " set fire to her and got to the shore. Some of the steamers endeavored, unsuc-

pounder

rifles

Though

cessfully, to

save

themselves by

fiight,

others the fiagship " Seabird," but she was run into and sunk by the " Com-

among

modore Perry" nearly

all

(Lieut. -Com.

of her officers

Flusser), and

and crew made

prisoners.

In fifteen minutes the whole affair was ended, all the Confederate gun-boats having been either run ashore and set fire to, or captured by hand-to-hand conflicts; and thus the fleet on which they had depended to defend the sounds against any force that could be sent there, was entirely annihilated, and there was no one left to dispute the control of the interior waters of North Carolina. this was comparatively a small was one of the best conceived and

Although affair, it

best executed battles of the war, in which just as much skill and dash were displayed as in the grander achievements which took place at a later date. In fact, greater credit is due the commander of this expedition when one takes into consideration the character of the vessels which he had at his disposal and the strong position of his enemy. The attack of the Union vessels was like the spring of a pack of greyhounds upon a brood of foxes it was just such a scene as naval officers delight in.

—

No one who has read an account of this dashing adventure has failed to give to thebrave spirits who took part in it all the credit they deserved for the skill and daring^ which they exhibited throughout the affair. After the battle was over. Com. Rowan

OF THE CIVIL WAR. sent City.

some of the steamers up to Elizabeth At their approach the enemy made

a hasty retreat through the town, having set it on fire before their departure. It being evident to Com. Rowan that it was the design of the enemy to throw the blame of burning the city upon the Union forces, he sent his men on shore to extinguish the flames. Having accomplished this object, and taken prisoner one of the officers belonging to the " Wise Legion," who was caught in the act of setting fire to the houses of the inhabitants, they returned immediately to their ships. A great deal of Confederate property was The steamer destroyed at this place. "Forest," one gun-boat and a small vessel on the stocks were burned at the ship-yard, and all the machinery, boilers, railways, Also the machinery of the etc., destroyed. steamers "Seabird" and "Fanny," which had been sunk. After this a number of expeditions were started all through the Sounds of North Carolina for the purpose of destroying the enemy's property and blocking up the canals, so that no communication could be held with Norfolk. But we cannot refer to these operations at this time, as events of far greater importance were now taking place at Hampton Roads, which require us to transfer our history to that quarter. Before leaving the Sounds of North Carolina, we cannot but express our unqualified admiration at the happy manner in which the Army and Navy co-operated, and the brilliant results which followed from the skill and energy displayed by both branches of the service.

The Federal forces had not yet gained entire possession of the interior waters of the

Sound, but that came a few months later, and will all be narrated in its proper place. On the 9th of July, 1863, an expedition was fitted out from Goldsborough's fleet for the examination of certain rivers leading into the Sounds of North Carolina, in order to ascertain whether the enemy was fortifying the river banks or building men-ofwar at the small towns in the interior. The expedition consisted of the " Commodore Perry," Lieut. C. W. Flusser; the "Ceres," Lieut. John McDiarmid; and the

"Shawsheen," Acting-Master

T. T.

Wood-

ward, with a detachment of about forty soldiers in addition to their regular crews. The first of the places to be examined was the town of Hamilton on the Roanoke River. The banks of this river were high in places and afforded many commanding positions from which an enemy upon the water could be attacked with little danger to the attacking party. The Confederates did not fail to make the mnot. rS \^\-,r •nA +!-.« .

117

boats had not proceeded far on their way before they were fired upon by concealed riflemen, and although the men returned the fire promptly it was with little apparent

The river banks seemed lined with sharpshooters, and for ten hours the vessels, being obliged to run slowly, were kept under a galling fire. The men were struck down by an invisible foe, who lurked in the bushes or fired from over the edge of the bluffs without any danger of being struck from the vessels. Flusser had been ordered to go to Hamilton, and he was determined to get there, no matter what might be the consequence. This gallant officer was now placed in a most trying position, but he stood unfiinchingly The at his post and continued on his way. only thing to be done was to keep the men under cover as much as possible and return the enemy's fire when opportunity offered. In spite of all precautions, however, the fieet had one man killed and ten wounded. The Confederates deserted their forts as the steamers approached, and Hamilton was reached. Having taken possession of the effect.

Confederate steamer "Nelson" at this place, the expedition returned in safety to the Sound. In the latter part of October, ] 862, another expedition, a combined military and naval force, was started for Hamilton, and proved successful beyond all expectations. Great risks were run, some valuable lives lost, and great skill shown in the management of the gun-boats. Thus the Navy, when co-operating with the Army, always made its usefulness felt. Without the presence of the Navy to capture and- destroy the enemy's improvised gun-boats, to destroy their steam transports and cut oft" their means of rapidly moving an army, not a single point on the Southern coast could have been wrested from the enemy, or, if captured at great expense and labor, could not have been retained without the continual watchfulness of the Navy. This co-operation on the part of the Navy seldom failed of success, and this support to the Army was of more value to it than large numbers of men or hundreds of cannon. The Army had with them in the gunboats a train of field-pieces no enemy could resist.

The American people as a rule, knew nothing during the war of the continuous, exhaustive and perilous labor to which the officers andmenof the Navy were subjected, and in a victory sometimes made sure by the presence of the gun-boats, the Navy was nowhere mentioned. This was not the fault of the gallant soldiers who received the support of the Navy, but rather the fault of the military historians, who in al,J

+U„

AT.,

,1+^

^+1,,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

118

Did the limits of this paper permit, and could the numerous cases of support to the Army be specially noted, it would readily be seen that in the Sounds of North Carolina, under Goldsborough, in the rivers, bayous and inlets along the Southern coast under Dupont, on the coast of Louisiana and Texas and the whole length of the Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumberland.White, Arkansas and Red Rivers, a distance of over 3,000 miles, the Navy more or less contributed towards success; and if defeat overtook our Armies at any time while the Navy was at hand, the enemy gained no important or lasting advantage. Our Army always had a line of defense (the naval gun-boats) on which they could fall back, regain its formation and send the enemy retreating in his turn. For the present we must leave the sounds and inlets and follow other adventures. All the sounds of North Carolina and the rivers

emptying

into

them as

far

up as

tlie

gun-

boats could reach were virtually in the hands of the Federal Government. North Carolina was no longer a base of supplies for the Confederates The sounds and inlets of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida were nearly all closed up by the Navy, and Wilmington and Charleston were really the only two places by which the Confederacy could obtain supplies or munitions of war from abroad. All of this work had been done within a year of the commencement of the war, in spite of delays which enabled the enemy to erect earthworks and sink obstructions that required herculean labors to re-

move. Inadequate as were the vessels supplied to the Navy, the officers seldom failed to accomplish what they attempted, and it was a well-deserved compliment when an old

soldier said, " every man should carry a gun-boat in his pocket, and then he could accomplish wonders."

CHAPTER

XII.

FIGHT BETWEEN THE "MEERIMAC" AND "MONITOR," MARCH

8,

1862.

Appearance op the " Merrimac."— Destruction of the "Congress" and "Cumberland." Arrival of the "Monitor." The Fight.

—

—

WHILE

the Federal arms were so successful in the sounds of North Carolina, a great disaster overtook the Federal cause in Hampton Roads, filling the

country with dismay, and even bringing many of the Union people to doubt the success of the cause for which they had labored so hard.

When

the

Union naval

officers set fire to

the buildings of the Norfolk

Navy Yard,

they supposed they had taken such precautions that everything of value would be destroyed, but as soon as the Federals had departed a detachment of Virginia volunteers rushed in to extinguish the flames. The " Merrimac " had been sunk, but the lower part of her hull and her engines and boilers were substantially uninjured. Lieutenant John M. Brooke, one of the most accomplished officers among those who had left our Navy and joined the Confederate cause, visited the scene of the conflagration,

that the " iron-clad;

and it at once occurred to him Merrimac " could be rebuilt as an and his plans being accepted by

Mr. Mallory, the Secretary of the Confederate Navy, orders were issued to have them carried out at once. The vessel was raised and cut down to the old berth deck, both ends for a distance

were covered over, and when the ship was in flghting trim were just of seventy feet

awash. On the midship section, a length of one hundred and seventy feet was built over, the sides being at an angle of fiftyfive degrees, a roof of oak and pitch pine extending from the water line to a height of seven feet above the gun-deck. Both ends of this structure were rounded, so that the pivot guns could be used as bow and

stern chasers, or quartering; over the gundeck was a light grating, making a promenade twenty feet wide. The wood backing was covered with iron plates rolled at the Tredagar Works in Richmond. These plates were eight inches wide and two inches thick. The first covering was put on horizontally, the second up and down, making a total thickness of iron of four inches, strongly bolted to the woodwork and clinched inside. The ram, or prow, was of cast-iron, projecting four feet, and, as was found subsequently, was badly secured. The rudder and propeller were entirely unprotected. The pilot-house was forward of the smoke-stack and covered with the same thickness of iron as the sides. The motive power was the same as had been in the ship before; both boilers and engines were very defective, and the vessel

was not capable

of

making more than

five

knots an hour.

Another able officer, formerly of the United States Navy, Lieut. Catesby ap R. Jones, had charge of the preparation of the " Merrimac's " armament, and to his skill was due the efficiency of her battery. It consisted of two seven-inch rifles, re-enforced with three-inch steel bands shrunk around the breech; these were the bow and stern pivots. There were in broadside two six-inch rifles similar to the above, and six nine-inch smooth-bores in all ten heavy guns. When this formidable vessel was completed the name of the "Virginia " was bestowed upon her, and she was placed under the command of Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan, who had resigned from the United States Navy, where he had reaped the high-

—

THE NA VAL HISTORY

120

rewards that could be bestowed in time of peace. He was a man of undoubted courage, and his professional ability was of the first order. Buchanan was fortunate in surrounding himself with excellent officers, men capable of performing any naval duty, and no commander was ever better seconded by his subordinates. The crew of the iron-clad were not all seamen, but that was comparatively unimportant as there were no sails to handle. Gunners were selected from the army at Richmond, est

Lindsay; Clerk, Arthur Sinclair, Jr.; Volunteer Aid, Lieut. Douglas Forrest; Captain, Kevil, commanding detachment of Norfolk

United Infantry,

Thus equipped, officered and manned, the iron-clad represented at the moment the most powerful fighting ship in the world, and the Federal Government might well feel uneasy at the tidings they received of this monster which threatened to carry destruction all along the Northern coast."

The government was not, however, aware

COMMODORE FRANKLIN BUCHANAN, COMM.ANDER OP THE "MERRIMAC

and they proved to be excellent men for the duty required of them. The officers of this historic vessel were as follows Lieutenants, Catesby ap R. Jones (Execu-

and ordnance officer), Lieutenants Charles C. Simms, Robert D. Minor (Flag), Hunter Davidson, John Taylor Wood, J. R. Eggleston,Walter Butt; Midshipmen. Fonte, tive

Marmaduke,

Littlepage, Craig, Long and Rootes; Paymaster, Semple; Surgeon, Phillips; Assistant Surgeon, Algernon S^ Garnett; Captain of Marines, Reuben Thorn; Engineer, Ramsay Assistants, Tynan, Campbell, Herring, Jack and White Boat;

;

of the rapidity

and energy with which

the

Confederates had conducted their work; in fact, in this instance the Navy Department was rather taken by surprise, and was not quite up to the mark, for as a general rule it had shown great energy in improvising a Navy.

There were several large steam frigates at that time which might have been cut down and covered with iron in much better fashion tlian was done in the case of the "'Merrimac." The Department, it is true, had contracted for iron-clad vessels, but two of them were far behind time in building, and the other was a, " little nondescript" that

OF THE exception of Commodore Joseph Smith, had any confidence in. This vessel, designed by John Ericsson, was to be paid for only in case she proved successful against the enemy's batteries but had the steam frigates been cut down and plated we need have given little anxiety to the appearance of the " Merrimac " or any other vessel, and would have been first in the field with this ;

new

factor in

"tionize

war which was

to revolu-

naval warfare.

But there are many things we cannot account for we received humiliation at first to teach us not to underrate an enemy. Providence came to our assistance in our emergency with "Ericsson's nondescript," to show what skill and enterprise could do in behalf cf the Union. As the " Monitor " of Ericsson approached completion the Navy Departnaent hurried "the work on learning that the "Merrimac" was further advanced than they had sup-

—

WAR.

CIVIL

121

on the " Merrimac " was doubled and the work carried on by day and by night. This extra energy made all the difference in the world, and doubtless gained the one day which enabled the Confederate vessel to commit such havoc without any effectual opposition. Lieut. John L.

Worden, who had been assigned to the command of the "Monitor," watched her building for several months, urging on the work by every means in his Eower, in which he was heartily supported y the inventor. When the vessel was launched and equipped, Lieut. Worden started at once for Hampton Roads, without a trial trip, and with no means of judging how the vessel was going to behave. At one time on his passage to Hampton Roads, he was doubtful if the little "Monitor"

posed.

This was in consequence of the fact that Commander D. D. Porter had been sent to

New York to examine the vessel, and report his opinion as to her capacity to deal with an enemy. After a thorough examination of all the details of the vessel, Commander Porter telegraphed to the Navy De" This is the strongest fighting partment vessel in the world, and can whip anything afloat." But when he returned to Washington a few days after he was laughed at by a high official, and a clever one at that: "Why, man," he said, "John Lenthall predicts that Ericsson's vessel will sink as soon as she is launched." Mr. Lenthall was unquestionably high authority, but he was certainly mistaken on this occasion. Like most others he looked upon the nondescript as a clever scheme to obtain money from the government, but he subsequently did ample justice to Ericsson and built many vessels after the distinguished inventor's naodels, which for a time placed the United States Government ahead of all other naval powers. did not long maintain this position however, for our statesmen do not appreciate the necessity of a navy sufficient to_ protect our extensive coasts and sixty millions of people, so we have fallen back into our original condition, without a single iron-clad that would command the respect of the weakest nations; yet Ericsson still lives, with vigor unimpaired and intellect as bright as when his " Monitor " saved the honor of the country nearly a quarter of a century ago. A month before the "Monitor" was launched the Confederates, through their spies, had learned the exact condition of the vessel and the day on which she would prob:

We

i

«(:

ill

P-nlTT" V»o r\n+.

in+r» +I10 ihtq+.o?" in r^r\nao/n(non/^ci

/-\-f

LIEIJT.

CATESBY AP

(EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE

R. "

JONES, MEERISIAC")

live through the rough seas and arrive in time to be of any assistance to our fleet; or, even if she did arrive, whether she

would

could accomplish what her inventor claimed In fact Worden was somewhat for her. doubtful whether he should ever again set foot on land, for his vessel was almost inundated and leaking apparently enough to sink her. In the meantime the "Merrimac." alias " Virginia," was all ready to leave the Norfolk Navy Yard on what was said to be her trial trip, and up to the last moment she was filled

with mechanics working to complete

her.

On the 8th of March, 1862, the iron-clad got under way and proceeded down Eliza-

o o a Q & o DC PC

CO

Q

CO [I]


,de, First Master; John Doherty, Second Master; Charles C. Gray, Third Master; Henry A. Walke, Fourth Master; William Hinton, Pilot; Daniel Weaver, Pilot; James S. McNeely, Assistant Surgeon; George J. W. Nixsin, Acting Paymaster j William H. TJ. S.

;

;

—

;

;

;

;

CIVIL WAR.

Charles H. Faulkner, Chief Engineer Caven, First Assistant Engineer; Samuel S. Brooks, Second Assistant Engineer; Augustus F. Crowell, Third Assistant Engineer; Theodore L. Gilmore, Master's Mate; ;

Edward

E. Brennand, Master's Mate Richard Adams, Gunner; Oliver Donaldson, Carpenter; H. H. Rhodes, Armorer.

;

By referring to the public or official dispatches of the war, the names of the commanders and

officers

above mentioned

will

be found constantly referred to in battles with the enemy, and were very frequently distinguished by acts of bravery and heroism creditable alike to themselves and the naval service. The position of the ISTavy in the West at that time was an anomalous one, belonging as they did neither to one or the other branches of the service and the hands of the naval commander were so tied down by the orders of General Halleck, that he could make no move without his permission. The same may, however, be said of General Grant, who was completely handicapped by his own superior.

There was only one killed and eleven wounded on the iron-clads in this battle at Fort Henry, a small number for so long a fight, but this is accounted for by the fact that the accuracy of the gun-boats' fire was so great, and the discharges so rapid, that the enemy were constantly driven from their batteries even the great bravery of their

—

Commander

(General Loyd Tighlman), and the example he set in firing the guns himself, could not induce the Confederates to stand

up to their work under such a fire, especially after seven of the fort's guns had been dismounted.

CH A PTE

X V.

R

CAPTURE OF FORT DONELSON AND BATTLE OF SHILOH.

—

—

Grant's Message to Halleck. The Army in Front op Donelson. The Gun-boats PUSH UP THE Tennessee River. Burning op the Confederate Transports. Fort Donelson and its Strategic Position. The Gun-boats Open Fire on the Fort. The Gun- boats are Crippled and Withdraw. Flag-oppicer Foote Wounded.^ Gallantry op Captain Walke. Losses. General Grant's Victory. Results.— Gun BOATS Repair to Cairo. Grant Prepares to Advance towards Shiloh. Battle AT Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh). Services Rendered by the Gun-boats " Lexington" AND "Taylor." Captain Gwin's Report. The Navy Aids Materially in Saving the Army prom Destruction. A Terrible Battle and Great Loss op Life. The Confederates as Fighters, Extracts prom Records op the Times. Congratulatory Orders, &c.

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

the 8th of February, 1863, Gen.

Grant telegraphed to Gen. Halleck "Fort Henry is ours; the gun-

boats silenced the batteries before the investment was completed. I shall take and destroy Fort Donelson on the 8th, and return to Fort Henry." The same reasons which had induced Grant to undertake the capture of Fort Henry still urged him to take Fort Donelson that is, to get the control of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers and be able to penetrate into the heart of Tennessee with his troops and Foote's gun- boats. On the 7th of February his cavalry penetrated to within a mile of Fort Donelson, but they could obtain no information as to the strength of the place or the number of ;

troops.

Foote was notified of Grant's intentions,

and was requested to have what gun-boats he could muster ready to attack the batteries before the army made its assault. But the great rise in the Tennessee River prevented Grant from completing his proposed movement. The water overflowed the river banks, and gave the army as much as it could do to save its stores and tents from the flood. In the meantime three gun-boats, under Lieut. Phelps, had pushed on up the Tennessee as far as Florence, Alabama, greatly fl.la.rminiv

+Iici

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r»c»

-n-mTi v» r^

—

—

—

—

——

—

ON

—

—

—

comfort to the loyal citizens, who were glad to see the old flag floating over their waters.

When

about twenty-five miles above the Phelps found the draw at the railroad-

fort,

and the machinery for working it disabled, but men were landed, in an hour the draw was opened, and crossing closed,

the following gun-boats passed through " Taylor," Lieut. -Com. Gwin; "Lexington," Lieut. -Com. Shirk, and the " Conestoga," " Lieut.-Com. Phelps. In a short time this flotilla caused the enemy to abandon and burn three steanx transports, filled with military stores, sub:

batteries, powder, cannon and proThese vessels exploded with such force as to endanger the Union gun-boats.

marine

jectiles.

Skylights were broken, doors forced open and the light upper decks raised bodily. This did not stop the progress of the latter, however, and they proceeded up the river,

doing good work in breaking up railroads and destroying camp equipage wherever they could find it. At a place called Cerro Gordo, they came across the steamer "Eastport." which was being converted into a gun-

—

boat a strong, powerful vessel, afterwards used as a gun-boat and ram by the Federal

Government. She had been abandoned and scuttled, and her suction-pipes broken, but the leaks were stopped, and the vessel raised and taken back to Fort Henry. /^i-»

+l-»c»

G+h

r\-9

TTtiK-pno-mT- +1to

fl refill

Q q T>T»nri:a/-

THE NA VAL HISTORY

150

at Chickasaw, near the state line, and seized two steamers. They then proceeded up to Florence. Alabama, near the mussel slioals, where three steamers had been set force was on fire by the Confederates. landed and a large amount of stores, marked

A

" Fort Henry," were saved from the burning also a quantity that had been

vessels

;

landed and stored.

The

results of this expedition

were three

steamers and one gun-boat seized, six steainers burned by the enemy to prevent their falling into our hands, all the timber and saw-mills in the neighborhood destroyed, and a large quantity of stores captured. the 6th to the 10th of the month the labors of this little flotilla were immense, and its gallant commander inflicted damage upon the enemy which was irreparable. In the course of this raid our officers met the most gratifying proofs of loyalty

From

wherever they went. Across Tennessee, and in those portions of Alabama and Mississippi which they visited, men, women and children came in crowds and shouted their welcome to the old flag under which they had been born. A reign of terror had existed all along the river, and loyal people did not dare to express their thoughts openly. They intimated to our officers, however, that if arms were placed in their hands they would not hesitate to espouse the Union cause and put down rebellion in their midst. This shows exactly what kind of a government the secession leaders intended to substitute for the one under which these people had lived so contentedly, in the enjoyment of freedom of speech and all the other rights which belong to every free

American. This expedition had an excellent effect it appeared, and it showed the necessity of further increasing our naval force on the Western waters, in order to have a sufficient number of gun-boats on all the rivers to keep them open, to drive the guerrilla army away from their banks, and also to give confidence to the Union people, who only needed some such support to induce them to proclaim their sentiments

Foote that he was only waiting for the return of the gun-boats to attack Fort Donelson.

This fortification was the strongest military work in the entire theatre of war. It was situated on the west bank of the Cumberland River, north of the town of Dover, on a peculiarly rugged and inaccessible series of hills which rose abruptly to the height of one hundred feet. Every advantage had been taken of the character of the

ground. The country was densely wooded, but the timber had been felled far out in advance of the breastworks, and the limbs, cleaned and sharpened, were formed into an almost impenetrable abbatis. Two streams which emptied into the Cumberland formed the right and left defenses of the Confederate breastworks, which extended nearly three miles, and were strongly entrenched with secondary lines of rifle pits and detached batteries posted on commanding heights. It- was a marvelous work and evidently a difficult place to take, provided the enemy had a sufficiently strong garrison to hold all

points of his line of defense.

fort was built on a precipitous height, close bj^ a deep gorge open to the South. It was three-quarters of a mile from the breastworks, and overlooked both the river and the interior. It covered a hundred acres of ground and was defended by fifteen heavy guns and two carronades. There were heavy water-batteries placed to control the river navigation, and the whole armament of the batteries, including the light artillery, was sixty-five pieces. The garrison numbered (as well as could be ascertained) 31.000 men, a great part of whom had recenth' been thrown into the

The main

wherever

works by the Confederates, who appreciated

openly.

the importance of the position as fully as Grant did, and were now straining every nerve to hold it. While Grant was making his movements in the rear of the fort, so as to completely surround it and prevent the escape of any of the garrison, the gun-boats on the water side were preparing for the attack. Foote, according to his own report, did not consider himself properly prepared for such an adventure, as his force was not sufficientlj^ strong to make an attack on the fort but at the earnest request of Halleck and Grant, he felt called upon to do what he could, and at 3 p.m. on the lith, he moved up with liis fleet in the following order: iron-clads, "St. Louis," (flag-ship),

Grant lost no time in getting together a which he deemed sufficient for the attack on Fort Donelson. Reinforcements were rapidly coming in from various quarters, and Halleck, who up to this time had thrown every objection in the way of the expedition, now seemed anxious to take the credit of the movement to himself, and was doing all he could to hurry troops, stores and siege implements to the scene of action. On the 10th he informed Grant that large re-enforcements would be sent to him. Grant did not, however, wait for these force

re-enforcements,

but while Halleck was

;

Lieut. Paulding: "Carondelet," Com. Walke; "Louisville," Com, Dove; "Pittsburg," Lieut. E. Thompson; gun-boats: • Taylor," Lieut.-Com. Gwin; " Conestoga," Lieut.-Com. Phelps, the two latter in the rear.

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

during^ part of which time the iron-clads -were within 400 yards of the fort, the flagship "St. Louis," and the iron-clad "Louisville," had their wheels disabled and drifted out of action. The fire of the fort, which had during the greater part of the engagement been very rapid and accurate, was now concentrated <m the remaining vessels of the fleet, and soon proved too hot for them. The ironclads "Pittsburg" and " Carondelet " were much cut up between wind and water, and

with the wooden gun-boats

were

finally

•compelled to drop out of action. The flagship " St. Louis" had received fifty-nine shots, four of which were between wind and water, and one in the pilot-house which killed the pilot and wounded the flag-officer himself. Foote says in his report: " Notwithstanding our disadvantages, we have every reason to believe that in fifteen minutes more, •could the action have been continued, it would have resulted in the capture of the The enemy's fire had slackened, and forts. he was running from his batteries when the two gun-boats, 'St. Louis' and 'Louisville,' dropped out of action owing to their crippled condition, seeing which, the enemy re-

turned to his guns and again opened fire from the river batteries, which had been silenced."

This was evidently not a success on the part of the Navy, as the gun-boats were compelled to retire; the "St. Louis" and ^'Louisville," in consequence of having their rudders crippled, and the " Carondelet" and "Pittsburg" because they were not able to withstand the concentrated fire •of

the enemy. It

has been asked, "

the other, to remain at long range, where the enemy's fire would be uncertain, especially if the vessels were kept well apart. All these things will be considered after a fight is over, but no one knows what he would do unless placed in like circumstances. In this case the flag-officer had received a serious wound in the foot, and in addition to the physical pain which he suf-

he was no doubt taken by surprise at meeting with such a reception at Fort Donelson after having made such short work with Fort Henry. Nothing is said in official reports or genfered,

eral orders about the gallant attack made by Captain Walke in the " Carondelet." On the morning of the 13th (before Foote had arrived). General Grant requested Captain Walke to take a position and throw shells into the fort in order to create a diversion, which he hoped to be able to take

advantage of. Captain Walke immediately complied with this request, and threw 139 lo-second and 10-second shells into the enemy's works, receiving in return a fire from all the bat-

The " Carondelet " was only struck twice, however, as most of the projectiles teries.

passed over her. One 128-lb. solid shot passed through the front casemate, and glancing over the barricades which protected the boiler, struck and burst a steamheater and then fell into the fireroom. No other damage was done, and it is thus

shown how much more difficult it is to strike one vessel moving about than a number of vessels in groups. Foote's vessels

the

enemy was was thought

•deserting his batteries and it that in fifteen minutes more the gun-boats would have been victorious, why were not "the drifting vessels lashed alongside of the

"Carondelet and "Pittsburg" and thus brought back into action, where they could have taken part with the Army in obtaining the victory, and have obtained more than a passing notice by army historians ? As it was, the only notice they obtained was the statement that '"the gun-boats were so disabled as to be unfit to take any part of importance in the succeeding operations." This mention of the IS avy was disingenuous, to say the least, and is not historJ^ The "Carondelet" and "Pittsburg," though struck pretty often, were

still intact and fit any service, and their two commanders would have been glad to have availed them-

for

selves of the opportunity to run past the batteries and enfilade them on the side where they were least protected. There are two ways of fighting batteries on river heights ; one is to engage them at

were struck about fifty 32-lb. shot, and had and men killed and

times each by 128 and fifty-four

If

151

officers

wounded.

We

regret that' we cannot chronicle a victory for the gun-boats, but it was a fair stand-up fight while it lasted, and Foote did not hesitate to take the bull by the horns and engage the enemy at 600 yards, the best distance for the forts and the worst for the vessels; and, although the gun-boats were forced to drop out of action, they lost no credit in so doing.

There was one omission in this naval atwhich is due to the historj' of the times, and should be mentioned. Had the flagofficer sent his remaining gun-boats past the batteries at night, when the darkness would have prevented the enemy from estimating his distance, these vessels would have been rea dy on the following day to enfilade the works in their weakest point; and what is more important still, thej' would have cut off all hope of escape of the garrison. The transports in which Floyd and Pillow with 5,000 men escaped across and up the river, would all have fallen into our

tack,

hands.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

152

interesting affair we feel obliged to say that all the credit for the capture of Fort Donelson belongs to the Army, as there was no truth in the statement that the enemy were so demoralized by the attack of the gun- boats, that they could not be brought into effective use on the following day in the actions which resulted in their defeat and the surrender of 16,000 men, sixty-five 17,600 small-arms to General (Twenty-five hundred of the Confederates were killed and wounded during the siege.) This victory belonged exclusively to General Grant and no one can take from him one iota of the credit of that great military feat, in which he showed his fitness to lead the armies of the Union. The results of this victory were that "the whole of Kentucky and Tennessee at once fell into the hands of the national forces the Tennes-

guns and rrant.

—

see and Cumberland rivers were opened to national vessels for hundreds of miles. Nashville, the capital of Tennessee and a place of great strategic importance, fell. Bowling Green had become untenable as soon as Donelson was attacked, and was abandoned on the 11th of February, the day before the Confederate works on the Cumberland were carried, while Columbus and the other end of the strategic line were evacuated early in March, thus leaving the Mississippi river free from the Confederate flag from St. Louis to Arkansas. The news of this victory was very encouraging to the Union people, especially

when they beheld

its

results.

When

city

and stronghold after stronghold was abandoned, and they saw that it was all in consequence of the capture of after city fell

Fort Donelson, tional

it is

not strange that the na-

amazement and

no bounds, and that the

Navy

gratification

knew

only to be regretted should not have had a greater it is

share in the honors. Grant was made a Major-General, and we only regret that the opportunity did not serve to make Foote a Rear-Admiral and give some promotion to his gallant officers. It is always difficult to procure reliable information with regard to the force of the enemy, either of men or guns. In this case the report of Flag-officer Foote was very indefinite, and he only gives a general idea of what he had to contend against.

He says, '"the enemy must have brought over twenty heavy guns to bear upon our vessels from the water-batteries and the jnain fort on the side of the hill, while we could only return the fire with twelve bow guns from the four boats. It is not the intention of the writer to mention all the small affairs in which the gun-boats performed splendid service, such as making reconnoissances up and down the -,!,;»

and

light

object

batteries,

was gained

or

some definite^ some serious injury

unless

on the enemy, as the limits of this book forbid it. It is his intention, however, inflicted

of the Navy in is possible to for what he accomplished, without, as a rule, going beyond official reports. After the battle of Fort Donelson, Foote's^ gun-boats had to go to Cairo for repairs, which they sorely needed, and to replenish their crews, for they were all very much in want of men. As fast as the vessels were made readyfor service they were kept moving in the work of reconnoitering down towards Columbus, or else they were employed on the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers to deter the enemy from erecting batteries along the banks; also to assure the inhabitants that they would be protected by the Fed-

to fully describe the

work

Western waters, and when it give every oflicer due credit

eral

ates

government, and that the Confederwould soon be driven out of the

State.

These, however, are mere details of duty which cannot be brought out in a history of this kind. The fall of Forts Henry and Donelson compelled the Confederates to change their plans almost immediately.

Their line of defense was moved farther South and was now established on the following points Island No. 10, Fort Pillow and Memphis on the Mississippi, a point in Tennessee near Pittsburg, and the town of Chattanooga. All of these points were strongly fortified and defended by large armies, thus closing up East Tennessee, and preventing our armies from marching southward. On the 15th of Februar}^, Gen. Grant was assigned to the new military district of West Tennessee, with limits undefined, and Gen. W. T. Sherman to the command of the :

district of Cairo.

Grant commenced at once to concentrate and make his dispositions to meet the new order of defense established by .the Confederates. His first step was to send Gens. Wright and McClernand up to Pittsburg, while he remained himself at Savanhis forces

nah, superintending the organization of the new troops which were arriving from Missouri, and making preparations to advance towards Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh). The account of the famous battle which soon occurred at this place must be left to military writers, but the battle of Shiloh with its changes of fortune from hour to hour, its keen anxieties, splendid fighting on both sides, and the splendid victorv which was finally wrenched from the enemy after he had driven our troops back upon the river, will always be remembered by those who have read the history of that dav.

OF THE CIVIL WAR. our troops, having been driven by the enemy from point to point and ridge to ridge, had reached the river bank and were brought to bay. Here the gun-boats " Lexington" and "Taylor" rendered good service, and the national troops, rallying under the cover of their guns, made a superb resistance, and although the enemy flung himself fiercely upon the Union lines he was again and again driven back. The military historians have not done justice to the work of the gun-boats at this important juncture. Croly disposes of the subject by saying "the gun-boats were of some importance as they had been for some time previous engaged in checking the advance of the enemy on the extreme left." Badeau,the historian, also speaks of the gunboats " being employed during the night in throwing shells amongst the enemy's troops, which annoyed them greatly and set fire to the woods, which were ablaze all around them." It is not likely that the two gun-boats would be idle at Pittsburg Landing while our Army was being driven back by the enemy, and it is the belief of many officers that without the aid of these vessels the Federal army would have been annihilated. But there are no reliable Arnay accounts of the matter and we must be satisfied with the statement that "the Federal troops with their backs to the river, and no cover but the gun-boats, there made an unconquer:

able stand."

The following account, taken in substance from Boynton's Naval History, seems to be the most correct version of the part taken by the gun-boats "Taylor" and " Lexington," in the battle of Shiloh :

"From the beginning of the

fight until after

one

wooden gun-boats 'Lexington' and Taylor had been moving up and down the stream, anxious to render some assistance, but received no orders to do so. At that time Lieut.-Com. o'clock p. M., the '

'

'Taylor,' having as yet received no instructions from any quarter, and growing impatient as shot and shell fell around the vessels, sentan officer to communicate with Gen. Hurlburt and requested permission to open on the Confederates. Gen. Hurlburt expressed his thanks for this offer of support, saying tliat without aid he could not hold his position for an hour, and indicated the proper line of fire. At 10 o'clock the Taylor G-win, of the

'

opened fire on the enemy, and with such effect that in a short time the Confederate batteries at that point were silenced. "About 4 o'clock the 'Taylor' dropped down to Pittsburg Landing to communicate with Gen. Grant. His reply was that Lieut. Gwin must use his own judgment in the case. "Directly after the 'Taylor' and 'Lexington' went up in company and took up a position only three-quarters of a mile above the landing. " In thirty-five minutes the enemy's batteries on the right were again silenced, thus relieving the national troops on the left, but at half-past 5 p. m. our lines had been so forced in towards the river that the enemy gained a position on our left only

153

and not without cause, to crush what remained of the organization of the national army. Between our position and where the enemy had prepared for this last rush, was a ravine which they must cross in the assault, and here the two gunboats took up a position. At the same time Col. pected,

Webster, of Gen. Grant's staff, hastUy collected some scattered guns and placed them where they would play on the left flank of the enemy's line when they should advance. "This was the decisive point in the battle. The next half hour would settle the question whether or not a victorious Confederate army should occupy and lay under contribution the States north of the Ohio. "There was a brief lull in the firing while the Confederate host was making its final preparations, and our troops were being collected in a semi-circular mass with the centre not half a mile from the river. Our men (with the exception of the shameless skulkers) had fought bravely, but were now in a disorganized condition, and it seemed as if their main dependence must now be upon the guns which Col. Webster had collected to check the advance of the enemy. " The delay was for a few moments only, and they came preceded by a storm of shot from tlieir batteries which swept over all the intervening space and up to the very banks of the river. •"As stated by Gen. Grant, their troops were massed so as to strike the main blow at our left, so that by turning it they could seize the transports and stores. It did not occur to the enemy that this would bring their column under the guns of the gun-boats at point-blank range. "The 'Lexington' and 'Taylor' had rounded to opposite the ravine, so that their batteries could be brought to bear upon the dense mass swarming in across the line of fire."

So far Mr. Boynton: Capt. Gwin will tell the rest u * » * Both vessels opened a heavy and welldirected fire on them, and in a short time, in conjunction with our artillery on shore, succeeded in silencing their artillery, and driving them back in :

confusion.

"At 6 p.m. the 'Taylor' opened deliberate fire in the direction of the enemy's right wing, throwing 5 and 10-second shell. * * * *

"At

9

P.M. the

'Taylor' again opened

fire,

* * * throwing 5, 10 and lo-second shell, and an occasional shrapnel from the howitzer at intervals of ten minutes, in the direction of the enemy's right wing, until 1 a. m., when the Lexington' relieved us, and continued the fire at intervals of fifteen minutes until 5 A. M., when, our land forces having attacked the enemy, forcing them gradually back, it made it dangerous for the gun-boats to *

'

fire."

engagement the "Taj'lor" fired and the "Lexington" about the same number, and it can be imagined what gaps were made in the enemy's ranks by our expert gunners, when they were massed at the ravine for a rush upon our disorganIn this 188 shell,

ized troops,

already driven nearly to the

river.

The military historian says, "the gunboats gave mutual support at this moment." Boynton says, " thus, on the same day, the Navy on the Western rivers received the surrender of one of the Confederate fortifications on the Mississippi, and aided very materially in saving from destruction our Armv at Pittsburg: Landins: bv repellina: the

THE NAVAL HISTORY

154

ing their army by the destructive broadsides of the steamers' heavy guns, and holding them back during the night until Nelson and Buel were ready to attack." The reader can take either version of the story that suits him best. There is a tn^adition in the Navy which will go down to posterity, that the "Taylor" and "Lexington" prevented part of our Army on that day from being driven into the river, and turned the enemy back when he considered that victory was in his hands. Lieut. Gwin in writing to Foote, puts it

by both

parties, but the Federals remained masters of the field. It broke up the delusion of many in the North who, up to this time, had believed that after a few heavy defeats the Southern

people would return to their allegiance. For here it was seen that after the victories of Donelson and Shiloh, and the capture of Columbus. Nashville and Bowling Green, no perceptible effect was made upon the resolution of the Confederates. Their energy was not in the least diminished. Gen. Grant himself believed that the contest was to be prolonged and desperate, and

EEAE-ADMIEAL HENBY WALKE, (COIIMAJJDEE OF THE •CAEONDELET.")

"Your old wooden boats,' confident, rendered invaluable service on the Gth instant to the land forces." And so will think the reader. Gen. Grant did not have a large number of gun-boats at Pittsburg Landing is not understood, as it was a most favorable position for their use, and the 60,000 Confederates spread over a large area of ground would have offered many opportunities for them to throw in an effective modestly thus

'

:

I feel

Why

fire.

The battle of Shiloh was a terrible and the losses on both sides w^rR

one,

vpw

we go on with the history of events it will be seen that his view was' the correct one. The more the Confederates were beaten the harder they fought, and even when thev had robbed the cradle and the grave to fill up their ranks, and when many of them were satisfied that their cause was hopeless, they fought on as if engaged in some pastime in which thev took great ^ as

•

"'

•

'

delight.

In conclusion we would call attention to the fact that the victories which perched upon the banners of the Federal armv were 1 l->

r\

fvni- 2-

2

'^

>

3-

Kl

S

s

Cogri

?

Besides this arrangement of the fleet, the mortar-steamers were directed to move forward and be ready to engage the waterbattery of Fort Jackson, while the former were passing the forts. The Confederates

much dependence upon this battery on account of its heavy armament and wide range down the river. According to signal, on the morning of April 34th, at two o'clock, the Federal fleet commenced to get under way. The Confederates, ever alert, detected the movement, probably from the noise of capstans placed

and

cables.

Before following the fleet in its movements, a word in relation to the advantages and disadvantages of each side will not be amiss. One fact was strongly in favor of the fleet, the division of the Confederate defenses into three branches, viz. the land forces, the regular naval forces, and the river defense thus preventing concert of action. The odds were against Far-

—

,i

:„ _ii

.J-T

4.™

COMMANDEE (NOW KEAE-ADMIHAL) CHAKLE8

F.

BOGGS,

OF THE "VARUNA."

uga," was under fire. This commenced from both forts simultaneously. As the fleet advanced, the flve mortarsteamers opened fire from their position, two hundred yards from the water-battery of Fort Jackson, quelling its fire by pouring in canister, shrapnel, and grape, while the mortars threw in their bombs with great fury.

Captain Bailey's division, led by the " Cayuga," passed the line of obstructions in close order, but from this point the vessels were somewhat damaged by the heavy fire of St. Philip before it was possible for them to reply. Captain Bailey kept on

4

'ST a,

I

CO

O

o < a; o -
T-irorl nnH sfirvftH. and wheu officers firing.

it,

firing

only

guns, until we reached a position where our broadside guns could be used; we then continued slowly on, frequently stopping and returning his fire, and sustaining that of the rebel gun-boats at the same time, until we had reached a point above that fort where its fire could no longer reach The ram, after having struck the " Vaus. runa" gun-boat, and forced her to run on shore to prevent sinking, advanced to attack this ship, coming down on us right ahead. She was perceived by Lieutenant F. A. Roe just in time to avoid her by sheering the ship, and she passed close on our starboard side, receiving, as she went by, a broadside from us. The gun-boats of the enemy now fled up the river, and some of theni were run on shore and set fire to by their own were under the fire of the enecrews.

our

bow

We

about two hours. We then steamed up the river to render assistance to the " Varuna." We sent our boats to her to assist in

my

THE NAVAL HISTORY

SOS

"taking off her officers and crew, and have seven of the former and about sixty of the latter now on board. The conduct of the officers and crew of this ship was in every respect praiseworthy, evincing coolness and courage of the highest order. The fire of the guns was kept up with all the rapidity wliich the circumstances of the action demanded, to insure injury to the enemy without the wasting of ammunition. The amount of damage inflicted by us on him cannot be ascertained, but I believe that it must have been very considerable. It is impossible in a night at-

tack to do 'justice to each officer's merits by specifying his particular conduct in the battle, but the result of the conflict is the hest evidence of the great good behaviour of them all. I must speak of the coolness and ability displayed by Lieutenant F. A. Roe, the executive officer of this ship. His station being on the bridge next to me enabled me to witness it. My eyesight is quite defective, especially at night, and I am compelled to rely on that of others. I was, therefore, obliged to give to Lieutenant Roe the duty of directing the ship's course through the opening of the barricade, as well as the ascending of the river during the whole ac-

The judgment and

skill shown by performance of this duty cannot be surpassed. We liad no pilot on hoard, and he performed that duty with the most remarkable abihty and success. I recommend and most strongly urge upon the Navy Department the propriety and justice of promoting him to the rank of commander, as a reward for the highly important services which he has rendered in this battle. In my opinion he has fairly earned it and ought to receive it. In the action of the 25th instant with the batteries just below the city tlie ship re-

tion.

him

in the

ceived but little injury in her hull or rigging, and none of the officers or crew were killed or wounded, I enclose herewith a report of the surgeon of the killed and wounded; also, one of the injury sustained hy the ship in hull and rigging.

am, very respectfully, Henry W. Morris, Captain. Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, Commanding Western Qulf Blockading Squadron. I

relative to the occurrences, casualties, expenditure of ammunition, and damages on board this ship on the mornings of the 24th

and 25th instant. II; becomes my duty to add that, on the morning of the 24th, soon after the action between our fleet and the forts, St. Philip and Jackson, commenced, in consequence of the darkness of the night and the blinding smoke, I lost sight of your ship, and when following in the line of what I supposed to be your fire, I suddenly found the " Brooklyn" running over one of the hulks and rafts which sustained the chain barricade of the river. For a few moments I was entangled and fell athwart the stream, our bow grazing the shore on the left bank of the river. While in this situation I received a pretty severe fire from Fort St. Philip. Immediately after extricating my ship from the rafts, her head was turned up stream, and a few minutes thereafter she was feebly butted by the celebrated ram " Manassas." She came butting into our starboard gangway, first firing from her trap-door, when within about ten feet of the ship, directly

toward our smoke-stack, her shot entering about iive feet above the water-line and lodging in the sand-bags which protected our steam-drum. I had discovered this queer looking gentleman, while forcing my way over the barricade, lying close into the bank, and when he made his appearance the second time I was so close to him that he had not an opportunity to get up his full speed, and his efforts to damage me were completely frustrated, our chain armor proving a perfect protection to our sides. He soon slid off and disappeared in the darkness. A few moments thereafter, being all the time under a raking fire from Fort Jackson, I was attacked by a large Confederate steamer. Our port broadside, at the short distance of only fifty or sixty yards, completely finished him, setting him on fire almost instantaneously. Still groping my way in the dark, or under the black cloud ot smoke from the fire-raft. I suddenly found myself abreast of St. Philip, and so close that the leadsman in the starboard chains gave the soundings, ''thirteen feet, sir."

As we could bring

all

our guns

Mississippi River, off New Orleans, April 2(j, 18G2. ) Sir Herewith I have the honor to enclose reports from the executive officer, sur-

to bear, for a few brief moments we poured in grape and canister, and I had the satisfaction of completely silencing that work before I left it mj- men in the tops witnessing, in the flashes of their bursting shrapnels, the enemy running like sheep for more comfortable quarters. After passing the forts we engaged several of the enemy's gun-boats and being at short range generally from sixty to a hundred yards the effects of our" broadsides must have been terriflc. This ship

geon,

was under

report op captain t. t. craven, tjnited steam-sloop "brooklyn.

United States Steam-sloop "Brooklyn," )

[•

—

gunner, carpenter and boatswain,

—

;

—

fire

—

about one hour and a half.

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

lost eight men killed, and had twentysix wounded, and our damages from the enemy's shot and shell are severe. I should not have been so particular, sir, in recording so many of the incidents of the morning of the 24th, had I not been out of my proper station; but justice to officers and crew demand that I should show that the " Brooklyn " was neither idle nor useless on that never-to-be-forgotten occasion. In conclusion, I must here beg leave to add that officers and crew, all, without a single exception, behaved in a most heroic manner indeed, I was surprised to witness their perfect coolness and self-possession, as they stood at their guns while the rebels were hailing shot and shell upon us for nearly half an hour before I gave the order to " open fire." I have to congratulate myself on being so ably assisted by my exec utive officer. Lieutenant R. B. Lowry. He was everywhere, inspiring both officers and crew with his own zeal and gallantry in the performance of their duty. Lieutenant James O'Kane, who had charge of the 1st division, was severely wounded soon after we commenced the action but not until he

"We

203

a quarter-past 11 o'clock, two batteries were discovered, one on our starboard bow, and the other almost directly ahead. Signal was made from your ship to prepare for action. At this time the flag-ship was the leading vessel, the " Brooklyn " was the my second in the line, and the "Iroquois" third tlie others were astern, and somewhat scattered. A few minutes after your signal the "Cayuga" passed the "Brooklyn." and so close as to compel me to hail my and request her commander not to force me out of my station. She pushed on, and even passed the flag-ship. About noon, being then one and a quarter miles distant from them, the batteries opened a raking fire upon us. The fire of starboard battery was immediately responded to by this ship, then about half a cable's length astern of the " Hartford," and twentyone shots from our 80-pounder rifled gun were rapidly, and with remarkable precision, thrown into it, only two of these shots failing to take effect. A few minutes afterward the "Brooklyn," then steaming at the rate of ten knots, by the sudden sheering off and slowing down of the " Hartford." had himself primed, sighted and fired two for the purpose of engaging the enem}', guns, and from loss of blood fallen to the necessarily sheered in shore, which brought deck, would he consent to be carried below. her up within one hundred and fifty or two Lieutenant James Forney, commanding the hundred yards of the port-hand battery, marines, had two guns assigned him, and, and so as to obstruct the fire of the " Hartwith his men, fought most gallantly. ford." The "Brooklyn" then opened fire I was early deprived of the services of my with grape and canister, stopped her ensignal officer and aid. Acting Midshipman gines, and, lying within less than one hunJohn Anderson, by a shot, which cut him dred yards of the river bank, delivered two and the signal quartermaster, Barney Sands, other broadsides, which completely drove nearly in two. Young Anderson was a most the enemy pell-mell from their guns and promising and gallant young gentleman, from the field. and had, only a few days previously, volunIn conclusion, sir, permit me to congratuteered from another vessel, which had been late you upon this most brilliant success. detailed for other duty, to join this ship he The attack by our squadron upon two strong was knocked overboard and killed instantly. and garrisoned forts, steaming within grape Immediately afterward, my young clerk, and canister range, and partially silencing Mr. J. G. Swift, (who had been meanwhile them, and the pursuit and destruction of taking notes,) asked me to let him act as my almost their entire fieet of gun-boats, have aid and the prompt, self-possessed manner not been surpassed, if equaled, by any navy in which he performed his duty in conveying Under the providence of in the world. my orders elicited my highest admiration. Almighty God we have achieved a most The conduct of Quartermaster James glorious victory. Buck, stationed at the wheel, merits particVery respectfully, your obedient servant, Thos. T. Craven, Captain. ular mention. Early in the fight he received a severe and painful contusion by a heavy Flag-officer D. G. Fakragut, Commanding Western Gulf Blockading splinter but for seven hours afterwards he stood bravely at his post and performed his Squadron. duty, refusing to go below until positively ordered to do so and on the morning of report op commander s. phillips lee, the 25th, without my knowledge, he again commanding united states steamstole to his station and steered the ship from sloop " oneida." early daylight until 1.30 p. m., over eight United States Steam-sloop " Oneida," ) hours. I beg particularly that you will New Orleans, April 26, 1862. f bring this man's conduct to the especial I report the part born by the "Oneida" notice of the Navy Department. On the morning of the 25th of April, as the during the actions on the morning of the 21:th, between 3 and 6 a. m., with Fort Jackfleet was proceeding up the river, at about ;

-

;

;

;

;

;

;

THE NA VAL HISTORY

304

son and Fort St. Philip and the Confederate gun-boats, and in the battle of New Orleans, at noon on the ;ioth. ACTION WITH FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. The "Oneida" was, under your order, the fourth in line in the leading division, which was instructed by you to pass on the Fort St. Philip side and not to fire the port bat-

Hence the port 32s were shifted to, and our pivot guns trained on the star-

tery.

board

side.

The enemy's fire was very heavy, and began from both forts as soon as we got within long range of their guns, which was on opening the point a mile and a half below Fort Jackson. I found it necessary, until past the forts, to pilot and to direct all operations from the forecastle after nearing the opening in the barrier, where the "Mississippi" (our next ahead) seemed at a stand as if aground, on the Fort St. Philip side, when she com-

menced

firing her port battery. This obstruction to our passage was removed, as, caught by the current on the starboard bow, the " Mississippi" shot over to and rather down on the Fort Jackson Then the " Varuna" (our next astern) side. appeared on our port side and showed black smoke. The "Oneida" was steered infer the Fort St. Philip side, passed up quickly in the strong eddy, and close under the guns of that fort, (so that the sparks from its immense battery seemed to reach us,) fired rapidly bolts from two rifled guns, (we had no shell for them,) grape and canister from the forward 32s, and shrapnel from the two 11-inch pivot guns, whilst passing this long line of works. (It was, perhaps, the burning of the sulphur in our 11-inch shrapnel which occasioned the officers in Fort St. Philip to inquire after the surrender, if our shells were not filled with Greek fire. The terrific fire from the heavy batteries of Fort St. Philip passed over us, their guns seeming to be too much elevated for our

close position.

ACTION "WITH THE GUN-BOATS. just above the forts we encountered the gun-boats and transports of the enemy. The former, it seems from the subsequent reports of our prisoners, were tied to trees along the steep bank above Fort St. Philip thence passing over to the Fort Jackson side, these gun-boats came down to meet It was very thick from darkness and us. smoke. We had now got on the Fort Jackson side. A flash revealed the ram "Manassas," gliding down our port side below our guns, and passing too close and swiftly aided by steam and the current, to enable us to bring our heavy guns to bear on her. Next came a gun-boat quite near, and passing from the Fort Jackson to Fort St. Philip

When

our bow. Kan into it with a steam, and cut it down with a loud crash on its starboard quarter. Clear of our guns in a moment, it drifted down now slowed stream in the darkness. down, and afterwards used the steam as necessary to get or keep position in fighting the gunboats, firing right and left into them as we could ascertain (from other indications than black smoke, on account of the " Varuna ") that we were not firing into one of our own steamers forbore to fire into those steamers that appeared to be river transports, and ceased firing into others when they made no return. In this manner we fired into and passed several Confederate boats on the right bank, leaving it for those who came after to pick up the prizes. A black gun-boat with two masts a converted sea steamer ran ahead after a brief contest. At or near daybreak we found the "Cayuga" on our port side. After consultation with Captain Bailey, we concluded to wait for the fleet Captain to come up and form in order. Bailey afterwards hailed that the "Varuna" might be ahead. Looked for her but could not make her out, and received reports from the first lieutenant and the officer on the forecastle that she was not in sight. had steamed a mile or more ahead of the "Cayuga," saw her general signal No. 80, but as there was nothing in sight of us needing assistance, supposed the signal to refer to some vessel astern of the "Cayuga." Moving ahead, reconnoitering, came up with what in the gray of the morning appeared to be a fort, but which, on nearer approach, proved to be a Confederate camp on the right bank, with a large Confederate fiag flying over it. Fired into it, but no reply was made, no one was seen moving, and the camp seemed deserted. Passed on, leaving the trophy flag flying, and soon received a report that the "Varuna" was ahead, and that the enemy was trying to board her. Went ahead with all speed to her assistance. Approaching rapidly, saw the " Varuna " ashore on the left bank of the river, where she had been driven by two side, across full head of

We

;

—

We

rebel gun -boats. At 5.30 a. m., fired on one of them, the black gun-boat, our previous acquaintance, with the forcastle rifle gun. He had hoisted his jib (his wheel-ropes being gone) and was trying to escape up river, but both rebel gun-boats, finding they could not get away, ran on shore the black one, which proved to be the " Governor Moore,"

—

Commander Kennon, on the left bank, above the "Varuna," and the (name yet unknown,) on the right bank, opposite the " Varuna," with her head up stream. After we had driven them ashore their crews deserted, but not before setting fire to their ,

vessels.

OF THE With our

boats

captured

CIVIL

Commander

Kennon, (formerly

of our navy,) one first lieutenant of artillery, one chief engineer, and fourteen of the crew of the "Governor Moore " also, a rebel signal-book and some official papers, showing that the rebel gunboats were ordered to ram our vessels and to distinguish themselves by showing lights, ;

which they must soon have found prudent to haul down. Seeing that the "Varuna" was sinking, sent our boats and went to her assistance. Brought on board " Oneida " the first lieutenant, two acting masters, two mates, and forty petty officers and seamen of the "Varuna," and sent ten others, seven of whom were wounded, to the "Pensacola."

The "Varuna" had been rammed and badly stove by both of these rebel gun-boats, which had kept with or after her up river, and she was filling, with her magazine flooded, when the " Oneida" drove off her assailants, prevented her officers and crew from being captured, and was received by them with loud and hearty cheers. The "Cayuga," (Captain Bailey's flag,) also cheered the " Oneida" heartily for opportunely coming to his support that morning.

BATTLE OF

NEW

ORLEANS.

In the action of the 25th, the "Oneida," being next to the "Pensacola," shared in the actual engagement with Fort Chalmette, on the famous old battle-ground. The entire action lasted but 10 minutes. The enclosed report of the surgeon shows the extent of our loss to be but three persons slightly wounded in these three actions. Fort Jackson sent a heavy shell through our port side and coal bunker, (which was full of coal) the shell falling, and fortunately without exploding, on our berthdeck. The gun -boats gave us one glancing shot on the starboard bow and a quantity of grape, mostly on the starboard side.

The

officers

and men

of

my command dis-

played courage, coolness and I

have the honor

to be, sir,

skill.

very respect-

fully yours, S.

Phillips Lee, Commanding.

G Farragut, U. S. N., Com,manding Western Blockading Squad-

Flag-officer D. ron.

beport of commander samuel swartwotjt, united states sloop-of-vtar " portsmouth." United States Sloop-of-War "PortsMOUTH," OFF Pilot Town, Mississippi [ )

EiVER, April 28, 18(52. ) compliance with your orders, I .got under way at 3.30 a. m. on the 24th instant, and proceeded toward Fort Jackson, Sir

— In

WAR.

205

tow of the steamer "JacksOn," for the purpose of enfilading that fort, to draw their fire from your squadron whilst passing by. Upon arriving at the position designated by you in your directions to Lieutenant Johnson. I ordered the ship to be anchored, and had a spring run out, to breast her broadside I had scarcely accomplished this when to. a very brisk and galling fire, with shell and solid shot, was opened upon the ship from a masked water battery only a few hundred yards distant, and so completely concealed from our view that we could only judge of its location by the flashes from the Confederate guns. We returned their fire with as much precision as we could under the circumstances, but with what effect Ihave been unable After firing one round from to ascertain. my port battery and four rounds from my Parrot gun, the spring was shot away, and the ship swung around, so that I was unable to bring any of my guns to bear upon Fort Jackson or the water battery. By this time the rebels had got their range, and were dropping their shell and shot with great in

rapidity all around and close to the ship, many of them cutting away the rigging 68-pounder solid just above our heads. shot was thrown on board, falling upon the spar deck, just under the top-gallant forecastle, tearing away the plank about ten feet, splitting one of the beams, and in its passage striking John Hancock, seaman, in the left leg, shattering it so much as to render amputation necessary. He has since died of his wound. Finding that the ship was a target for the enemy's batteries, without being able to bring ray guns to bear, and, as the squadron had passed the forts, the object of my visit was accomplished, I reluctantly gave the order to slip the cable, and was soon drifted out of range of the rebel guns by the wind and tide. I cannot speak in too high praise of the bravery, coolness, and subordination of the officers and crew upon this trying occasion. Commander Porter called to see me on the afternoon of the 24th instant, and, upon consultation, we decided that the most judicious course woiild be for all the vessels, with the

A

exception of a few of his most powerful steamers, to drop down to this anchorage, under my protection, so that in case any of the rams and fire-rafts should escape his steamers this ship could arrest their progress here.

Having received the glorious tidings today that Forts Jackson and Philip have surrendered to Commander Porter, I have concluded to proceed up the river again, in order to recover, if possible, the cable and anchor which I slipped on the 24th instant, and also to render all the assistance in my power. I have just received intelligence from Ship island that Lieutenant-Command-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

206

ing Abner Read, pf the steamer " New London," is in a critical situation, as tliere are five rebel steamers preparing to attack him. I will therefore order one of our gun-boats to proceed with all dispatch to his assistance.

Very

respectfully,

your obedient servant,

SwARTWOUT, Commander.

S.

Flag-officer D. G.

Farragut,

Commanding United

States

Naval Forces,

Western Gulf of Mexico.

and a burning steamer that was drifting down upon us, did not allow me to take the " Manassas" in tow after her surrender, therebv preserving her intact for our own use, as" the engines were still in operation when my boats, with an engineer and crew, boarded her. At this time it became necessary to recall my boats, when I directed her to be set on fire, and then so riddled her with shot that she was dislodged from the bank and drifted below the forts, when she blew up and sank. I respectfully refer you to the accompanying report of Surgeon R. F. Maccoun for the casualties that occurred among the crew, and to the enclosed statements of the carpenter and gunner of the damages done to the vessels and the expenditure of ammuniery,

tion. I have much pleasure in mentioning the rendered by Executive efficient service .

.

Officer Geo. Dewey, who kept the vessel in her station during the engagement, a task exceedingly difficult from the darkness and thick smoke that enveloped us from the fire of our vessel and the burning gun-boats. I would also refer, in terms of praise, to the conduct of all the officers and men under my command. As I consider that all the vessels under fire did their utmost to subdue the enemy and destroy his defences, I deem it unnecessary to enter into any further detail of the exploits performed by the ' Mississippi," as we all must share alike in the honor of your victory. Very respectfully, your obedient servant^

Melancton Smith, Commander United States Navy. Flag-officer D. G.

Commanding

Farragut, Western Division

Gulf

Blockading Squadron. COMMANDER (NOW

EEAK-ADMIR.tL)

MELANCTON SMITH,

REPORT of commander CHARLES S. BOGGS,. UNITED STATES STEAMER " VARUNA."

OF THE "MISSISSIPPI."

United States Steamer

Mississippi," Mississippi River, April 26, 1862. Sir I have to report that the injuries sustained by this ship in the engagements of the 24th and 25th instant, with Forts Jackson and St. Philip, the rebel gun-boats, the ram "Manassas," and the batteries below the city of New Orleans, are not of a very serious nature. Ten shots were received, eight of which passed entirely tlirough the ship. The ram " Manassas" likewise inflicted an extensive wound on the port quarters, below the water line. All these injuries can be temporarily remedied, with the exception of the latter, and the severe damage done to the outer shaft-bearing and mizzen-mast. I regret exceedingly that my disabled machin-

—

•

)

United States Steam Gun-boat "Cay

l\

Sir

—I

have the honor

to

enclose here-

with a duplicate of the report of Commander Boggs, late of the "Varuna," and attached to my division of the attacking force. This gallant officer came up to my support when I had more of the enemy's steamers attacking me than I could weli attend to. I afterwards saw him in conflict with three of the enemy's steamers, and directed Commander Lee, of the "Oneida," to go to liis support, which he did in the most dashing manner. Commander Bogg's description of the loss of his vessel I believe to be accurate. I saw him bravely fighting, his guns level with the water, as his vessel gradually sank

OF THE bow resting on the shore and above water. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, T. Bailey, Captain.

underneath, leaving her

"

Cayuga,"

May

—

6,

1862.

)

[

respectfully,

Charles S. Boggs, Commander United States Navy. Captain T. Bailey. Commanding First Division of Gun-boats.

United States Steamer "Brooklyn," OFF New Orleans, April 39, 1863. Sir I have the honor to report that, after passing the batteries with the steamer " Varuna," under my command, on the morning of the 34:th, finding my vessel amid a nest }

j

—

of rebel steamers,

I started ahead, delivering her fire, both starboard and port, at every one that she passed. The first on her starboard beam that received her fire appeared to be crowded with troops. Her boiler was exploded, and she drifted to the shore. In like manner three other vessels, one of them a gun-boat, were driven ashore

and afterwards blew up. At 6 A. M. the "Varuna" was attacked by the " Morgan," iron-clad about the bow, commanded by Beverly Kennon, an exin flames,

naval

officer,

"This vessel

in flames. Finding sinking, I ran her into the bank, let go the anchor, and tied up to the

the

"Varuna"

trees.

this time the guns

were actively

work crippling the " Morgan," which was making feeble efforts to get up steam. The fire was kept up until the water was over the gun-trucks, when I turned my attention to getting the wounded and crew out of the The " Oneida," Captain Lee. seeing vessel. the condition of the "Varuna," had rushed to her assistance, but I waived her on, and at

Sir I have the honor to enclose a copy (with slight verbal alteration) of the very hasty report drawn up at the last moment and sent to the flag-officer. My absence on special duty immediately after the action, and the necessity of forwarding it immediately, before the sailing of this vessel, must be my excuse for not forwarding it through you, my immediate commander, who so gallantly led the van of the division to which the " Varuna " was attached.

Very

2or

and drove her ashore

During all

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

United States Gun-boat

WAR.

CIVIL

raked us along

the port gangway, killing four and wounding nine of the crew, butting the "Varuna" on the quarter and again on the starboard side. I managed to get three eight-inch shells into her abaft her armor, as also several shots from the after rifled gun, when she dropped out of action partially disabled.

While still engaged with her, another rebel steamer, iron-clad, with a prow under water, struck us in the port gangway, doing

Our shot glanced She backed off for another blow, and struck again in the same place, crushing in the side but by going ahead fast, the concussion drew her bow around, and I was able, with the port guns, to give considerable damage.

from her bow.

the

"Morgan" surrendered I

his vessel.

cannot award too much praise to the and crew of the " Varuna" for the noble manner in which they supported me and their coolness under such exciting circumstances, particularly when extinguishing fire, having been set on fire twice duringthe action by shells. In fifteen minutes from the time the " Varuna" was struck she was on the bottom, with only her top-gallant forecastle I

officers

out of water. The officers and crew lost everything they possessed, no one thinking of leaving his station until driven thence by the water. I trust the attention of the department will be called to their loss, and compensation made to those who have lost their

all.

The crew were taken

off by the different vessels of the fleet as fast as they arrived, and are now distributed through the squadron. The wounded have been sent to the

"Pensacola."

commend to the I would particularly notice of the department Oscar Peck, second class boy, and powder boy of the after rifle, whose coolness and intrepidity attracted fit reward for the attention of all hands. such services would be an appointment at the naval school.

A

The marines, although new recruits, more than maintained the reputation of that corps. Their galling fire cleared the "Morgan's" rifled gun, and prevented a repetition of her murderous fire. Four of the marines were wounded, one I fear mortally. So soon as the crew were saved I reported to you in person, and within an hour left in the only remaining boat belonging to the "Varuna," with your despatches for General l->utler, returning with him yesterday afternoon.

;

her, while close alongside, five eight-inch This settled her. shells abaft her armor.

to her, the ves-

have since learned that her crew were killed and wounded, and she was set on fire by her commander, who burned his wounded with sel in fiames. over fifty of

Very respectfully, Charles S. Boggs,

Commander United

States Navy. Farragut, Western Gulf Blockading

Flag-officer D. G.

Commanding Squadron.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

308

report of commander john de camp, united states steamer "iroquois."

United States Steamer " Iroquois," OFF New Orleans, May 3, 1862. f Sir I beg to submit the following report respecting our engagement with Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and a fleet of Confederate steamers and rams in this river, April 24th and 25th. The " Iroquois," being on picket duty during the night of the 24th, and being about one mile in advance of the squadron, we observed the signal for action made on board the flagship at about 3 a. m. Soon after, the ship of the first division having )

—

passed ahead, we fell into our place, astern of the " Sciota,"and stood towards the forts. At 4 A. M. we were hotly engaged with the forts, and shortly after a ram and the Confederate gun-boat '• McCrea" came upon our quarter and astern of us and poured into the Iroquois " a most destructive fire of grapeshot and langrage, part of which was copper slugs a great many of them were found on our decks after the action. succeeded in getting one 11-inch shell into the "McCrea," and one stand of canister,

Our

in killed is large.

loss

sorry to say,

and wounded,

I

am

One master's mate

and five seamen and two marines are killed, and twenty-four wounded. Mr. George W. Cole, master's mate, was killed by a cannon shot, and he died bravely, shouting to the men not to mind him, but go on with their guns.

The "Iroquois"

injured in her is badly but her masts and spars are sound, except the bowsprit and jibboom. These are hit with large shot all our boats are smashed, and most of them are not worth hull,

;

repairs. I

am, most respectfully, your obedient

servant,

John De Camp, Commander United States Navy. Flag-officer

D

G. Farragut,

Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, Neio Orleans, La.

'

'

;

which drove her away from

We

We

report op commander JAMES ALDEN, united states steamer "RICHMOND." United States Steamer "Richmond," OFF New Orleans, April 27, 1862. Sir In accordance with your instruc)

)

—

suf-

tions, I

herewith enclose copies of the boat-

fered severely from the raking cross-fire of Fort St. Philip, but Fort Jackson inflicted no injury, although we passed within fifty yards of its guns. Passing the forts, we were beset by five or six Confederate steamers. gave each a broadside of shell as we passed, and the most of them were entirely destroyed. Four miles above the forts we captured the enemy's gun-boat " No. 3," armed with one 24-pound brass howitzer, and well supplied with small arms, fixed ammunition, sails, etc. At this point we also captured about forty soldiers, including Lieutenant Henderson, of the Confederate army. These men were paroled and landed at New Orleans. Some of them were so badly wounded that I sent them to the hospital without parole they will not trouble us again very soon, I think. Anchoring, by order, at 9 p. M. we were again under way at daylight on the 25th, and, in company with the squadron, stood up the river. At Chalmette

swain's

and carpenter's reports

us.

We

;

,

we encountered two Confederate batteries, but their attempt to annoy us scarcely deserves the name of a battle. Some people on shore fired a few musket shots at us, but our marines soon dispersed them, and thus ended the battle of New Orleans. The greatest praise I can bestow upon the officers of the " Iroquois " is to say that they all did their duty, and each one of them always expressed his determination to conquer. The crew and marines behaved with spirit and gallantry, which we may always expect in well drilled Americans.

of the

dam-

age done to this vessel by the enemy's shot during the engagement of Forts Jackson and St. Philip on the morning of the 24th instant. The list of casualties I have already forwarded to you it is very small, there bein g but two killed and four wounded. Much injury to the men, I am sure, Avas saved by a carefully prepared " splinter netting." At one point between the guns the netting was forced out to its utmost tension indeed, large pieces of plank were thus prevented from sweeping the deck, and perhaps destroying the men at the guns. I would therefore recoinmend that ;

;

in our future operations, these simple " painsavers "'or "life-preservers" be adopted in the other ships of the fleet. I must beg leave to call your attention to another simple and ver}- effective expedient which was resorted to on board this vessel to obtain light an element so essential in a night attack on board ship. The deck and gun-carriages were ivhiteivashed fore and aft, and it was truly wonderful to note the difference where before all was dark-

—

;

ness,

now

side-tackle,

falls,

liandspikes,

ammunition, and indeed everything of the kind about our decks, was plainly visible by the contrast. The idea being so novel, and, at the same time, effective, I trust it will receive, through you, the notice it deserves, so that when others are driven to the dire necessity of a night attack they may have all the advantages the discovery insures.

OF THE

We way

had much

difficulty in groping our fiery channel," our ship so slow, and the enemy was met in

through that "

being the "worst form for our profession," but the hand of a kind Providence gave us the victory. No men could behave better throughout that terrible ordeal than the crew of this vessel did. My thanks for support are •due to them and the officers generally. I am especially indebted to Mr. Terry, our second lieutenant, for his ready and intelligent aid in the management of the ship during the .action

;

but to Mr. Cummings, our first

lieu-

tenant, are mainly due, as far as this ship is concerned, the handsome results of that morning. By his cool and intrepid conduct the batteries were made to do their whole duty, and not a gun was pointed nor a shot sent without its mark. My thanks are due to Mr. Bogart, my clerk, who took the place of Mr. John B. Bradley, master's mate, who was shot down at my side while gallantly performing his duty as my aid. I am, sir, respectfully, etc.,

James Alden, Commander, Farragut, Commanding Western G-ulf Blockading

Elag-officer D. G.

Squadron.

keport op lieutenant-commanding edward t. nichols, united states gun-boat "winona."

United States Gun-boat "Winona, New Orleans, April 30, 1863. Sir I beg leave respectfully to present

—

the following report of the operations of this vessel in the engagement with Forts Jackson and St. Philip on the morning of the 24th inst. After getting under way, I took my station as soon as possible in the line, astern of the " Itasca," and followed her red light, but suddenly found myself involved in a mass of logs and drift stuff, held by the chain and moorings of the hulks. Whilst trying to back clear the " Itasca " backed and fouled me on the starboard bow. After a, delay of from twenty minutes to half an hour, I proceeded on my way, though I felt pretty sure that the bulk of the fleet had passed. Day was breaking fast, and my vessel was brought out in bold relief against the bright sky, presenting a fair mark for the gunners of the fort. Fort Jackson fired at me as I approached, and the first gun killed one man and wounded another the third or fourth gun killed or wounded every man at the rifle gun except one. Judging that the burning raft was on the Fort Jackson side, I steered to pass it on the port hand, and did not discover my error until the whole lower battery of Fort St. Philip opened on me at less than point blank range. Steering off with starboard helm, I shot across to ;

WAR.

CIVIL

209

the Fort Jackson side, but, owing to the obscurity caused by the smoke, got so close to the shore that I had no room to turn head up stream, and was forced to head down. At this time both forts were firing nearly their entire batteries at me. It would have been madness to attempt turning again in such a fire three of my men were killed, four severely wounded, and one slightly so, the vessel hulled several times, and the deck wet fore and aft from the spray of falling shot. It was with reluctance that I gave the order to head down stream and run out of the fire, first ordering the officers and crew to lie down on deck. I cannot, sir, speak too highly of the conduct of all on board. My orders were obeyed with alacrity, and (considering the suddenness of the fire opened on us, from Fort St. Philip, and the naturally depressing effect produced by the fatality of the first few shots,) with but little confusion. Mr. Walker, the first lieutenant, was very active and vigilant, and gave his personal attention in every part of the vessel he was slightly wounded in the ear. Permit me, sir, to call your attention to the conduct of acting-master's mate William F. Hunt, in charge of the rifie gun it was admirable. He assisted in working his gun, as his crew was weakened, and ;

—

—

remained at it after none were left, until ordered from the forecastle by me. Four

my wounded men

of Pilot

bank

are in the hospital at the dead I buried on the left of the river, a short distance below

Town

;

our late anchorage. Since the 24th I have been acting under the orders of Commander Porter, and on the 28th I had the satisfaction of receiving the surrender of Fort St. Philip and hoisting in its proper place once more the fiag of our country. I was unfortunate, sir, in not passing the forts, but, I trust, not censurable. I

am,

sir,

very respectfully, etc., T. Nichols, Lieutenant-Commanding.

Edward Flag-officer D. G.

Farragut,

Commanding Western Blockading Squadron, Netv Orleans.

report op lieutenant-commanding GEO.. H. PREBLE, UNITED STATES GUNBOAT "KATAHDIN."

United States Gun-boat "Katahdin," AT anchor opp New Orleans,

)

>

April 30, 1802. ) Sir It gives me pleasure to report that, in the passage of the forts on the morning of the 24th. and the engagement with the defences of New Orleans on the 25th, as well as on previous occasions when on advanced guard dutv, and exposed to the de-

—

THE NAVAL HISTORY

210

from the rifled cannon of the enemy, the officers and crew of this vessel have shown a bravery and cool determination worthy of all praise. While exposed to the iron hail rained over us from both forts, and the simultaneous fire of the enemy's gun-boats on the Sith, not a man flinched from his gun or hesitated in the cool performance of his duty. Where all performed so well it is, perhaps, inviduous liberate fire

to particularize.

I

may

mention, however,

as coming under my immediate notice, the deliberate way in which the First Lieutenant, Mr. Green, gave his general superintendence to the serving and supplying the guns, and the other duties assigned him, and the collected manner in which Acting Master W. H. PoUeys conned the ship between the forts and throughout, giving cool,

his orders to the helm as promptly, decidedly, and coolly as when piloting the vessel to a usual anchorage. Acting Master George Harris, in charge of the pivot gun,

and Acting Master's mate,

J.

in charge of the Parrott rifle best to annoy the enemy.

H. Hartshorn, gun, did their

At the most critical moment of the pasand when exposed to the fire of both forts, the fire of our pivot gun was embarrassed and delayed by the shells jamming sage,

in the gun, their sabots being too large to the bore. As many as five shells were passed up before one could be found to fit the gun. Two became so jammed that the shells were torn from the sabots before they could be extracted, and the sabot of one had to be blown out and the gun reloaded. Mr. Harris, the master in charge of the pivotgun, attributes this serious fault, first, to the swelling of the light wood of the too nicely fitted sabot in the damp climate of this Gulf and, second, to the shells being packed in bags instead of boxes, which allowed of the sabots getting bruised, even fit

;

with the most careful handling. The station assigned this vessel, close under the stern of the "Varuna,"! maintained until the dense canopy of smoke from the cannonade, aided by the night, hid everything from our view. I ordered full speed, however, to maintain my station ;

and

by the flash from her broadside, that we were passing the "Mississippi,"! gave orders to cease firing for a time until we had passed her, when I became engaged with the enemy's gun-boats. Above the forts we passed along the broadside and seeing,

within fifty yards of the iron-plated battery " Louisiana," lying at anchor. To our surprise she did not fire at us, though she could have blown us out of water. After passing her, I directed to keep the vessel off, and give her a shot from the 11-inch pivot and Parrott, which was done, and, as I have since learned from one on board of

her, with good effect, tearing a hole the size of the shell through and through the

iron plating of her bow. Until beyond the fire of the forts, actingassistant paymaster Ladd attended in the wardroom to give his assistance to the surgeon, but later volunteered his services in boats, and brought off to the ship refugees from the burning gun-boats and the shore ; he assisted, also, in disarming that portion of the Chalmette regiment which surrendered, and was encamped opposite the quarantine. I am happy to have no casualties to report, and that the surgeon, though ready, had no opportunity to testify his skill on board. Several of the men had their clothing torn by shot or fragments of shell, but not a man was even scratched. At the request of Captain Bailey, Dr. Robinson went onboard the "Cayuga" after the action, where he rendered efficient service to her

wounded.

The

vessel, also,

escaped with-

injury. serious One shell passed through the smokestack and steam escapepipe and burst, making a dozen small holes from the inside outward, and another has cut about four to six inches into the foremast, while the same, or another, cut the foresail and some of the running rigging about the foremast, which is all the damage sustained. I attribute our escaping with so little injury to our being near the head of the line, to the rapid manner in

out

which we passed the forts, and to our passing so close under the forts that all their shot went over our heads. I believe, also, that for a time the

was

fire of

Fort

The two shots we however, were from that fort. silenced.

Philip received,

St.

On the arrival of the fleet at New Orleans, seeing the schooner "John Gilpin" lying at the levee on the Algiers side, loaded with cotton and surrounded by" burning vessels and sunken docks, and fearing she might be fired, I boarded her and hoisted the American flag at her masthead, and brought her captain, Archibald Forsaith, (whom you afterwardsreleased on parole.) on board as a hostage for her safety and future delivery, not deeming it prudent or safe to pufc a small prize crew in possession. Captain Forsaith claimed that his vessel was British property, and that his papers were in the English consulate, but acknowledged that she was intended to run the blockade. In passing down the river since, I have noticed that a portion, if not all, of her deck load of cotton, and perhaps her remainingcargo, has been removed. Captain F. stated to me that she had 265 bales of cotton on board. In conclusion, flag-officer, allow me to

congratulate you upon the success which.

OF THE

CIVIL

has attended this "runningf of the forts," beyond a doubt the most brilliant and daring achievement of the war. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Geo.

Henry Preble, Lieutenant- Commanding.

Farragut,

Flag-officer D. G.

Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron.

REPORT OF LIBUTEXANT-COMMANDING c. CALDWELL, UNITED STATES GUN-BOAT

H. B.

United States Steam Gun-boat "Itasca,") Pilot Town, Mississippi River, [ April

5i4,

—Agreeably to your instructions, I

211

aground; the outside schooner was enReturning, I stopped alongside of the bank, and dropped the lead over, with fifteen east fathoms of line, floating by within twenty yards of them,

tirely clear.

of her.

Having satisfied myself fully, by these and other observations, that no obstructions whatever existed, and that the chains we slipped on the night of the 30th had disarranged and almost destroyed the whole apparatus for preventing our passage up the river, and that the condition of things was precisely as I had previously rei)orted, and that the whole fleet could safely pass, I made with confidence and inexpressible satisfaction, on my return, our preconcerted signal that the channel was clear and everything propitious for the advance of the fleet.

" ITASCA."

Sir

WAR.

1863.

)

proceeded up the river, in the boat furnished from the " Hartford," to make a final reconnoissance of the schoon-

I regret to be obliged to state that my progress afterwards with the fleet was attended with serious misfortune and disappointment. On arriving abreast of Fort Jackson a storm of iron hail fell over and around us from both forts, which was continued without intermission while we were under their guns. A number of shots took effect, several passing through us. One, a 43-pound shot, passed through the port side, a coal-bunker full of coal, iron-plate bulkhead, and entered the boiler, making a large hole, and breaking the dry-pipe therein; from this hole the steam rushed in a dense cloud, filling the fire and engine room, and driving every one from below, and almost suffocating those on the quarter-deck. The loss of our motive power having destroyed our efficiency and left us almost helpless, I ordered every man to throw himself fiat on the deck, the helm put hard a-starboard, and, turning, floated down the river. When out of range of the forts, I ordered the pumps manned fore and aft, and our deck was soon several inches deep with water, which was pouring also out of every scupper. Supposing the ship to be in a sinking condition, I ran her on shore below the mortar fleet, where I remained until I satisfied myself that the leak was not as bad as I had at first supposed, and then haiiled off and anchored. I am happy to state that but three men were injured during the engagement two firemen, scalded by the steam, and the captain of the hold, wounded in the head by a splinter. I have received fourteen hits, as follows three shot holes through the vessel below the deck, the plank-shear badly shattered, and four slight hits on the port side; one through the vessel below decks, and one through the bulwarks on the starboard side; one through the cutwater, grazing the bowsprit; one cutting away a davit span and shivering the jury mainmast (the main gaff), and one 8-inch shell exploded over the quarter-deck, driving a large piece through the port signal locker and bulwarks. One shot took out of the port side a piece of plank three feet long, shivered five feet of the next plank, crushed all of the timbers in its passage, and split one knee another shot hole in the starboard side is nearly as bad. Allow me, flag-offlcer, respectfully and sincerely, to congratulate you upon the glorious passage of the fleet, and to express to you the heartfelt sorrow and disappointment 1 felt that my disabled condition prevented my being a participant in its complete success; and to assure you it was owing to circumstances that Providence alone could con-

—

:

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING (ATTERWAEDS COMMODOEE) CHAS. H.

B.

CALDWELL, OP THE

-

ITASCA."

on the west bank of the river, and a careful examination as to the chains that were originally stretched from them to the schooners on the starboard side, one of which we ran on shore on the night of the 20th. I succeeded in reaching them after a long, fatiguing pull against the current, without opposition or discovery, although we were directly in range between the forts and a fire lighted on the opposite shore to illuminate the reach across the river, and I could distinctly hear the voices of the rebels at Fort Jackson as they were busily engaged in some outside work. I found two of the three schooners on shore, and the outside one riding head to the current, with a number of chains hanging from her bow. I passed ahead, leaving her fifty yards on the port hand, and dropped over a deep-sea lead, veering to twelve fathoms of hne. We then lay on our oars, and drifted down the stream, without feeling any obstructions. We found all the booms attached to the ers

1 /^/^i-»

*:i*>c«

on/^

Ta

I »-i

ei

H

;

trol.

Very

respectfully,

your obedient servant,

C.

Flag-ofBcer

David

G.

H. B. Caldwell, Lieutenant-Commanding.

Farragut,

Commander-in-Chief of Western Qtdf Blockading

THE NAVAL HISTORY

212

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT -COMMANDIS&

N. B.

HAR-

RISON, UNITED STATES aUN-BOAT " CAYUGA."

United States GrUN-BOAT, "Catuga," Mis) sissippi River, \ April 24, 1863. ) will prethe log giB_The following extract from home by the part sent to you, in the briefest form, this ship in the conflict of this morning with Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and the rebel gun-boats " At 2 A. M., in obedience to the flag-offlcer's signal, weighed anchor, and led the advance column toward the barrier, and stood up stream close to St. Philip. At 3.45 both forts opened their Are. 3.50 opened on Fort St. Philip with grape and canister. At 4 passed the line of fire of Fort St.

Fort

At

and encountered some eleven gun-boats, no supporting ships in sight. At 4.25 one steamer surrendered, and two more were driven on shore. At this moment discovered the 'Varuna' and 'Oneida' dash gallantly into the fight. At 5 anchored in front of Camp Lovell, and received the submission of Colonel Szymanski and his comPhilip,

mand."

We

were struck forty -two times. Both masts arfe so hadly hurt as to "be unfit for further service. Our 11-inoh Dahlgren carriage struck, but still fit for duty; the smokestack perforated, but not materially injured; all other damages have been repaired. I regret to add that six of our crew have been wounded, but so far the surgeon has made but one amputation. It

needless for

is

me

to inform you,

who had

us

under your eye, that all did their duty fearlessly and well; but I must commend to your special notice my executive officer. Lieutenant George R. Perkins. The remarkable coolness and precision of

this young officer, while aiding me in steering the vessel through the barrier and past the forts, under their long and heavy fire, must have attracted your attention. Of volunteer Acting-master Thomas H. Morton I must speak in terms of high praise. He fought the Parrott gun, and his daring example had effect on the crew. indebted to Assistant Surgeon Edward S. Bogert, not only for his rapid and skillful attention to the wounded, but for his general officer-like bearing. My clerk, Mr. Charles M. Burns, Jr., was of material assistance in communicating my orders. Our engines, although generally unreliable, were, on this occasion, worked successfully by Secondassistant George W. Rogers and his assistants. In conclusion, I must mention with praise the conduct Charles Florence, captain of the following men of 11-inch, guri; William Young, captain of Parrott gun; William Parker, at the wheel;Edward Wright, at the lead. April 25. I continue this report through the batAt 11 A. M., being at that moment tles of to-day. some half a mile in advance of the flag-ship, the batteries on either hand opened on us at short range. Being pivoted to port, I edged off with the port helm and responded- with our 11-inch and Parrott, slowly but with great precision of aim. This unequal contest lasted just fifteen minutes, when the ilag-ship ranged up in splendid style, diverting their fire and silencing the battery on the right bank. We were again repeatedly hulled, and much cut up in spars and rigging, and the iron stock of the port anchor cut away. I lost no men; this I attribute to an order which I gave for the men to lie down flat during the time Ave could bring no gun to bear. To speak again of the constancy and devotion of my brave officers and crew would be to repeat an old story, Respectfully,

a most happy I

am

:

—

N. B.

Harrison,

Lieuteiiant-Commanding. Capt. T. Bailey,

Commanding tbats, off

Leading Division Orleans, Louisiana.

the

New

of Gun-

report op lieutenant pierce crosby, commanding united states gun-boat "pinola." United States Steam Gun-boat "Pinola," OFF New Orleans, April 26, 1863, [ Sib— I have the honor to report that, in obedi)

ence to your signal on the morning of the 24th inhaving passed your orders to the " Pensacola " and other vessels of the squadron, I took rriy position at 3.30 A. M. in line of battle next after the "Iroquois," thinking the vessel which was to have preceded me had taken her's in advance, which I could not ascertain at that time, and followed on in line, passing so close to one of the enemy's hulks which had been used to hold the chain-rafts, that one starboard quarter-boat was crushed against her sides; continued on our course, and as soon as Fort Jackson bore abeam of us, about four hundred yards distant, commenced firing with the 11-inch Dahlgren pivot and Parrott rifles at the flashes of the enemy's guns, that being the only guide by which to distinguish their position, which the fort answered promptly and rapidly, but, owing to our proximity, their shot passed over, with the exception of two, one of which killed Thomas Kelly, captain of the forecastle, slightly wounding Acting-master J. G. Lloyd, the other cutting away the launch's after-davit. I then ran over within one hundred and fifty yards of Fort St. Philip, from which we received a terrific volley of shot, canister, grape, and musketry, nearly all of which passed over us. The fire-rafts, which were burning very brightly, exposed us to the full view of the enemy, and enabled them to fire at us with great precision, while we were only able to answer their forty guns with the twenty-pound rifles, the 11-inch pivot being enOf those shot that gaged with Fort Jackson. struck us from Fort St. Philip, one entered our starboard quarter, cut away part of the wheel, and severely wounded William Acworth, quartermaster, who returned to his station as soon as his wounds were dressed. Acting-master's mate Wilham H. Thompson, promptly took the wheel at the time of the disaster. The second entered the hull at the water-line on the starboard side, eight inches forward of the boilers, passed through the coal bunker, and lodged in the pump-well and cut the soundingwell in two. The third cut away the top of the steam escape pipe. The fourth cut away the starboard chain cable from the anchor, passed through the bow and yeomans' storeroom, and lodged in the port side, starting off the outside planking. The fifth struck the topgallant forecastle and carried away part of the rail. The sixth passed through the plankshear, abreast of the 11-inch pivot gun. The seventh sti-uck a barricade of hammocks forward of the forehatch. The eighth cut away one of the dead-eyes of the starboard fore rigging. The ninth cut a bucket from the hands of Actingmaster William P. Gibbs, in charge of the pivotgun. The Tenth knocked the rammet from the hands of Harrington, loader, who soon, with the assistance of the gun's crew, made a temporary one, the spare rammer having been lost overboard at the commencement of the action. The eleventh passed entirely through the hull, immediately over the magazine, demolishing completely in its course the dispensary and its contents. The twelfth passed through the starboard and lodged in the port side of the berth-deck. These two last mentioned shot killed John Nolta and Robert H. Johnson, landsmen, and dangerously wounded Thomas Jones, wardroom steward; Thomas Ford, landsman; Henry Stokely, wardroom cook, and Thomas L. Smith, coalheaver, slightly; also, Thomas Foster, captain of the hold, who received dangerous and painful wounds from splinters while zealously performing his duty, completely disabling the powder division, there being but one man left to pass ammunition, with the exception of Acting-master's mate C. V. stant, after

OF THE

Rummell, in charge of his division, who immediately gave his personal assistance, although he had splinters. A number of other missiles grazed our sides, doing, however, but slight damage. Immediately following the disaster on the berth-declc, it was reported to be on fire, whereupon the Gunner's-mate, 8. B. Frisbee, instantly closed the magazine, he remaining inside. All traces of fire having been quickly extinguished by the fireman, re-enforcements to the powder division were quickly supplied, and the guns continued their fire. After passing the forts, and out of range of their

wounded by

fire,

we came suddenly

213

signal officer. "William H. Byrn, captain's clerk, attended to passing my orders. Dr. L. M. Lyon, assistant surgeon, displayed great zeal and promptness in his attentions to the wounded during the heat of the battle. Senior-assistant engineer John Johnson, with his junior assistants, managed his department with

been knocked down a few moments previous by splinters; and James A. Bashford, was slightly

heavy cross

WAR.

CIVIL

skill

and

ability.

To

A. P. Cook, first lieutenant and executive offiwas greatly indebted for his able assistance. Throughout the entire action he was ready and prompt in the performance of his duties, displaying a coolness and gallantry which won the admiration cer, I

of

all.

With my

in view of our

squadron, which had been hidden from us by the dense smoke, and noticed at the same time a steamer on the starboard hand, which at first sight I supposed to be the "Iroquois,'' but as day dawned and we approached nearer I soon discovered my mistake and gave her a shot from the 11-inch and Parrott rifles, both of which took effect in her huU near the water-line. At this moment the iron ram " Manassas " was seen following close astern of us, and being in range of our howitzers we opened fire on her with them, aiming at her smokestack. The " Mississippi " being near, now turned upon her and soon succeeded in driving her ashore and destroyIn obedience to signal, I then ran up and ing her. anchored with the squadron off Quarantine Landing and sent ashore to destroy the telegraph wire, which I afterwards learned was on the opposite bank. At 9 A. M. got under way and steamed up the river, in obedience to order, in company with the "Sciota." At 3 P. M. sent the dead on shore and buried them; then continued on our course in company with the squadron and anchored at At 3.30 we got under way and steamed up the river in company with the squadron. At 4 p. m. we opened fire with the squadron on the batteries below New Orleans, and as soon as the batteries were silenced we proceeded with the squadron up to the city, and, in obedience to orders, ran up the river to look after the iron floating-battery, which I discovered off the upper part of the city, in flames, floating down with the current. Returned to the flag-ship and received orders to destroy the batteries below the city; ran down in company with the "Oneida," Captain S. P. Lee commanding, and by his directions I destroyed the battery on the port hand while he took charge of that on the opposite .

Pound a large supply of ammunition, together with twelve 33 and 24-pound guns, also a 10inch mortar, all of which we spiked, burned the carriages, threw the shot into the river, and destroyed everything belonging to the fort. After accomplishing this work, set fire to and burned a schooner loaded with combustible material lying alongside the battery, and then returned to the anchorage off New Orleans at 9.30, thus ending our operations of the 34th and 35th of April. Our total loss was three killed and eight wounded. It gives me great pleasure and gratification to be able to bear testimony to the zeal and intrepid conduct of the officers and crew of this vessel, durmg the desperate conflict and terrific fire through which they passed on the morning of the 34th mstant. Amid that storm of iron hail perfect order reigned officers and men did their duty faithfully, and nobly sustained the well-earned reputation of the Navy and our glorious old flag, for which they fought so manfully. , ^ , The conduct of Thomas Gehegan, boatswains worthy of gun, is 11-inch the of mate and captain mention, as well for the brave example he set his crew as by the faithful manner with which he served his gun, bringing up his own ammunition as soon as the men composing the powder division had been nearly all killed or wounded. Actina'-Davmaster C. Stewart Warren acted as side.

earnest congratulations

.

,

bril-

REPORT OF LIBUTElfANT-COMMANDTNG GBORdE RANSOM, UNITED STATES GUN-BOAT "KINEO." United States Gdn-boat "Kineo," Missis-) sippi River, above the Forts, \ M.

April

—

35, 1863.

)

Sir I have the honor to report that, on arriving close under the guns of Fort St. Philip, on the morning of the 34th instant, the firing was commenced from this vessel, and kept up briskly and effectively until we had passed entirely beyond the range of the enemy's guns from either forts or gun-boats. Soon after the signal of the flag-ship to discontinue action, I was hailed by Commander Smith of the "Mississippi,'' who invited me to accompany him in the pursuit of the ram. It turned immediately on the shore and was abandoned, its people escaping under a brisk fire of musketry from both vessels. I made preparations for taking it in tow by a hawser, when, the "Mississippi" coming between the "Kineo" and the ram. Commander Smith hailed, and informing me that two vessels under a point below had struck, requested me to take possession of them. I was met there by the rebel gun-boat "McRea," which opened a sharp fire, backed by two other gun-boats, all within range of the guns of either fort. The " Kineo returned the fire of the "McRae," but was obliged to put her head up stream. Having had the slide of the pivot carriage shattered by a shot from Fort St. Philip, the gun was temporarily disabled; and not being able, with her head up stream, to bring anything to bear effectually, I was obliged, very reluctantly, '

to withdraw. I have the pleasure to state, sir, that the conduct of officers and men of this vessel throughout the action was specially, admirable for its steadiI enclose herewith a ness, without an exception. report of Assistant-surgeon A. S. Oberly, of killed

and wounded. I have the honor

to be, &c.,

George M. Ransom,

;

,

upon the

which has crowned your efforts and attended the forces under your command, I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Pierce Crosby, Lieutenant- Commanding. Flag-Officer D. G. Farragut, U. S. Navy, Commanding United States Western Qulf Squadron, Gutf of Mexico.

liant success

Lieutenant-Commanding Flag-officer D. G.

Commanding

Farragct,

Western (hilf Blockading Squadron.

n. smith UNITED states GUN-BOAT " WISSAHICKON." United States Gun-boat " Wissahickon," OFF Quarantine Station, Mississippi

report of lieutenant-commanding a.

River.

— I have

April

36, 1863.

,

to report that at 2 A. M. on the 34th instant, in obedience to general signal, got under

Sir

THE NAVAL HIS TOR F

214

way and proceeded up

tne river, keeping our position in the prescribed order of sailing till a detention, by running on shore and the dense smoke of the battle, already some time commenced, rendered Using our battery it impossible to keep it longer. vigorously and to the best advantage possible, we succeeded in passing the forts and water batteries under a storm of shot, shell and volleys of musketry, without loss of life or serious damage to the gunboat, which can only be attributed to the lowness of the vessel on the water. At daylight, above the forts, we were unavoidably crowded on the west bank of the river, the ram "Manassas" being a short distance astern and heading for us, but unable to make much progress against the current. Before it reached us, we had fortunately gotten off, and witnessed, with great satisfaction, shortly after, its destruction by the United States steamer " Mississippi." I have to report but two of the crew slightly wounded; four round shot through the hull of the vessel, and one through the mainmast. Officers and men performed their duty nobly, and with admirable coolness. In this feeble tribute to their worth and services I desire to include Third-assistantengineer G. M. White, a volunteer from the United States steamer " Colorado."

Very

respectfully,

your obedient servant, A. N. Smith. Lieutenant-Commanding.

Farragut, Commanding Western Qulf Blockading Squadron.

Flag-officer D. G.

report of lieutenaift-commasfdixg john

h.

russell, united states gun-boat " kennebec."

United States Gun-boat "Ken^nebec,"

|

Mississippi River, April 29, 1862. i Sir On the morning of the 24th instant, during the engagement, this vessel became entangled with the rafts, and struck one of the schooners (which afterwards sunk), at the same time parting the chain. I then made several attempts, in the midst of a heavy fire, to pass the batteries; but, it being daylight, and the squadron having passed above the forts, I deemed it prudent to withdraw, and reported to the senior officer. Commander Porter, who attached me temporarily to his fleet, and placed me on picket duty. Yesterday morning, by order of Commander Porter, I proceeded up the river, in company with the United States steamers "Harriet Lane" and " Westfield," and gun-boat " Winona," to witness the surrender of the forts, after which, by order of Commander Porter, I received on board this vessel the prisoners from Fort Jackson 29 officers and 90

—

—

men. Very

respectfully,

your obedient servant John H. Russell, Lieutenant-Commanding.

Farragut, Commanding Western Q.ulf Blockading Sguadron

Flag-officer D. G.

papers relating to the surrender OF FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. No.

69.]

United States Flag-ship "Hartford, off THE City of New Orleans, May 1, 1862.

—

Sir I have the honor to forward herewith to the department all the papers relating to the surrender of Forts Jackson and St. Philip to the under my command. am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

forces I

i).

Flag-officer,

G.

Farragut,

United States Steamer "Harriet Lanb,"

render.

His answer

would admit

Washington, D.

C.

enclosed.

of.

The three steamers remaining were under the command of Commander J. K. Mitchell. The officer of the fort acknowledged no connection with them, and wished in no way to be considered responsible for their acts. While I had a flag of truce up they were employed in towing the iron floating battery of sixteen guns (a most formidable affair) to a place above the forts, and, while drawing up the articles of recapitulation in the cabin of the "Harriet Lane," it was reported to me that they had set fire to the battery and turned it adrift upon us. I asked the general if it had powder on board, or guns loaded. He replied that he would not undertake to say what the navy officers would do. He seemed to have a great contempt for them. I told him " we could stand the fire and blow up if he could," and went on with the conference, after directing the While drifting officers to look out for their ships. down on us, the guns, getting heated, exploded with a terrific noise, throwing the shot about the river. A few moments after the battery exploded with a terrific noise throwing fragments all over the river, and wounding one of their own men in Fort St. Philip, and immediately disappeared under water. Had she blown up near the vessels, she would have destroyed the whole of them. When I had finished taking possession of the forts, I got under waj- in the " Harriet Lane," and started for the steamers, one of which was still flying the Confederate flag. I fired a shot over her, and they surrendered. There were on board of them a number of naval officers and two companies of marine artillery. I made them surrender unconditionally, and, for trying to blow us up while under a flag of truce, I conveyed them to close confinement as prisoners of war, and think they should be sent to the North, and kept in close confinement there until the war is over, or they should be tried I have a great deal to for their infamous conduct. do here, and will send you all papers when I am able to arrange them. Fort I turned over the forces to General Phelps. Jackson is a perfect ruin. I am told that over 1,800 shells fell in and burst over the centre of the fort. The practice was beautiful. The next fort we go at we wiU settle sooner, as this has been hard to get The naval officers sank one gun-boat while the at. capitulation was going on, but I have one of the other steamers at work, and hope soon to have the other. I find that we are to be the hewers of wood and drawers of water; but as the soldiers have nothing here in the shape of motive power, we will do all I

we

can.

should have demanded an unconditional surrender, but with such a force in your rear it was desirable to get possession of these forts as soon as possible. The officers turned over everything in good order, except the walls and buildings, which are terribly shattered by the mortars.

Very

respectfully,

D. D. Porter,

Hon. Gideon Welles, Nai-ij,

is

the 28th I received a communication from him, stating that he would surrender the forts, and 1 came up and took possession, drew up articles of capitulation, and hoisted the American flag over the forts. These men have defended these forts with a bravery worthy of a better cause. I treated them with all the consideration that circumstances

On

Western Gulf Blockading Squadron.

Secretary of the

)

April 39, 1862. j Sir— The morning after the ships passed the forts I sent a demand to Colonel Higgins for a surrender of the forts, which was declined. On the 27th I sent Lieutenant-Colonel Higgins a eommunication, herewith enclosed, asking again for the sur

Flag-officer D. G.

Commanding Farragut.

Flotilla.

OF THE CIVIL WAR. Hbadquartbrs Forts Jackson and

St.

)

Philip, April 27, 1862. Sir Your letter of the 26th instant, demanding the surrender of these forts, has heen received. In Teply thereto, I have to state that no official inform-ation has been received by me from our own authorities that New Orleans has been surrendered "to the forces of Flag-offleer Farragut, and until such information is received no proposition for a surrender can be for a moment entertained here. KespectfuUy, your obedient servant, j

—

Edward Higgins, Lieutenant-Cnlonel-Commanding. •Commodore David D. Porter, United States Navy, Commanding Mortar Fleet.

United States Steamer "Harriet Lane," Mississippi River, April 37, 1862. I last demanded the surrender of

Sir— When

Torts Jackson and St. Philip, I had no positive ascsurance of the success of our vessels in passing «afely the batteries on the river; since then I have received communications from Flag-ofBcer Farra-

who is now in possession of New Orleans. Our troops are, or will be, in possession of the prominent points on the river, and a sufficient force has heen posted on the ouside of the bayous to cut off

.gut,

sM communication and prevent supplies. No man could consider it dishonorable

to surTender under these circumstances, especially when no advantage can arise by longer holding out, and by yielding gracefully he can save the further effusion of blood. You have defended the forts gallantly, and no more can he asked of you. 1 feel authorized to offer you terms sufficiently honorable to reUeve you from any feeling of humiliation. The officers will be permitted to retire on parole "with their side arms, not to serve again until regularly exchanged. All private property will be respected, only the arms and munitions of war will be surrendered to the United States government, and the vessels lying at or near the forts. No damage must be done to the defences. The soldiers will also be paroled and be permitted to return to their homes, giving up their arms. I am aware that you TUKy

aou

attempt was unsuccessful, and the " Essex " was much cut up by the batteries.

lant

The morning

after this affair, Parragut

got under way with his ships and proceeded down the river to protect the mortars and transports below, each vessel firing into the "Arkansas" as they passed her under the The morning was guns of Vicksburg. misty and the forts were firing into the ships, so that the "Arkansas" was not ma-

damaged. Flag officers Farragut and Davis, finding it a loss of time to attempt the reduction of Vicksburg without tlie co-operation of a large Army, determined to abandon terially

the idea for the present and return to their

— Davis

up river and Farragut to New Orleans, where he could inaugurate fresh expeditions against the enemy. So Vicksburg was left alone in her glory to strengthen her fortifications and for a time bid defiance to the Federal Government. The original plan of sending an Army of ten thousand men to take possession of Vicksburg, under cover of Farragut's squadron, was never carried out. Three thousand troops only (under command of General Williams) were landed opposite Vicksburg, but, as they attempted nothing important, their presence was perfectly useless. The ten thousand men who should have been sent to Vicksburg were retained by General Butler at New Orleans. Had this Army been pushed up the river directly after the fall of New Orleans, Vicksburg would have fallen into the hands of the Federal forces. This failure to act promptly cost the Government many lives and millions of money. Flag-officer Davis at first determined to occupy the Yazoo River, and from thence carry on operations against the enemy, but he found that nothing could be done in the Yazoo at low water, and besides, the enemy had constructed formidable barricades, well defended by heavy batteries, at Haines' Bluff, some miles above the mouth of the river and with these he had not sufficient stations

;

force to contend. His line of operations was entirely too extended for the force he had in hand, and all his vessels needed repairs. Flag-officer Davis, therefore, returned to Cairo, where, in October, 1862, he was relieved from the command of the Mississippi Squadron by Acting-Rear-Admiral David D. Porter. The following reports will give a pretty full account of what was done in the first

naval attack on Vicksburg. flag-officer farbagtut reports the necessity of 13,000 to 15,000 army forces to cooperate in the takin& of vicksburg. Flag-ship "Hartford," ABOVE Vicksburg, June 28, 1862. Sir — I passed up the river this morning, but to no purpose the enemy leave their guns for the mo)

)

;

ment, but

return to

them

as soon as

we have

ralie us. Our loss, as far as ascertained, Commander Porter shelled them is not very great. two days to get his ranges, and all his vessels en-

passed,

and

tered into the attack with great spirit, and did excellent service. The fire of the ships was tremendous. The " Brooklyn," " Kennebec," and " Katahdin " did not get past the batteries. I do not know

why. I am satisfied it is not possible for us to take Vicksburg without an army force of 13,000 or 15,000 men. General Van Dorn's division is here, and lies safely behind the hills. The water is too low for me to go over twelve or fifteen miles above Vicks-

burg.

Very

respectfully,

your obedient servant, D. G.

Commanding Western Hon. Gideon Welles,

Farragut,

Ghilf Squadron.

Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. O.

flag-officer farragut's report of the action of JUNE 28, 1862, AT vicksburg. United States Flag-ship "Hartford," ABOVE Vicksburg, Mississippi, J

July

— In

3,

"I 1863. 3.)

obedience to the orders of the department and the command of the President, I proceeded back to Vicksburg with the "Brooklyn," " Richmond," and " Hartford," with the determination to carry out my instructions to the best of my

Sir

ability. diflBculties

My

and expenses in getting coal and up the river have been very great, and it has only been accomplished by great exertions on the part of Captain H. W. Morris, aided by the Army. Captain D. D. Porter's mortar flotilla, which was deemed indispensable to shell out the heights, had also to be towed up. All this caused great delay, but by the steady exertions of that officer, and the assistance of all in whose power it was to help, we succeeded in getting up sixteen mortar vessels, and arrangements were soon made to bombard the forts on the heights of Vicksburg. Owing, however, to some imperfection in the fuzes (which Captain Porter will explain), he was two provisions

days getting his ranges. On the evening of the he reported to me that he was ready, and I my general order (a copy of which is hereto appended) for the attack on the 38th, at 4 A. M. At 2 a. m., on the 28th June, the signal was made to weigh, and we proceeded up to the attack in the order of steaming prescribed in the diagram accompanying the general order. At 4 o'clock precisely, the mortars opened fire, and at almost the same moment the enemy fired his first gun, which was returned by the leading vessels -"Iroquois," Commander J. S. Palmer; "Oneida," Commander and " Richmond," Commander James S. P. Lee Alden. The other vessels " Wissahickon," Commander John DeCamp "Sciota," Lieutenant37th,

issued

—

;

;

Commanding Edward Donaldson (this ship, ComR. Wain Wright "Winona," LieutenantCommanding E. T. Nichols; and "Pinola," Lieutenant-Commanding Pierce Crosby— next came up, and poured in their fire successively. At almost the same mstant, Commander D. D. Porter came up on ;

mander

;)

our starboard quarter with the " Octorora," "Westfield," "Clifton," "Jackson," "Harriet Lane," and " Owasco," and opened in fine stvle upon the enemy. The "Hartford" fired slowly and deliberately and with fine effect far surpassing my expectations in reaching the summit batteries. The rebels were soon silenced by the combined efforts of the fleet and of the flotilla, and at times did not reply at all for several minutes, and then again at times replied with but a single gun. I passed up at the lowest speed (we had but eight pounds of steam), and even stopped once, in

—

OF THE order that the " Brooklyn " and sternmost vessels miffht close up. The "Hartford" received but very little injury from the batteries in or below the town, but several raking shots from the battery above the town did us considerable damage they were 50-pounder rifle and 8-ineh sohd shot. The first passed through the shell-room in the starboard forward passage, and lodged in the hold but did no other harm. The 8-inch struck the break of the poop and passed through the cabin, but hurt no one the rigging was much cut, and the port main-topsail yard was cut in two. If the ships had kept in close order, in all probability they would have suffered less, as the fire of the whole fleet would have kept the enemy from his guns a longer space of time, and, when at his ;

,

;

would have been more distracted. reached the upper battery we soon silenced it, and it was reported to me that its flag was strucli. We therefore gave three cheers but when we had passed about three-quarters of a mile above they reopened fire with two heavy guns. I was unable to reply to this raking flre, being out of Although their shots were well directed, range. they either had too much or too little elevation, and only cut our rigging to pieces, without injuring any one seriously, which was strange, as the "Iroquois," " Winona," and " Pinola " were on our quarter. At 6 A.,M., meeting with Lieutenant-Colonel guns, his

fire

Wnen we

;

Ellet, of

the

ram

fleet,

who

offered to forward

my

communications to Plag-oflficer Davis and General Halleck, at Memphis, I anchored the fleet and went to breakfast, while I prepared my hasty dispatch (No. 120) and telegram for the department. I also sent across the peninsula to see what was the cause of Captain Craven and the vessels astern of him in the line not passing up. I also desired a list of the casualties, which appears by their letters to have been ''mowe." The casualties in the fleet, as far as heard from, in the passing vessels, were seven killed and thirty wounded. Commander Porter reports eight killed and ten or twelve wounded but that was not his-ofiioial report, probably, but refer;

red more particularly to the two steamers, " Clifton " and " Jackson," each of which had an accidental shot the "Jackson" in the wheel-house, killing the helmsman, and the "Clifton" a shot through her boiler, killing (by scalding) the men in her magazine, sii in number, and one man was drowned by jumping overboard. I herewith forward the report Of Acting Lieutenant-Commanding C. H. Baldwin, of the ^' Clifton." The department will perceive from this (my) report, that the forts can be passed, and we have done it, and can do it again as often as may he required of us. It will not, however, be an easy matter for us to do more than silence the batteries for a time, as long as the enemy has a large force behind the hUls to prevent our landing and holding the place. General Williams has with him about three thousand men, and, On the occasion of our attack and passing, placed a battery of artillery nearly opposite the upper forts, for the purpose of distracting the raking flre from us while running up but the fort, having a plunging flre upon them, dismounted one of the guns, and killed a man and a

—

horse. It gives

great pleasure to say that General Ellet, and the army officers of this division generally, have uniformly shown a great anxiety to do everything in their power to assist us but their force is too small to attack the town, or for any other purpose than a momentary assault to spike guns, should such an opportmiity ;

offer.

Commander J.

Palmer, of the " Iroquois," who occasion. It pains me much to limit my praise, but I cannot speak of those who did not come up. It was their duty to have followed me, with or without signal, particuS.

was not with me on the former

larly as it was too early and too smoky to distinguish signals. I enclose their explanations here-

with.

As to Commander R. Wainwright and the officers and crew of this ship, I cannot speak too highly of their steadiness and coolness, and the energy with which they performed their duties. This ship was conducted as coolly and quietly as at an ordinary drill at general quarters. There was no confusion of any kind throughout the whole action, and, as far as I could observe the other vessels, the same feeling actuated all the officers and crews engaged. The captain of the fleet, Commander H. H. Bell, was on the poop by side, and, not being able, as I before stated, to do much in the management of the fleet, owing to the darkness and the smoke, gave his attention to looking up the batteries and pointing them out to the officers in charge of the guns, and assisting them with his judgment on all occasions. secretary, Mr E. C. Gabaudan, noted the time of passing events, and acted as my aid when

my

My

required, which duty he performed with coolness

and

steadiness.

I must not fail to pilot, John J. Lane,

mention the coolness of our who, although this was the first time he had ever been under fire, did not for a moment quit his post, but steadily guided the ship

in her course. He is not a professional pilot, as they can only be obtained by force in New Orleans. All of which is respectfully submitted by your obedient servant,

D. G. Farragut, Flag-officer

Commanding Western

Ghilf

Blockading

Squadron.

Gideon Welles,

Hoij.

Secretary of the Navy, Washington,

official list of killed and

affair op june

28,

J),

O.

wounded

to report that the

on this occasion as in passing Forts Jackson and St. Philip. No one behaved better than

in the

at vicksbub&.

Flag-ship "Hartford," above) ViCKSBURG, Mississippi, June 28, 1862. Sir I have the honor to report the following Ust of killed and wounded in that portion of the fleet which passed above Vicksburg in the engage-

—

ment

J

of this morning, viz

Flag-ship

:

KILLED— 15. "Hartford." — Edward

E.

Jennings,

seaman, from Massachusetts. "Richmond." George Allstrum, ordinary seaman Thomas Flarity, seaman. "Oneida." Stephen H. Randall, seaman. "Pinola." William H. Thomas, quarter-gunner Thomas Graham, landsman. "Sciota," Augustine Ellsworth, ordinary sea-

—

;

— — —

man. Mortar

—6 scalded, killed, drowned. WOUNDED— "Hartford." — Charles Allen, seaman,

flotilla.

1

1

30.

Flag-ship sUghtly Alexander Capron, landsman, slightly Lawrence Fay, boy, slightly Patrick Roach, coalheaver, head Philip Roberts, seaman, severely Sylvester Becket, landsman, slightly Alfred Stone, landsman, slightly John H. Knowles, quartermaster, slightly, John Hardgan, landsman, slightly; Joseph ordinary seaman, slightly Nathan Salter, ordinary seaman, contusion Captain John L. Broome, marine corps, contusion Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, slight contusion. "Richmond." Howard F. Moffat, master's mate, amputated arm James Noonan, ordinary seaman, Thomas Nolan, marine, contusion contusion George W. Harris, marine, contusion; James Reddy, ;

;

;

;

;

;

,

;

;

;

me great pleasure also

officers and men of the ships which accompanied me up the river behaved with the same abiUty and

steadiness

351

;

me

Wilhams, Colonel

It gives

WAR.

CIVIL

— ;

;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

252

seaman, severely James Mohegan, landsman, severely George MiUard, seaman/severely William Nicholas, landsman, slightly Charles Howard, ;

;

;

line with, the "Pinola," so as to fire astern of

D. G.

;

ordinary seaman, severely. "Oneida.'"— Richard M. Hodgson, assistant engineer, severely William Co well, seaman, severely Henry Clark, boatswain's mate, slightly. " Pinola." John Brown, ordinary seaman, severely; William H. Shucks, landsman, slightly. "Sciota." Edward Hathaway, seaman, amputated arm; WilUam Orne, landsman, slightly; Clarence Miller, ship steward, severely. Returns have not yet been received from Captain Porter's mortar flotilla, and that portion of the fleet below Vieksburg. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. M. FOLTZ, Fleet Surgeon. Flag-officer D. G. Farragct, Commanding Western GulfBlockading Squadron. ;

;

— —

the

"Brooklyn."

Farragut, Flag-offlcer.

United States Steamer " Clifton," TWO miles below Vicksburg, June 38, 1863.

—I

Sir

have the honor to report that

this

)

f

morn-

obedience to orders, we got under way and proceeded in our station just astern of the " Westfleld," in the Une headed by your own ship, to engage the batteries on the heights around Vicksburg. When within range, we opened our fire on the upper batteries on the hill from our rifled gun, and forward 9-inch and forward 32-pounder, using 15second shells. On receiving your orders, we directed our flre at the batterer known as the "water battery," advancing to within about 1,300 yards, where we kept our station, using shrapnel from the 9-inch guns. At times, as opportunity offered, we used ing, at 3.45 A. M., in

general orders. United States Flag-ship, "Hartford,")

BELOW ViCKSBURG, June 25, 1862. The mortar boats and gun-boats of the mortar flotilla having been placed by Commander D. D.Porj

according to his judgment, to the best advantage to act upon the batteries on the heights and the fort below the hospital at 4 A. M., to-morrow they -wiU open fire upon the same and on the city of Vicksburg. At the display of the signal for the ships and gunboats to weigh, they will form in a double line of sailing, the "Richmond," Commander James Alden commanding, leading; the ships "Hartford," Comter,

:

mander

R. Wainwright commanding, next; "Brooklyn," Captain T. T. Craven, third. The gun-boats will form another line, so as to fire between the ships, in the following order: "Iroquois,"

Commander

James

S.

Palmer,

and

" Oneida," Commander S. Phillips Lee commanding, ahead, but ontheport bow of the "Richmond," so as to fire into the forts at the upper end of the town, without interfering with the fire of the "Richmond;" next in order, the " Wissahickon," Commander Jno. DeCamp, and the " Sciota," Lieutenant-Commanding Ed. Donaldson, in the line with the " Iroquois " and " Oneida," but on the port bow of the fiag-ship, so as to fire between the "Richmond" and flag-ship; next the "Winona," Lieutenant-Commanding Ed. T. Nichols, and "Pinola," Lieutenant-Commanding Pierce Crosby, on the port bow of the " Brooklyn." The " Hartford " will, as often as occasion offers, flre her bow guns on the forts at the upper end of the town; but the broadside batteries of aU the ships will be particularly directed to the guns in the forts below and on the heights. The free use of the shrapnel is considered the best projectile, but care must be taken in cutting the fuzes, so as always to be sure that they burst short of their destination. When close enough give them grape. The enclosed diagram will show the position of the respective vessels in the order of attack.— [For dia-

gram

see original.]

When the vessels reach the bend

in the river, the "Wissahickon," "Sciota," "Winona ."and "Pinola," will continue on but, should the enemy continue the action, the ships and "Iroquois" and " Oneida " will stop their engines and drop down the river again, keeping up their fire until directed ;

otherwise. Flag-offl,cer

D. Ct. Parragut, Commanding Western Qulf Blockading

Squadron.

The "Kennebec," Lieutenant-Commanding Russell, will take position in the rear of,

and

Jno. in a

ACTING LIEUT. (NOW REAR ADMIRAL) CHARLES

H.

BALDWIN.

our after 9-inch guns.

This we continued for some half to three-quarters of an hour, with, I think, good effect, until we were hailed by the " Jackson," asking our assistance to tow them out of fire that ship being temporarily disabled. While in the act of taking her Une, we received a shot under the guard, just forward of the wheel,

which going through the

ship's side, made its way of the starboard boiler, and, partially coming out on the other side, caused such a rush of steam as to blow off at once the cover to the forward

mto the end

hatch, fllllng the forward berth deck (under which IS the forward magazine) with steam, and killing instantly Thomas Collins, gunner's mate ; Robert Sargent, ship's cook Wm. Morris, captain's cook John Burke, ordinary seaman; John B. Carter ; landsman, and Peter Hall, landsman, of the forward powder division; and severely scalding George B Derwent (colored), wardroom steward, who died a few hours afterwards of ttie effects of his injuries ;

OF THE

WAR.

CIVIL

and John Hudson, master at arms, who is doing well, his wounds, though severe, not being thought dangerous. But one man from this division escaped, he being at the head of the ladder at the time. Some eight men from the forward pivot gun jumped overboard to escape the steam. With the aid of the "Jackson's'' boats we were fortunate enough to recover all these, except John Connor, second-class fireman, who was drowned. This shot, which proved to be a fifty -poimd rifled shot, prevented any further movement of our wheels for the time. We, however, continued our Are from the forward and after thirty-twos, and after nine-inch guns, until you noticed bur mishap, and came alongside to tow us out of action. At this period the signal to retire was given. I have great satisfaction in stating that officers and crew generally behaved well. Mr. Weld, actingmaster's mate, in charge of the nine-inch and rifled Parrott gun forward, is entitled to credit for the admirable manner in which those guns were served, and his coolness and self-possession at the time of the accident. On examination of the injured boiler by the chief engineer of this ship, it is his opinion that the repairs to it will require at least ten days to complete and will need the aid of a shop and experienced workmen. In the meantime, the ship is ready for such service as she may be called upon to perform, which will not entail a greater speed than six knots an hour. This rate, I think we shall be able to maintain. 1 have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant, Chas. H. Baldwin, Acting Lieutenant-Commanding. Commander D. D. Porter, Com,m,anding Bomb Flotilla.

for two hours and forty minutes, I discontinued the action, and at 8.25 A. M., came to anchor about two

and a

half miles below Vioksburg. following the flag-ship up the river, that is, above and beyond the fire of the forts, is simply because, in your general order of the Should the action be con25th instant, you say tinued by the enemy, the ships and the Iroquois and 'Oneida' will stop their engines and drop down the river again ;" and, on the evening of the 27th, twice (when in the cabin and on the quarterdeck of your flag-ship) I asked you if it was your wish or desire for me to leave any batteries behind me that had not been silenced, you answered " No,

My reason for not

'

'

'

'

sir

;

not on any account."

me great pleasure to bear witness to the officers and men a more excellent deportment of cool, or a braver set of men, was never on board of It affords

my

any

States Steam-sloop "Brookltn," BELOW VlCKSBURG, June 30, 1862.

I

f

Sir—In compliance with your order of yestermake my ofiQcial report of my attack

day's date, to

on Vicksburg, on the 28th instant, and to give my reason for not following the flag-ship up the river, etc., I submit the following At 3.15 A. M., June 28, got under way, took posi:

tion in the prescribed line of battle, and followed the flag-ship at 4.05 A. M., the enemy opened fire upon the advanced vessels. When this ship arrived abreast of the lower batteries the steamers of the mortar flotilla, which seemed to be without any form of order, obstructed our passage in such a manner as to oblige us to stop our engines, and thus delayed our progress. At 4.45 A. M., as the 80;

was the only gun bearing upon the hill, and able to reach, we opened with that vigorously, keeping well inside their line of fire. At 5.15, the gun-boats, and a few minutes after, the bomb pounder

rifle

mortar flotiUa, having ceased firing, which had previously been partially silenced, immediately renewed the action, hailing a cross fire on this ship and the two gun-boats. At this time the smoke cleared away ahead of us, and, to my surprise, I could see nothing of the flag or other ships in the line. Whilst we were hotly engaged, trying with our two rifles to silence their most annoying battery, fire was opened upon us by a battery of five pieces of flying artillery, from a position about two-thirds of the way down the hUl, and in front of the southernmost battery. Being within easy range, we opened our starboard broadside with shells and shrapnel, and drove them from Finding myself entirely unsup their position. ported, except by the "Kennebec" and "Katahdin," which two vessels gallantly performed their part in the engagement, and knowing that it was impossible to reduce a single one of those hill-top vessels of the

all the batteries

'Kai-4-Ai*izia

Q+.

7

9.R

A

iw

n.f+.Ar Riistfl.ininfi^

their fire

;

vessel.

We

were hulled but twice, one shot taking effect below water, on our starboard bow and we received some damage to our rigging. We have no casualties on board. We expended, in the action, 28 nine-inch shells, 41 nine-inch shrapnel, 62 Hotchkiss eighty-pound rifle shells, 3 Dahlgren eighty;

pound

rifle

shells,

14 Parrott

thirty-pound

rifle

shells.

Very

respectfully,

your obedient servant, Thos. T. Craven, Captain.

riag-offlcer D. G.

Parragut,

Commanding Western Oulf Blockading Squadron, United States Ship burg.

'^Hartford,''''

above Vioks-

United States Gun-boat "Katahdin,"

BELOW VICKSBURG,

MISSISSIPPI RiVER,

June

Sir TJuriTED

253

29, 1862.

^\

date, I have —Agreeably to your order of this "

to follow the to report that I received no orders flag-ship up the river," nor any written order whatever, and was entirely ignorant of your plan of attack. Agreeably to your verbal instructions, which were "to take the rear of the line, and to follow the Kennebec,' and fire at anything and everything I saw fit, or could see," I got this vessel under way at 8.30, yesterday morning, took position Kenneas the rearmost vessel, and followed the bec" to attack the batteries at Vicksburg. After the squadron, with the exception of the " Brooklyn," "Kennebec," and "Katahdin," had passed the '

batteries, the

mortar

enemy opened under

flotilla

ceased

firing,

We

and the

their batteries anew. continued their fire until 8 A. m., when we dropped down,

company with the "Brooklyn" and "Kennebec"' and at 8.20 came to anchor out of range. I have no casualties to report, and the vessel was not hit, though the enemy's shot flew around and over us. The oflflcers and men behaved with their usual cool and determined bravery under fire. We expended in the action eleven shells from the eleven-inch pivot gun, and thirteen from the Parrott rifle on the forecastle. Every shot was deliberately aimed in

In conseat one or the other of the batteries. quence of the position assigned us, and the number of vessels engaged, it was impossible to fire rapidly without firing into or over, and endangering other vessels of the squadron and the steamers and schooners of the mortar flotilla. The vessel had to were three be manoeuvred to fire every shot. hours under the flre of the batteries. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

We

Geo. H. Preble, Lieutenant-Commanding. Flag-ofQcer D. G. Parragut, Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, United States Flag-ship "Hartford,'''' above Vinksburn.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

254

" Kennebec," mississippi,

United States Gun-boat,

below vicksburg,

June 29, 1862. Sib In obedience to your order of the 29th, I have the honor to make my report of the attack on Vicksburg and my reason for not following you up the river also the casualties that have occurred on board this vessel. My position was in the rear of the " Pinola " and on the port quarter of the " Brooklyn," which I held. On the batteries opening fire, I found, from the position of the .steamers under the command of Commander Porter, that I could not bring my guns to bear on the batteries without serious injury to them. Immediately on their dropping astern I opened fire on the bluff battery, which had not yet been silenced. When the dense smoke which previously obscured the vessels had passed away, I found that you, with the rest of the fleet, with the exception of the "Brooklyn," " Katahdin," and this vessel, had passed up, and that the mortar ves)

—

;

sels had sition, I

discontinued their Are. Placed in this poagain referred to your orders, which were "But if the action should be continued, the ships and the "Iroquois" and the " Oneida will stop their engines and drop down the river again, keeping up their fire until directed otherwise." Retaining my position astern of the "Brooklyn," I continued firing upon the batteries until my supply of ammunition was so reduced that I deemed it advisable to desist. The hospital and other batteries, which had been silenced for a while, had at this time opened again. The battery on the bluff was :

'

firing

with vigor, and was assisted bysome artillery

in the woods.

am happy

us, I

shot and shell falling around to report no casualties or injury to

With

The officers and men performed their duty with the greatest alacrity and coolness. I cannot refrain from mentioning my executive officer, this vessel.

Lieutenant F. B. Blake, who personally attended to the tiring of every gun. The following is the expenditure of ammunition, viz 14 eleven-inch shells, 10m. 16 Parrott fuze 3 eleven-inch shells, 15m. fuze 5 Parrott shells, time fuze, 5m. shells, percussion 5 Parrott shells, time fuze, 10m. Very respectfully your obedient servant, John H. Russell, Lieutenant- Co m manding. Plag-ofacer D. G. Parbagut, Commanding Western ChUf Blockading Squadron. :

;

" ahead and the " Richmond " astern of us), and none of our starboard guns now bearing on the batteries, pivoted guns and lashed hammocks on the port side, and prepared for enfilading the batteries above the town, when the flag-ship came up " Oneida," in the proposed line of flre. At 6.30 the

quois

)

>

anchored near the "Hartford." This ship was struck four times. One 6-inch rifle shell came through the starboard after-pivot port, killing S. H. Randall, seaman, at the after-pivot gun; severely wounding Richard Hodgson, third assistant engineer, at the engine bell, and passing through the combings of the engine-room hatch, picked up three loaded muskets (each lying flat on the deck, on the port side of that hatch), and burst

in the bulwarks, over the first cutter, which was lowered to near the water's edge, drove the muskets through the open port there, and severely wounded William Cowell, seaman, who was in the boat sounding, and slightly wounding Henry Clark, chief boatswain's mate. One 8-inch solid shot struck on our starboard quarter, near the copper, and cut the mixzen mast half in two between decks. One 32-pounder shot passed through the second 8-inch solid shot carried away, rail. amidships, the keel of the launch which was partly

A

lowered, and, entering on the starboard side, struck the steam drum, and, glancing, fell into the fire-

room.

We expended 19 eleven-inch shells, 5m. fuzes; 16 eleven-inch shrapnel; 3 eleven-inch grape, from the two pivot guns; 12 six-inch shells; 6 32-pounder grape, from the two thirty -twos; and 28 thirtypounder bolts, from two rifle guns most of these from the forecastle pivot-gun. The officers and men did their duty well. The enemy's fire was heavy. I enclose the siu-geon's report. We have no carpenter. Respectfully yours, S. Phillips Lee,

—

Commander. Flag-officer D. G.

Fabragut,

CoTTitnanding Western Gfu If Blockading Squadron.

;

;

United States Steam-sloop "Oneida," above Vicksburg, June 28, 1862.

— I have

( (

the honor to report the part borne by the "Oneida " in the engagement with the rebel batteries at Vicksburg this morning. At 2.10 A.M., the flag-ship made private signal to the fleet to get under way. Stopped coaling, cast off from the coal bark, called all hands and got under way, lashed the hammocks along the starboard side to hold splinters, beat to quarters and cleared ship for action, and stood up the river, the "Iroquois" in line ahead, the "Richmond" astern of At 3.55, the us, and the rest of the fleet following. enemy opened fire on us from his numerous batteries below, over, and above the town. At 4. 15, opened on the enemy's batteries in succession, firing for fifteen minutes or more at the flash or smoke of the batteries below and over the town, viz.: the marine hospital battery and the batteries on the ridge over that hospital, it being too dark to see distinctly the batteries on the shady side of the hills. As it grew light, orders were given to fire as soon as the smoke cleared off, and with good aim. We used shells '5m. fuzes\ shrapnel and grape, according to distance, steaming so as to keep between the "Iroquois" and "Richmond," and going ahead when the enemy got our range well. Having reached the bend in the river (the " Iro-

Sir

United States Steamer " Richmond," above Vicksburg, Mississippi, June, 28, 1862.

)

f

Sir — In accordance with your instructions, I have the honor to enclose herewith the surgeon's report of the casualties on board this vessel during the engagement with the batteries at Vicksburg this morning. I also send, for your "information, the reports of the carpenter and boatswain, showing the injury done to the "Richmond" by the enemy's shot. Where all behaved so well I find it impossible to designate any particular indi%'idual, either among the officers or men, as meriting especial notice for gallantry and good conduct during the spirited fight which lasted nearly an hour, and was, for the most part, at short range. Still, I feel that I should be doing great injustice to the officer to whom the careful training and consequent steadiness of the crew is due, if I were to fail to give him the credit he has so fairly won I refer to Lieutenant Cum;

mings, the executive officer of this ship, and I trust that a grateful country will soon reward him in some way for his untiring zeal and devotion to his profession and her cause. With great respect, I am, sir, your obedient

James Alden,

servant,

Commander. Flag-officer D. G.

Commanding

Farragut,

Western &ulf Blockading Squadron.

United States Flag-ship "Hartford," ABOVE Vicksburg, June 29, 1862. Sir— I have the honor to report the part taken ) j

by

this ship in the battle of yesterday, in passing the forts at Vicksburg.

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

We were under way before daylight, and reached the scene of action as day was breaking, when the enemy opened fire upon us from his scattered batteries on shore. We returned it as they came in range, going at slow speed, our guns being worked with admirable coolness and deliberation, which was absolutely requisite, as we labored under the great disadvantage of not knowing the situation of the batteries, which were only discovered by the flash and the smoke of their guns some, also, were on high bluffs, rendering it difBoult to elevate our guns to reach them. We were under fire about one hour and a half, receiving it on the broadside, and being raked ahead and astern. The enemy fired with great precision, and, although we silenced solue of their batteries, they returned to them when we had passed and our guns would no longer bear, and recommenced firing. We stopped opposite one of the lower batteries more effectually to silence it. It would have been easy to have passed by the bat;

under full steam and speed, with much less risk from the enemy's fire but then our object would not have been gained in driving them away from their guns. We are much cut up, both in huU and rigging, which the enclosed reports of boatswain and carpenter will show. The rigging was soon temporarily secured, under the direction of our indefatigteries

;

James Walker. The enemy used was shown by our finding them on board after the action — 80-pounder rifle, 32-pounders and 8-inch shot also, rifle and musket balls — one of our men being wounded by the latter while working a howable boatswain, as

;

itzer in

the top.

ofQeer, James 8. Thornton, deserves much credit for his excellent distribution of the crew, at the gun and other divisions, and his efficient distribution of them during the action. The commanding officers of divisions also deserve mention doing their duty with spirit and ability. They were Lieutenant Albert Kautz, first division; Master John C. Watson, second division ActingMaster Daniel C. Murphy, third division ActingMaster Ezra L. Groodwin, powder division. The marine guard, under charge of Captain John L. Broome, had charge of two broadside guns, and fought them well, thus sustaining the reputation of that distinguished corps. In making this report

The executive

—

255

and wounded on board this ship during the engagement with the batteries at Vicksburg,

of killed

viz Killed. :

—

Edward E. Jennings, seaman. Wounded. Charles Allen, seaman, head Alex'r Lawrence Fay, boy Capron, landsman, head

—

;

;

;

Patrick Roach, coal-heaver Sylvester Beoket, Alfred Stone and John Hardigan, landsmen Jno. H. ;

;

Knowles, quartermaster and Nathan J. Salter, Philip Roberts, ordinary seaman all slightly. seaman, severely Joseph Guido, ordinary seaman, thigh Flag-officer D. G. Farragut and Jno. L. Broome, captain of marines, slight contusions. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. M. Foltz, Fleet Surgeon. ;

;

;

Commander Richard Wainwright, Commanding United States Flag-ship

'^Hartford.''''

United States Gun-boat " Sciota," ABOVE Vicksburg, June 28, 1863.

/

\

Sir— I have to report that, in passing the batteries this A. M., Aug. Ellsworth, ordinary seaman, was killed E. W. Hathaway, seaman, lost his left ;

arm above the elbow

;

Wm.

Orme, landsman, was

slightly woiuided and Clarence Miller, landsman, slightly wounded in the head. The vessel was struck on the starboard quarter, demohshing the quarter-boat and driving in the spirketing. An;

other shot came through the starboard bulwarks, under the top-gallant forecastle, shattering and carrying away one of the knees and round houses another shot went through the centre of the fore;

mast, half way up. Herewith, I beg leave to enclose the surgeon's report of the casualties. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

Edw'd Donaldson, Lieutenant-Commanding.

Farbagut, Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron.

Flag-offlcer D. G.

:

;

;

gives me an opportunity to supply an omission inadvertently made in my last report of the battle of the 24th and 25th of April it is in speaking of the medical department, which, under its head, rieet Surgeon Foltz, was administered admirably, both in this and the former battles. The engineer department, under Chief Engineer James B. Kimball, won much praise for his prompt and efficient working, both in passing the forts and batteries at New Orleans and also in this fight a faOure promptly to obey the bells or the giving out of the engines might have led to much disaster. ActingMidshipman Herbert B. Tyson, doing the duty of acting-master, besides carrying on those duties with credit, also had charge of a broadside gun manned it

;

;

—

his division. In fact, all officers and men were a credit to the ship and to the country for which they have so gallantly fought. have much to be thankful for, in only having to mourn the loss of one man Edward E. Jennings, seaman and having a few only slightly wounded, under such a heavy Are. I enclose the fleet surgeon's report. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. WA-INWRight, Commander United States Navy. Flag-offlcer D. G. Parragdt,

by

We

—

—

Commanding Western Qulf Blockading Squadron. PiiAG-SHiP "Hartford," ABOVE ViCKSBURG, June 28, 1862.

)

j

United States Gun-boat "Winona," above Vicksburg, June 28, 1862. f Sir— I am happy to be able to report no casual/

limb in the action of this morning with the batteries in or about the city of Vicksburg. Two small shots, either grape or small field-piece, passed through our forward starboard bulwark, cutting away one stanchion and slightly splitting ties to life or

the spirketing.

The

The damage the

is

easily repaired.

while passing the city, were first exposedto a heavy plunging iire from the batteries on the top of the bluffs, cross-fires from batteries (five in number, I think', in various places, then to raking fires above and below and, while passing the last battery at the upper end of the city, to heavy fire of musketry from concealed marksmen, and, lastly, to the raking fire of heavy guns for nearly two miles above the last battery. When I came abreast of the upper battery it was entirely clear of men, having been cleared by the guns of the flag-ship but, as soon as I passed, they returned and opened a very spiteful fire upon the flag-ship, "Iroquois," " Pinola," and this ship, until beyond range. Taking all things into consideration, it seems miraculous that no more damage was sustained by the fleet. From the experience of this morning I am satisfied that ships can clear batteries when placed on a level with them, or nearly so, though the men return to them as soon as the ships' guns cease to bear; but as to batteries placed on hills and bluffs, ships are almost useless against them. I conclude, sir, by commending to your notice the good conduct of all on board. Where all were alike conspicuous it would be unjust to particuvessels of

fleet,

;

;

larize.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

256

gangway during the whole

action,

and

assisted in

conning the ship. Mr. Sanborn is not a reguiar river pilot, but a raftsman, partly pressed into the Some service, and I think a good Union man. notice from you, sir, I think would be appreciated

by him, and

others like

him

in the fleet.

Herewith I transmit the return of ammunition expended in the engagement of this morning. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Ed. T. Nichols, Lieutenant-Commanding. Flag-officer D. G.

Commanding

Farra»ut,

Western Qulf Blockading Squadron.

United States Steamer "Iroquois," ABOVE ViCKSBURG, June 30, 1863.

Sir

—Agreeably

to

your order,

I

submit the

)

f

wounded. A severe attack of fever had confined me to bed for several days previous to the action, and I could do but little during its continuance except to encourage, by my presence on deck, the crew to do their duty faithfully.

To Lieutenant E. E. Potter, the executive officer, belongs the credit of our success, and it affords me pleasure to inform you that the officers and crew of the "Wissahickon" did their duty faithfully, and to my entire satisfaction. After passing the batteries, I proceeded, according to my orders, to the mouth of the Yazoo River, but the gun boats named in your order, which were to join me, not having come up, I deemed it imprudent to attempt the ascent of the river alone. I shall, therefore, await your further orders. I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

John DeCamp,

fol-

Coinmanding.

lowing report:

At two

morning

of the 28th, the signal being made from the flag-ship, I got under way and steamed slowly up (the programme being that the

in the

" Iroquois

was to lead the attack upon vicksburg), close into the lower battery before we discovered, when they opened fire, which was were immediately returned. We so fought our way up, running close into the town, having a raking fire

riag-offlcer D. G.

Farbagut,

Commanding Western

U. S. iV.

Chilf Squadron,

near Vicks-

burg, Miss.

"

and was up

above and a plunging fire from the on the hill, together with broadsides from the cannon planted in the streets, and, what is most strange, through all this heavy concentrated fire, with the exception of cutting away both our mainstays, and some other immaterial damage to the rigging, we escaped without injury. One shell burst on board of us, scattering its fragments around, and yet no casualty occurred. We remained off the upper battery until joined by the flag-ship, when, following your motions, we anchored out of range. My men and officers behaved with the same coolness which I learn so distinguished them in the attack on the forts below

from the

fort

batteries

New I

Orleans.

have the honor to

obedient servant,

be,

sir,

very respectfully, your J. S.

Palmer, Commander.

Gr. Farragut, Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron.

Plag-officer D.

United States Gun-boat " Wissahickon," OFF THE Yazoo River, June 29, 1862.

)

flag-officer farragut's report of affairs above vicksburg, july 6, 1862. United States Flag-ship, "Hartford,") ABOVE Vicksburg, July 6, 1863. j Sir — I have to inform you that we are still at this place, bombarding it by the mortars from both sides of the peninsula.

mortars, and

Flag-officer

Commander Porter

Davis has four

Com-

sixteen.

mander Porter has hard work to keep them from attacking him with riflemen; thus far, however, he has always got the best of them, and forced them to retreat. He reported yesterday that he had found five dead bodies in the swamp near him, and large quantities of shoes, knapsacks, muskets, etc., showing that he had driven them precipitately from the woods. I received a telegram yesterday from General Hala copy of it is herewith enclosed, by which it appears that he will not be able to co-operate with us for some weeks yet. Flag-officer Davis received a letter from General Grant at the same time, at Memphis, stating that it was reported that Richmond was taken. Should this be true, no doubt but what Vicksburg will soon fall, but it must be by troops coming down in the rear. The city is sacrificed by the soldiers it has been abandoned by the inhabitants. The ditch across the peninsula will soon be deep enough for the water to run through, unless the river should fall very fast. We are now in hopes of a little rise, a foot or so will accomplish the object. I have the gun-boats looking to the bluflfs below, and giving convoy to our supply vessels. I hear nothing of the " Cayuga" or " Kearsage." I hope the department wiU not supersede Commander Bell in the command of the "Brooklyn," for you may depend upon it the Navy has not a braver man or better officer. I hear by a deserter to General Williams that General Breckinridge is in command at Vicksburg, and they are seizing every one for the army.

leck,

;

f

Sir — I have the honor to submit the following report of our engagement with the rebel batteries on the heights of Vicksburg. Yesterday morning, at about two o'clock, observing the signal from the flag-ship for the fleet to weigh anchor and proceed to the attack, as arranged by general order, we were soon under way and steaming slowly up the river. By four o'clock we were in our station, astern of the "Iroquois," and on the port quarter of the "Richmond," the " Oneida" ahead and close to us, the remainder of the vessels of the squadron not in sight.

At 4.15, the batteries opened a heavy fire upon us, which we immediately returned with our Parrott Arriving opposite the rifle and eleven-inch gun. city, and within four hundred yards of the lower batteries, our two 24-pounder howitzers, charged with shrapnel, were brought into operation, and did good service in clearing the batteries of their crews. The action continued for one hour, during which the " Wissahickon " received four shots. Our port main rigging was shot away, and an eight-inch shell struck the vessel at the water line, entering the berth-deck, where it killed one man and wounded all the men stationed to pass shot and powder on that deck. Our loss in the battle, though not heavy, is still severe. Master's Mate Charles M. Bird, received a compound fracture of the left arm; ward-room cook killed, and five of the crew

****»«*

Very

respectfully,

your obd't

serv't.

D. G.

Farragut,

Hon. Gideon ,„ Welles,

Mag-officer.

Secretary of Navy, Washington.

United States Military Telegraph, The

Memphis, July

3,

1862.

)

f

scattered and weakened condition of my forces renders it impossible for me, at the present, to detach any troops to co-operate with you on Vicksburg. Probably I shall be able to do so as soon as I can get my troops more concentrated

;

OF THE

CIVIL

may delay the clearing of the river, but its accomplishment will be certain in a few weeks. Allow me to congratulate you on your great suc-

this

cess.

H.

W. Halleck, Major General.

Farragut, Commanding United States flotilla in

riag-offlcer

the Missis-

sippi.

COMMANDER

D. D. PORTER'S REPORT OF THE OPERATIOK^S OP THE MORTAR FLEET AT VICKSBURG.

United States FLAa-SHip " Hartford," ABOVE ViCKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, July

—I

7,

1863.

) J-

)

Sir

herewith forward the report of Commander D. D. Porter of his operations since the receipt of his orders to join me at Vicksburg up to date, and it gives me great pleasure to say that nothing could exceed that officer's perseverance in getting to the scene of his labors, or the steadiness with which his officers and men have carried on his work of demoUtion and annoyance to the enemy, while I deeply regret the chance shots which caused the death of his brave men. But, as I stated in my last communication, Commander Porter's service has been hard upon his officers and crew, though they have performed it well, willingly and unflinchingly.

We hope soon to have the pleasure of recording the combined attack by Army and Navy, for which we all so ardently long. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. (t. Farragut, Commanding Western Chdf Blockading Squadron. Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.

United States Steamer "Octorora,' Vicksburg, July

—Agreeably to the

3,

1862.

orders received from you I sailed from Pensacola on the 3d of June, and on the 9th had all the mortar vessels in New Orleans. On the 13th, sixteen vessels, in tow of the steamers, had left for Vicksburg, on half rations, the officers and men being desirous to arrive at the scene of action in good time. On the 20th, we were before

Sir

Vicksburg, ready for service, having met with no delay or accidents on the passage. On one occasion the flotilla was attacked with field-pieces at Ellis Bluffs, but the rebels were handsomely repulsed by the "Owasco" and "Jackson,'' Lieutenants Commanding Guest and Wood worth. The mortar schooners "George Mangham" and "Arietta," Acting -Masters John Collins and Thomas E. Smith, and the "Horace Beales and "Sarah Bruin," Lieutenant-Commanding Breese and Acting-Master A. Christian, were also attacked at different times, but they whipped off the rebels, and pursued their voyage in peace. The latter schooner had two men seriously hurt, having each lost an arm by a 13-pound shot. Lieutenant-Commanding Breese ''

gives his officers full credit for behaving

somely under a troublesome

and concealed

On the

fire

from

hand-

field-pieces

riflemen.

with a mortar schooner alongside, I proceeded up toward the city of Vicksburg, to obtain ranges and draw the fire of the enemy's forts, about which we had no information. The rebels allowed us to get within good range, when they opened on us with all their batteries, without, however, doing any harm, and enabled us to get the desired information. I gave them four bombs, to let them see they were in range, and some 10031st,

pound rifle shots, and returned to the anchorage, after satisfying myself about the proper position

WAR.

257

On June 26, I was employed all night getting the mortars in position. Nine on the right-hand side going up, under command of Lieutenant-Com manding Smith, and eight on the left side, under command of Lieutenant-Commanding Queen. Lieutenant-Commanding Breese was left at New Orleans to bring up the last vessels. He was detained, also, getting the "Sea Foam afloat, which vessel had grounded badly on a sand-bar, where she will most likely remain for the rest of the season. The position selected here for the mortars was a beautiful one on the starboard side of the river, at 2,500 yards from the main battery, and 2,200 from the water battery. The vessels on the port side about 700 yards, further off, were rather exposed to the enemy's fire, but were so covered up with bushes that it was not easy to see them at that distance, much less to fire accurately at them. When the mortars were all in position they opened their fire deliberately for the purpose mainly of getting ranges, which they succeeded in doing after a few fires. The enemy opened on them from all their batteries in range, but, though they fired A all around and over them, none were struck. kind Providence seems to look out for this little fleet. They soon silenced the batteries, and were enabled to pursue their experiments unmolested. On June 37, the mortars opened again on the ''

forts at 5.45 A. M., firing rapidly.

The

rebels at-

tempted to respond, but were driven away from their' guns, after we had fired a little less than an hour. The steamers were also employed, throwing in an effective fire with their rifle-guns. The practice was kept up during the day with good effect,

many

of the bomb shells going into the forts or bursting over them. Only one vessel, the " C. P. Williams," was struck on this day, a 7-inch shell lodging in her bow and sticking there, showing that the enemy's powder was bad. At sunset we ceased firing, and at 8 o'clock opened again with all the mortars, on the town, doing much damage. At 8.30, "Owasco," Lieutenant-Commanding I sent the Guest, up abreast of the town to throw some incendiary shells, which proved to be failures, as they did not explode. June 28, at 3 o'clock a, m., the squadron made a move to pass the batterieSj and the flotilla steamers got under way to take their position, which was to enfilade the water batteries as the ships passed. The headmost vessels of the squadron passed along a little before time, unsupported, and our vessels could not get near enough to them to be of any service. Five of the above mentioned vessels went gallantly on, despite the fire of the batteries, throwing in their grape and canister, favored much by the heavy atmosphere and early morning hght. At 4 o'clock, the flag-ship came along, with two gunboats. By that time the mortar steamers had got nearly into position, and moved up toward the batteries, throwing in a quick fire. Nearly all the mortars had commenced as the " Richmond" passed, and the shells were falling very well and rapidly, the "Hartford" and gun-boats opening their batteries with grape, canister and shrapnel. The air seemed to be filled with projectiles. The lower batteries were silenced for the time, though I saw that the rebels would manage to get a shot or so at the ships after they had passed along. The batteries out of range of the mortars were very severe, and I am sorry to say that some ships lost, in killed and wounded, as many as they did at Forts Jackson and St. Philip. I regret that the mortars were not able to reach these batteries. About the time the "Hartford" passed, the "Octorora's" wheel-ropes got jammed below, and there was a fair prospect of drifting out of action, or into some of the vessels astern. As I went drifting by the " Miami," I hailed her commander, and ordered him up within six hundred yards of the » n _ XI IL X.J-

,T

THE NAVAL HISTORY

258

the " Westfleld" and " Clifton" to go ahead of me until I could relieve myself from my unpleasant position. The "Owasco," Lieutenant-Commanding Guest, and "Harriet Lane," Lieutenant Commanding Waiawright, had been ordered to act at discretion, and throw on their lire to the best advantage, which they did effectually. The river being narrow, and the current very strong, it was impossible to manoeuvre so many vessels to advantage, and leave room for the squadron of ships to pass. I had cleared wheel-ropes, and succeeded in getting again to my place ahead, and was in fine position with all the steamers firing very rapidly and effectually to cover the "Brooklyn," "Katahdin," and " Kennebec " as they came along, presuming that they were going to follow the " Hartford." That vessel was now two miles ahead, and appeared to be under a heavy fire from a battery of six guns at the upper end of the city, out of mortar range. The "Brooklyn'' came up a little ahead of the mortar vessels and opened fire, as did the gun-boats astern of her, but did not jjass through. Not a shot had, up to this time, struck one of the mortar steamers; when, finding it necessary to slow the engines, to get out of the line of the " Brooklyn's " fire, the vessel became stationary, and a fair target for what guns the enemy were able to fire.

my

I

1

The "Jackson," Lieutenant-Commanding Woodworth, was struck badly with rifle shells, one of which exploded in her wheel-house, disabling the man at the wheel by cutting off his leg, and knocking her steering apparatus to pieces which disabled her. The other struck the pillar block support, almost cutting it in two. This steamer being disabled, the "Clifton,'' Lieutenant-Commanding Baldwin, went to her assistance (by signal), and, while in the act of taking her in tow, a 7-incli shot passed in on the "Clifton's" port bow, going through her boiler. By this catastrophe, six of the men in and about the magazine were scalded to death, and others were scalded severely. The steam drove eight or ten men overboard, one of whom was

The

drowned.

"Jackson,"' Lieutenant-Command-

ing Woodworth, now became the helping ship, and picked up out of the water the "Clifton's" men, that steamer being completely disabled. The " Westfleld," on approaching to assist her, was struck on the frame of her engine by a heavy rifle shot, which, fortunately, did not go through, having struck butt-end foremost, and consequently caused but short delay. In the meantime, the " Octorora " dropped out of fire, took the " Clifton" in tow, and removed her to a place of safety. The "Jackson " drifted out clear. No further necessity existing for the flotilla steamers remaining under fire (the "Brooklyn" and those astern of her having slowed their engines, and proceeding no further), the signal was made to retire under cover of the woods, having been sixty-flve minutes under flre. Although the steamers disabled were in a strong current, and narrow, crowded river, they were handled and taken out of action without confusion of any kind, beyond that occasioned by the escaping steam on board the "Clifton." Such a calamity is always appalling to those unused to the effects of such a terrible enemy on board their own vessel. The conduct of the officers and men on board the " Clifton was creditable in the highest degree, and I regret to say thatthose scalded to death were some of the leading men of the vessel. No further casualties occurred of any consequence. The "Jackson" and "Clifton" are temporarily repaired, the latter working under one boiler. All the steamers took good positions, and their commanders did their duty properly. It is to be regretted that a combined attack of Army and Navy had not been made,by which something more substantial might have been accomplished. Such an attack, I think, would have resulted in the capture of the city. Ships and mortar vessels can keep ''

possession of the river, and places near the water's edge, but they cannot crawl up hills three hundred feet high, and it is that part of Vicksburg full

which must be taken by the Army.

If it

was

in-

tended merely to pass the batteries at Vicksburg, and make a junction with the fleet of Flag-officer

Davis, the Navy did it most gallantly and fearlessly. It was as handsome a thing as had beendoneduring the war; for the batteries to be passed extended full three miles, with a three-knot current, against ships that could not make eight knots under the most favorable circumstances. Again, sir, I have to mention favorably the divisional officers, and the acting-masters commanding mortar vessels. Anchored at all times in a position selected by myself, more with regard to the object to be accomplished than to any one's comfort or safety: knowing that they will have to stay there without a chance of getting away till I think proper to remove them (no matter how thick the shot and shells may fly there has always existed a rivalry as to who shall have the post of honor (the leading vessel i, almost certain to be struck, if not destroyed. They know no weariness, and they really seem to take a delight in mortar firing, which is painful even to those accustomed to it. It requires more than ordinary zeal to stand the ordeal. Though I may have at times been exacting and fault-finding I,

with them for not conforming with the rules of the service iwhich requires the educAtion of a life-time to learn), yet I cannot withhold my applause when I see these men working with such earnest and untiring devotion to their duties while under fire.

The officers and crew of the " Octorora " behaved like veterans; and I ain much indebted to that excellent officer. Lieutenant George Brown, for the drill of the crew, and the perfect arrangements made for going into action. On the day the squadron passed up, the mortars were engaged in divisions in firing on the enemy and keeping his guns quiet, and so on up to the 1st of July. Two or three deserters came in, one of them asserting a marvelous story that the ships and mortars had killed and wounded seven hundred persons. No doubt some were killed, but very likely fewer than stated, and only in and about the forts. Only two schooners were struck. One, the "C. P. Williams," Acting-Master Amos R. Langthorne, in the bow; the other, the " Orvetta," Acting-Master Blanchard, through the foremast. Nobody has been hurt, so far, in the mortar vessels. On the first of July, our pickets (which were

thrown out about a hundred yards) were surprised by a large body of rebels close to them, evidently intending to surprise the mortar schooners. They immediately came in to report, the enemy firing on them as they retreated. In a moment all the guns of the mortar vessels and fiotiUa steamers opened on the woods with grape, shrapnel, canister, shells, and round shot (the mortars throwing in bombs with small charges), and we knew if an enemy was there he could not face a fire Uke ours, from fifty guns, spread out along the levee for about a mile. After the woods were well shelled, the pickets went in and captured three rebel soldiers, who were helplessly stuck in the mud, from which they had much difficulty in extricating themselves, and cried out lustily that they had surrendered. They were brought in, with their arms and accoutrements. These men state that two regiments, one from Tennessee, the other from Mississippi, were put under arms, and made to believe that they were going to attack some United States troops. Finding the head of our schooners guarded, the rebels attempted to pass through the middle of the wood and enfilade us,

but got helplessly stuck in the middle of the

swamp, or the thick

mud which exists

here. While guns commenced shelling the woods, and the two regiments were panic stricken. in this condition, our

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

They threw away their knapsacks, cartridge boxes, and everything that would impede their progress. In going over the ground afterwards, our men found evidences of a general stampede throughout the woods; amongst other things they picked up from the mud the heavy boots of a general officer, with silver spurs on. There was evidence in the marks

commanding the gan-boat "J. P. Jackson," of the same aflair. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, I). G. Fabragut, Flag-officer,

many

of their depended for safety when I placed the schooners in position; for, without such a natural defence, we should have been at the mercy of the concealed riflemen.

Not wishing to have any mishaps, I landed five howitzers, threw up works, posted fifty marines as pickets, and had a large beU slung up in the woods with lines leading to it from different points, so that the pickets might give immediate alarm. After which the mortar flotilla went to their repose with great confidence. have held the position we first took. have advanced, indeed, 300 yards with the mortars. are within 2,100 yards of the enemy's batteries, and in short distance of an Army (which they say consists) of thirty thousand men a very doubtful estimate, as it will not amount to a half or a third of that number. From what I can learn from pretty reliable sources, the regiments are small, and do not average 500 men each. I do not think there are 6,000 men in this town and the surrounding country, and many of them are sick. I respectfully submit a list of the killed and wounded on board the steamers " Clifton" and "J. P. .lackson." On the "Clifton" there were eight killedand one wounded Thomas Collins, gunner's mate Robert Sargeant, ship's cook John Burke, ordinary seaman William Morris, captain's cook John B. Carlton, landsman, and George B. Derwent (colored), wardroom steward, killed and John Hudson, master-at-arms, severely wounded John Connor. 2d-class fireman, was drowned. On

We We

We

Western Gulf Blockading

Hon. Gideon Welles,

enemy had been completely " bogged," or sunk in the mud, and our prisoners informed us that, had we gone into the woods at that moment with two hundred men, we could have captured fectly helpless, having thrown away arms, etc. It was on this marsh I

Commanding

Squadron.

that the

the two regiments, as they were for a time per-

259

Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

—

United States Gun boat " Pd^ola," ABOVE ViCKSBURG, June 80, 1863.

) )

Sir I have the honor to report that I took my position in line of battle on the 28th instant at 3.10 A. M., in obedience to signals, and stood up the river in company with the squadron. At 4 A. M., opened fire on the enemy s batteries, which we continued until 6.10 A. M., when we had passed Vicksburg and were beyond the range of our stern guns (24-pound howitzers', but within range of the enemy's heavy

guns for some twenty minutes firing. At 6.40 A. M., anchored above Vicksburg fired from the 11-inch gun 20 shells, 3 grape and 1 shrapnel from the Parrott rifle 29 shells, from the howitzers 13 shells, and after

rifled

we had ceased ;

;

shrapnel— total 86. Owing to the smoke and remarkably scattered positon of the enemy's 20

we labored under

guns,

great disadvantage in

:

;

;

;

;

;

;

the "Jackson," Alexander Greenwall, seaman, was severely, if not mortally, wounded. On the 2d of July the enemy made another at tack on our pickets and drove them in, wounding two of them, and succeeded in getting so close as to fire on our decks but they soon met with the fire of five field-pieces which I had placed near the edge of the woods, and which must have inflicted severe punishment. Five dead bodies have since been found and evidences of some wounded, fi-om the muskets and other arms thrown away, I suppose, in the retreat. Since then we have fortified ourselves so that they cannot annoy us without getting the worst of it. They have shelled our position, fired hot shot and rifled shot in abundance and though they have made some holes in the mortar vessels, we have held our own, and shell them out whenever we open on them with mortars. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, DA.VID D. PORTBR, ;

;

Flag-oflieer D. G.

Commanding Mortar Flotilla. Farbagut,

Commanding Western &ulf Squadron.

LIEUT.-COMMANDING (NOW REAR-ADMIRAL) PIERCE CROSBY.

aiming,

which

rapidly.

The

hindered us from firing more from the enemy upon us was very severe, owing in a great measure, I think, to our being the last vessel that passed their batteries. But, I am thankful to say, only a few shots struck us, one of which, a heavy shot, struck John Brown, ordinary seaman, at the 11-inch gun, seriously wounding him another, a 50 pound rifle shot, cut away the timber-head of the starboard after port struck the howitzer and carriage, slightly defacing the former and sUghtly injuring the latter it also struck the cabin hatch, destroyed the barometer and thermometer, and landed in the port waterfire

;

:

;

ways and, I regret to say, it killed WilUam H Thomas, quarter-gunner and captain of the gun, while sighting the piece, and mortally wounded Thomas Graham, landsman, who died in a few minutes after it also slightly wounded William H. ;

reports of lileutenant-commanding crosby, of the "pinola," and lieutenant-commanding woodworth, op the " j. p. jackson," of the attack on vicksburg, june 28, 1862. United States Flag-ship "Hartford," )

ABOVE ViCKSBURG, July

8,

1862.

j

Sir — I have the honor to forward the report of Lieutenant-Commanding P. Crosby, of the attack on Vicksburg, June 28, 1862 also the report of ;

;

landsman. Daniel Colleran, landsman, was wounded by a musket ball, volleys of which were fired at us from hills and bushes. We received some four or flve large grape shot in the hull just below the water-ways. I am happy to say that neither the vessel nor guns were disabled. The howitzer continued firing after the accident, under Shucks,

„*

A

„J.,**

iir_x_ ixriii:

THE NA VAL HISTORY

260

Thompson, who, by

his brave example, restored confidence to his crew, and did great service in the action.

have again the pleasant duty of bearing testito the gallant conduct of the officers and crew of this vessel, and the spirit and zeal exhibited in the performance of their duties on this occasion. John E. Tennant, quartermaster, gave the soundings with as much coolness as though he had been I

mony

making an ordinary survey. Mr. John McHugh, our pilot, behaved in a remarkably cool and selfpossessed manner, and gave me great assistance. Great credit is due Lieutenant A. P. Cooke for the efficient manner in which the guns were worked, and for the good training of the ship's company. Accompanying this report I send Assistant^Surgeon L. M. Lyon's report of casualties. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient serPiERCB Crosby, vant,

Lieutenant-Commanding. Si.

iV.,

States

—I

and

mv squadron passed down with

the determin-

ation of destroying the ram, if possible but, by delays of getting into position, etc., it was so dark

by the time we reached the town that nothing

f

transports, mortar boats, etc.

have the honor to report the following casualties onboard the United States steamer "J. P. Jackson " during the engagement on the morning of the 28th ultimo, before Vicksburg. In endeavoring to obtain the position assigned me, by your order, in front of the lower "water battery," my vessel was struck by a 7-ineh rifle projectile, which, entering on the starboard side of the forward bulkhead, passed obliquely through the forward wheel-house, destroying the wheel, and passed out through the hurricane deck, taking off the right foot of one of the steersmen, and wounding the left foot. The vessel was for awhile rendered unmanageable, but, by the aid of a .jury tiller, we were enabled to steer down the river out of the action, when the signal to retire was made. We received another 7-inch rifle projectile in our starboard wheel, cutting away one-half of the bridge piece supporting the other end of the shaft immediately under the pillar block. We were struck slightly by two grape, or other shot, doing no damage. We fired from our guns during the engagement 117 shot, shells, grape and shrapnel. I take pleasure in stating that the gallant conduct of my men and officers during the action met with my highest commendations. Enclosed I send you the report of Surgeon Thomas Yard, containing list of wounded. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, E.

—

)

Sir

Selim

it

tillery,

could be seen except the flashes of the guns, so that, to my great mortification, I was obliged to go down and anchor, with the rest of my fleet, to protect the

Blockading Squadron.

Unitbd States Steamer "J. P. Jackson," OFF VICKSBUR&, July 30, 1862.

to be the gun-boats firing at the flying arsaid to be lining the river. In a short time, however, the gun-boats appeared, and the ram in pursuit. Although we were lying with low fires, none of us had steam, or could we get it up in time to pursue herj but she took the broadside of the whole fleet. It was a bold thing, and she was only saved by our feeling of security. She was very much injured, and was only able to drift or go at the slowest speed say, one knot, and with the current she got down to the forts of Vicksburg before any of us had steam up. I had a consultation with Flag-officer Davis, and we thought it best to take the evening, when he dropped down to take the fire of the upper battery,

posed

;

Fabbagut, Commanding Western Division of United

Flag-officer D. G. v.

up a few sharpshooters. The next morning they went ofif at daylight, and by six in the morning we heard firing up the river, but supfered to send

Woodworth,

—

for we put is now repairing damages holes through her though we do not know the extent of damage done to her. Be assured, sir, however, that I shall leave no stone unturned to destroy her. I regret to report that the loss from

The ram

—

many

was one officer and two men killed, and wounded. The total loss in the fleet was five I enclose herewith killed and sixteen wounded. this vessel five

report of casualties. your obedient servant, D. G. Farragut, Flag-officer, Commanding Western Grulf Blockading

the

fleet surgeon's

Very

respectfully,

Squadron.

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.

Sir

—I

C.

Flag-ship "Hartford," BELOW Vicksburg, July 16, 1862. respectfully report the following

list

)

f

of

and wounded in the fleet during the engagements on the 15th instant, \-iz Flag-ship "Hartford." Killed. — George H. Loundsberry, master's mate Charles Jackson, officers' cook, and John Cameron, seaman, by cannon shot. Wounded. — Captain John L. Broome, marine corps, and Thomas Hoffman, paymaster's steward, severe contusions John D. Barnes, fireman, and killed

:

;

;

Michael Martin, landsman, contusions George Royer, marine, and Henry Downs, boy, slightly. ;

—

Killed. John shot.

" WiSSAHICKON." Garrett, ordinary seaman,

by a

cannon

Lieutenant-Commanding, United States Navy.

Commander D. D. Porter, Commanding Mortar Flotilla.

Wounded. — Edward York, fireman, and Daniel Hayes, ordinary seaman, and Joseph Ranahan, landsman, severely James Revell, ordinary sea;

THE RAM ARKANSAS,' JULY 15, 1862. United States Flag-ship "Hartford," BELOW Vicksburg, July 17, 1863.

ENGAGEMENT

WITH

'

|

—

\

Sir It is with deep mortification that I announce to the department that, notwithstanding

my

prediction to the contrary, the iron-clad ram "Arkansas" has at length made her appearance and taken us all by surprise. We had heard that she was up at Liverpool, in the Yazoo River, and Lieutenant-Colonel Ellet informed me that the river was too narrow for our gun-boats to turn, and was also shallow in places, but suggested that Flag-officer clad boats,

Davis might send up some of his ironwhich draw only six or seven feet of

water.

When this was ]3roposed to Flag-officer Davis he consented immediately, and General Williams of-

man,

slightly.

"Winona." Killed.— John H. Harway, landsman, bv a sheU. Wounded.—John Jones, captain afterguard, severely William Malley, landsman, shghtly. ;

"Sciota."

Wounded. —James H. Mathist, landsman, and Peter Lasher, ordinary seaman, severely.

"Richmond."

Wounded.— William Somes and Wilham

Nelson,

seamen, slightlv.

Total—5 I

killed 16 wounded. am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. M. Foltz, ;

Fleet Surgeon. Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, Commanding We.itern Division GKilf

Squadron.

Blockading

OF THE TJnithd States Steam-sloop "Oneida," BELOW ViCKSBUBG, July 16, 1863.

Sib

—I

make

J

the following report of the action

At 6. 40 p. M., flag-ship made general signal 1,318 got under way, steaming as necessary, whilst the fleet was formed according to the plan for the morning of the 38th ultimo. Renshaw's mortars were now firing at the batteries. At 6.55, the army mortars commenced firing; at 7, the "Benton" opened fire on the new upper battery at 7.30, passed two of the army gun-boats now holding their flre to allow us to pass our fleet having formed and closed up at 7.30, we opened flre on the new upper battery fired, in passing, at the upper batteries and rifle-pits with our battery and small arms, whilst under like fire from the rebels. We passed near the left (east) bank, stopped the engine, and drifted by the town saw the wharf boat fired bolts from two rifled guns and solid shot from the two 11-inch pivot guns at the "Arkansas," which lying under the bank, exposed her position by firing. Stopped firing at 7.50, having expended the following projectiles 6 shells, 11ineh, 5m. fuze; 9 grape, 11 -inch; 3 solid shot, 11inch (at the ram 10 shells, 33-pounders, 5m. fuze 1 stajid 33-pounder grape 3 solid 33-pounder shot 16 bolts and 1 shell from the 30-pounder Dahlgren rifle gun. No casualties occurred on board. The officers and men on the sick list who were able to go to their guns did so. Anchored with the fleet. Respectfully yours, ;

—

;

;

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

;

8.

Flag-ofHcer D.

Gr.

Phillips Lbb, Commander.

Fabbacjut,

Commanding^

etc., etc.

Flag-ship "Habtfoed," Sib

—I

BELOW ViCKSBUBG,

July

261

weigh and form the

)

with the batteries and with the rebel iron-clad ram "Arkansas," last evening, in passing Vicksburg.

—

WAR.

CIVIL

)

line ahead (the "Iroquois" being ordered to lead), I was immediately under way, and stood down the river toward the newly erected battery, having been preceded about half an hour by Flag-officer Davis and the "Benton," with two other iron-clad gun-boats, whose instructions were to keep in play the upper battery, whilst we passed on to the attack. At seven we passed the head of their line, and were immediately under fire, which we returned at once and very soon after the hill battery, in the upper part of the town, commenced its raking fire, the shot and shells flying over us, their guns not being sufficiently depressed. In a short time we were abreast of the town, from which we received volleys of musketry and artDlery, which we returned with shrapnel and grape. Wow the lower hill batteries comm.enced their plunging flre and at this critical moment our worn-out engines suddenly stopped, and we drifted for twenty minutes under flre which, as night was now setting in, was ill-directed, and very soon gave me no concern. As we dropped down, the lower water battery, and what I supposed might be the iron-clad ram, opened upon us. This we returned with solid shot. But with all this fire of heavy shot and shells from the batteries, of musketry and fleld-pieces with which the town was crowded, with the exception of a 6-pound shell, fired from a field-piece, left sticking in our side between wind and water, we escaped without damage. By the indefatigable exertions of our chief engineer the engine was set going again, and when below their line of flre, I turned and stood ujj again for the batteries, thinking the flag-ship was stiU above. But afterwards, finding that in the darkness she had passed below unobserved by us, I dropped down and anchored beside her. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ;

Jambs

32, 1863. f

the "Iroquois," "Richmond," " Sciota," and "Winona," of their passage down the river from above this place, and the encounter with the ram " Arkansas." I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, D. G. Fabbagut, Commanding Western Qulf Blockading Squadron. sels,

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Ifavy, Washington, D. C.

Flag ship "Habtfobd," BELOW ViCKSBUBG, July 16, 1863.

—

} >

Sib The following officers and crew of this ship were killed and wounded in the engagement last night, viz Killed. George H. Loundsberry, master's mate, killed by a cannon ball Charles Jackson, officers' cook, killed by a cannon ball John Cameron, seaman, killed by a cannon ball. Wounded. Thomas Hoffman, paymaster's steward, struck in head and chest with splinters John D. Barnes, fireman, contusion of shoulder Michael Martin, landsman, contusion of arm, slightly ; George Royer, marine, contusion of arm, slightly Henry Downs, boy (colored), contusion of arm, slightly ; Captain John Broome, marine, contusion of head and shoulder. Total.— Killed, 3 wounded, 6. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

David G. Fabbagut, Commanding Western Gulf Squadron. United States Steameb "Richmond," NBAB ViCKSBUBG, July 16, 1863.

—I

;

J.

M. FOLTZ, Fleet Surgeon,

Commander R. Wainwbight, Commanding United States Steamer United States Steameb

below ViCKSBUBG, Sib— At twenty minutes r\t i-\\a i

R^*.li

'^Hartford.''

" Iboquois,"

July

17, 1863.

could not

make her out.

Respectfully,

sir,

your obedient servant,

James Alden, Commander. Flag-offlcer D. G.

)

after six in the afternoon

eicynQl Hoino* rv^Qrlti

fi»/^TYi t.^io

floOF.oHir*

Fabbagut,

Commanding Western &ulf Blockading Squadron. United States Gun boat " Sciota," ABOVE ViCKSBUBG, July 15, 1863.

—This

f.rY

\ \

morning, about 6.10 o'clock, heavy firing was heard on board this vessel apparently from the direction of the Yazoo River, the cause of which soon manifested itself in the appearance of the gunboat "Taylor," Lieutenant-Commanding Gwinn, running before, and closely followed by an iron-clad rebel ram since ascertained to be the Arkansas " escaped out of the Yazoo River. This vessel—of a similar construction to the "Louisiana" and "Mississippi" destroyed at New Orleans; that is, with a screw propeller and incUned iron sides, armed with nine guns seemed, from her movements, to trust entirely to her invulnerability for a safe run to the cover of the Vicksburg batteries. The Taylor made a running fight until within our Unes, when the vessels opened as their guns bore, the rebel's speed diminishino* vArv visihlv ThiH o'nn-'hnnf TWflG QnoVir^Torl f/-knv+K

Sib

—

—

'

)

s

have the honor herewith to enclose the surgeon's report of casualties, and also those of the boatswain and carpenter, showing the injury done to this vessel by the enemy's shot during the action of last evening. Every one on board behaved well. A careful lookout was kept for the ram as we passed, but owing to the obscurity of the night we

—

;

(

Sib

—

;

Palmbb,

Flag-offlcer

:

;

S.

Commander.

herewith enclose the reports of these ves-

''

'

THE NAVAL HISTORY

263 in line from

under

up

river, witlaout

and engines

steam,

but as soon as I heard the firing I ordered fire started and steam to be raised with all dispatch. My eleven-inch gun being loaded with a ten-second shell, which I had endeavored in vain to repairs;

draw, as the rebel came within my train I fired, striking him fair, but the shell glanced off almost perpendicularly into the air and exploded. At the same time I opened a brisk fire with all my small arms against his ports, which, I am confident, prevented them from manning her port guns till after she had passed us, I observed one man in the act of sponging, tumble out of the port, sponge and all, evidently shot by a rifle ball. I found my officers and men ready, but such was the suddenness of the appearance and passing of this formidable vessel of the enemy that but little time was afforded for any continued attack upon her with the unwieldy gun carried by this vessel. After passing down stream out of my line of fire, which he did in from four to six minutes, I was unfortunately only a spectator of the final result of this event. I

am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. B.

Lieutenant-Commanding, Flag-offlcer D. G.

Commanding

LowRY,

U. S.

Qun-boat " Sciota.''''

Farragot,

Western &ulf Blockading Squadron.

United States Gun-boat "Sciota,"

BELOW ViCKSBURG,

—

July

16,

1862.

)

)

Sir I have the honor to report that, in obedience to general signal, made yesterday at 7 P. M., I got under way and took position fifth in line and steamed down the river. On nearing the point opposite the ciiy, found an active bombardment kept up from the iron-clad vessels of Flag-officer Davis's fleet, while the rebels were replying with great spirit from all the hill and water batteries, strengthened by large bodies of sharpshooters posted in rifle-pits and in the woods. As we turned the point the bullets began to fly over us very thickly. We opened on the riflemen with small arms, in the hands of our sick and disabled officers and men, who, too feeble to work the heavy guns, still zealously used their little strength to annoy the enemy by a return fire of musketry. Our two 24pounder howitzers were worked rapidly and efficiently, throwing shrapnel into the enemy's troops, which were seen to burst with good range and effect. 1 proceeded under this fire and the cross fire of the batteries tiU beyond range, anchored at 8.10 p. m.

when

I

rounded to and

On passing Vicksburg could

see nothing distinctly of the ram, though I received a fire, as from a battery, at or near the level with the water. shell from this battery passed horizontally through this vessel, tearing the metallic boat, cutting bulwarks on port side, starting wood-ends and bolts on deck, and finally bursting in the starboard spirketing,

A

tearing water-ways,covering-board,futtockends and timbers, and breaking boat davit on starboard side. Several grape and other shots passed through the ship, and one heavy shot struck under port bow plunging, grazing shot from the hill forts. I have to report, and thankfully so, but two casualties two men wounded, as per surgeon's report. My officers and men behaved well and bravely.

—

—

********

Very

respectfully,

your obedient servant, R. B.

LOWRY,

Lieutenant-Commanding " Sciota/' Flag-officer D. G.

Commanding

Farbagut,

Western Qulf Blockading Squadron.

United States Gun-boat

BELOW Vicksburg,

"

Winona,"

July

16, 1862.

)

f

Sir— I have the honor to report that this vessel got under way last evening, and passed, in company with the rest of your fleet, from the anchorage above

Vicksburg to that below. All the vessels were subjected to a heavy fire from the numerous batteries, were as also to a heavy fire of musketry. enabled to fire our 11-inch gun but three tirnes, owing to having received a shot on our port side, which started a heavy leak. Started our deck pumps immediately, but finding the water gaining, ran in and pivoted the 1 1-inch gun to starboard to raise the leak out of water water stiU gaining, pivoted rifle gun to starboard ; shifted port howitzer over, and shifted shot and shells to starboard. My orders being to anchor at the old anchorage below Vicksburg, I ran down to the lower end of the island and rounded to, with the intention of anchoring, but finding the leak still gaining fast on the pumps, the water up to the top of the ash-pit doors, and being ignorant of the position and nature of the damage causing the leak, I deemed it the safest plan to run the vessel on shore, which was done at the foot of the island, her bow in eight and stern in eleven feet water. Upon examination, we found that a shot had entered, just above water line, and close to opening of outboard delivery, breaking valve and cast iron valve-chest. I enclose herewith the report of Mr. Purdy, senior engineer in charge. Our other shot struck the spirketing in wake of long port, but did not penetrate. One shell burst among the crew of 11-inch gun, killing one man and very slightly wounding two others. The fragments of this shell tore up the deck water-ways, hatch-combings, and gun-carriage, but the injuries are not serious. In the engagement with the iron-clad gun-boat our side was perforated in several places by fragments of a

We

;

shell which exploded near the vessel, wounding two men. I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of all on board. I enclose herewith reports of Assistant Surgeon Matthewson, of the casualties of yesterday;

also report of ammunition expended. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Ed. T. Nichols,

Lieutenant-Commanding. Flag-offlcer D. G.

Commanding

Farragut,

Western Division Qulf Blockading

Squadron.

commodore

w. d. porter's report of reconnoissance, with account of engagement of the "anglo-american," on the 28th of august, at port hudson, la.

United States Gun-boat " Essex," OFF New Orleans, Sept. 9, 1862.

Sir— I have

(

(

the honor to report that, on the 33d ultimo, having remained off the citv of Baton Rouge two days after its evacuation by our troops, I proceeded up the river to reconnoitre reported batteries in progress at Port Hudson, Louisiana, and also coal my vessel at Bayou Sara, the only place I could obtain any, save New Orleans. ArfiN-ing there, I found the town entirely deserted, and the coal burning. Sending a boat's crew on shore, they were fired at by guerillas from the houses in heavy force. My men drove them out, and burnt the buildings in the lower part of the town to prevent such being used to protect the enemy. These guerillas had a few days previously fired at and wounded several of the crew of theUnited States gun-boat "Sumter."' On the 24th, I was necessitated to send the wooden gun-

boat "Anglo American," which I had fitted out and armed, to New Orleans for coal, and I again dropped down the river and awaited her return off Port Hudson. I could discover no guns at this place but earthworks were in progress, and whilst destroying these I had the misfortune to burst my heavy 10-inch gun. The " Anglo-American " not arriving, I returned to Bayou Sara, where we were again fired at from buildings left, on which I ordered those remaining to be destroyed. The "Anglo-American" joined me on the 29th,

OF THE and reported three

batteries as having opened on her whilst passing Port Hudson. She received seventy -three shots in her enpassant. 1 had received information that the rebel gun-boat "Webb" was at Natchez, to which city she had convoyed transports with supplies from Red Eiver. I followed to that city, but found they had sought the protection of the Vicksburg guns. At Natchez, a boat's crew from the Essex " were sent on shore to procure some ice for my sick, when they were wantonly attacked by over two hundred armed citizens, wounding the officer in command, and killing one and wounding five seamen. I immediately opened tire on the lower town, and set a considerable number of the houses from whence they were firing on us on fire. After bombarding the place for an hour, the mayor unconditionally surrendered the city. I followed the rebel gunboat " Webb " to the "batteries at Vicksburg, under the guns of which she, with two transports, lay. Heavy ordnance batteries, extending three miles further down the river than during the siege in July, prevented my nearer approach to these boats. Having exchanged some shots, and ascertained that the upper fleet was not in the vicinity of the town, being short of provisions, my battery weakened by the loss of two guns burst, and also short of ammunition, I determined to steam down the river to New Orleans for supplies, and, if possible ascertain the strength of Port Hudson batteries. On the 7th instant, at 4.15, A. M., we were off that place, and, on coming within range, the •enemy opened on us a vigorous flre with heavy siege guns. The "Essex" was struck with heavy shot fourteen times. As nearly as I can judge, the enemy had in position from thirty-five to forty guns of 10'

'

and

8-inch calibre, in three batteries river to the extent of five miles. 68-pound, 32-pound, and also a 10-inch shot, lodged " Essex," in the but without material damage. We were under flre an hour and three-quarters, during "which time the guns were worked well and incessantly, and I have reason to believe the enemy was considerably damaged. Mr. J. Harry Wyatt, acting fourth master, and my secretary, had command of the forward battei'y, and his conduct met my entire inch, 9-inch,

oommanding the

A

approbation. A land force will be necessary to complete the destruction of this fort, which, if allowed to again be restored, would seriously interrupt the free navigation of the Lower Mississippi. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. D. Porter, Commodore, United States Navy.

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. In the various encounters I have had since leaving St. Louis on the last cruise (July 6), the "Essex " has been struck by heavy shot perceptibly one hundred and twenty -eight times glancing shot have left no record three have broken the iron, and but one through, and that at a distance of a few W. D. P. feet from the battery delivering it. P. S.

WAR.

CIVIL

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;

263

could not be used, as the cartridge had been made wet by a just passed heavy rain. Our howitzer was useless, as no ammunition could be obtained for it at New Orleans. "We were now just abreast of the last mentioned earthworks, the enemy's guns playI could see two ing on us with great rapidity. 33pounder cannons and eighteen field-pieces, 6 and 12-pounders. The fire was so heavy on my frail wooden boat, that had it not been a matter of urgent necessity to reach you, I should have dropped back, as I had no protection for the machinery, and the flre was so heavy that the flremen were driven from their post. I determined, from the importance of the case, to push on and rejoin vou, if possible. I am happy to report we succeeded. The following casualties occurred Mr. Parker, pilot, severely wounded in the back from a bursting shell, and James Banes, seaman, slightly wounded by splinter over the eye. We received seventy-three shots fifteen heavy shots, the balance 12-pounder and grape. One 32-pounder struck the upright brace of the walking beam, breaking it in two. It is with pleasure, I here state the gallant conduct of Mr. H. Glasford, executive officer, and Mr. B. S. Williams, pilot, who never left their post of danger, and, by their energy and coolness, contributed to the saving of the boat. Mr. Miller, chief engineer, Mr. Parker, third master, and Mr. Jacobi, of the " Essex," all did their duty nobly. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. K. Riley, Commanding Gun-boat ^'Anglo-American.^'' Commodore W. D. Porter, Commanding Naval Forces below Vicksburg. :

—

DESTRUCTION OF the RAM "ARKANSAS." Flag-ship " Hartford," Baton Rouge, Aug. 7, 1862. Sir — It is one of the happiest moments of my / J

that I am enabled to inform the department of the destruction of the ram "Arkansas;" not because I held the iron-clad in such terror, but because the community did. On the 4th instant I sent the " Tennessee " up to Baton Rouge with provisions for Co*nmander Porter and the gun-boats stationed at that place. On the night of the 5th, she returned with the information that the enemy had made a combined attack upon Baton Rouge by the ram and two gunboats, the "Webb "and "Music," and calling for assistance. At daylight, the "Hartford" was under way for this place, with orders for the other vessels to follow me as fast as ready. I arrived here to-day at 12 m., in company with the "Brooklyn," "Westfield," "CUfton," "Jackson," and " Seiota." I had sent the "Cayuga" up before me, agreeably to a request of General Butler, in consequence of some of the guerillas firing

life

into

some

of his transports.

informed by Commodore

"United States Gun-boat "Anglo-American," OFF Batou Sara, Louisiana, Aug. 39, 1862. Sir In pursuance of your order, I proceeded down stream on the 24th instant, for New Orleans, arriving there on the morning of the 25th. We loaded up with coal, and left that city at 3.15 p. m., on Thursday, the 28th instant. Nothing of importance occurred until I reached Port Hudson. I noticed earthworks had been thrown up on the bluffs as well as the water line, but no guns being in sight, I kept on for about a mile, when another line of earthworks was discovered, as well as indications of rifle-pits. I immediately ordered my rifle 50-pounder to be flred. At this moment the enemy ooened on the boat. My rifle gun unfortunately >

—

\

On my

arrival I

was

W.

D. Porter that yesterenemy's forces, under General Breckinridge, attacked General Williams, drove in his pickets, etc. General Williams, having had ample warning, we all prepared for him. The fight was continued with great energy on both sides until 10 A. M., by which time the enemy had been driven back two or three miles, but, unfortunately, the gallant General Williams, while cheering on his men, received a Minie ball through

day morning at

2 o'clock the

his heart.

General Williams had informed Lieutenant-Commanding Ransom the evening before of his plans, and requested him not to fire a gun until he notified him and when he did so, our gun-boats the "Kineo" and "Katahdin" — opened with flne ;

effect,

throwing their

shells directly in the

midst

j.riJL

of the

fusion ofilcer

i\ji y ^JL,

nioiuis.1

enemy, producing great dismay and conamong them. Lieutenant Ransom had an on the State house, which overlooks the

adjacent country, and could direct the

fire of

ly-r

inji,

oi vi^

vv^n..

bear to torment the communities of the Missis-

my

absence. sippi in Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D.

every

Gf.

Commanding Western

Fabbagct, tiulf Blockading

shell.

Flag-officer,

As soon as the enemy was repulsed. Commander Porter, with the gun-boats, went up stream after the ram " Arkansas," which was lying about five miles above, apparently afraid to take her share in the conflict, according to the preconcerted plan. As he cauie within gunshot he opened on her, and probably soon disabled some of her machinery or steering apparatus for she became unmanageable, continuing, however, to fire her guns at the

Squadron. Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.

"Essex."

Commander Porter says he took advantage of her presenting a weak point towards him, and loaded with incendiary shells. After his first discharge of this projectile, a gush of fire came out of her side, and from that moment it was discovered that she was on fire, which he continued his exertions to prevent from being extinguished. They backed her ashore and made a line fast, which soon burnt, and she swung off into the river, where she continued to burn until she blew up with a tremendous explosion, thus ending the career of the last iron-clad ram of the Mississippi. There were many persons on the banks of the river witnessing the fight, in which they anticipated a triumph for Secessia but on the return of the " Essex " not a soul was to be seen. I wiU leave a sufficient force of gun-boats here to support the Army, and will return to-morrow to New Orleans, and depart immediately for Ship Island, with a light heart that I have left no bug-

C.

On Gun-boat "Essex," OFF Baton Rouge, August 6, 1862. Sib—This morning at 8 o'clock, I steamed up the /

)

and at 10 o'clock attacked the rebel ram "Arkansas," and blew her up. There is not now a fragment of her left. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

river,

W.

D.

POBTER,

Cominanding Division of Flotilla inWesternWaters. Rear-admiral D. G. Fabbagut.

When New Orleans fell, the towns all along the river were ablaze with defiance, and did all they could to delay Union vessels by firing on them on their way up river; all of which will be better understood by reading the dispatches of the times. Thus ended the first attack on Vicksburg. It failed from the fact that the combined forces of the Army and Navy delayed too long in New Orleans. The opportunity slipped away, and one of the best planned expeditions of the war was not fully carried out.

CH A PTER XXII The Potomac Flotilla. — Naval Operations

in the Potomac. — Destruction of Confederate Batteries. — Confederate Rams. — Condition of the Navy, and List of Vessels in December, 1863. Losses by Shipwreck, in Battle, Etc., Etc.

N the

Potomac, the flotilla seems to have been actively employed from December, 1861, to May 2d, 1863. Although no important event occurred on this water highway to Washington, early in the war the Confederates left nothing undone to stop the passage of transports, and even men-of-war, but they were not very successful. Cockpit Point was one of the places made quite strong by the enemy, and for a time it was considered quite a dangerous place to pass. No persistent attack was made upon it until March, 1863, and as our Army was advancing into Virginia at the same time, the Confederates were now compelled to abandon this troublesome battery and blow up the magazine. Before retreating, they destroyed all the guns and carriages, munitions of war, stores

and

provisions, having no

means

of

transportation by which they could be taken

away. The guns were of heavy calibre, having been mostly obtained from the Norfolk Navy Yard, where they had been abandoned by our forces early in the war. But for that affair, we would not have encountered so naany forts in the South and West, and would have escaped the disgrace of having the public river way to Washington obstructed for so long a time. An expedition under Lieutenant Wyman penetrated the Rappahannock as far as Fredericksburg after this place had surrendered to the Army, and captured twenty small vessels and a quantity of stores. Some of his command also penetrated the Severn, Pianketank and North Rivers, and captured some small vessels that had, no doubt, been used in transporting goods and information from the Maryland shore. The Union vessels were frequently attacked by field-pieces and riflemen, but they

always managed to give a good account of themselves,

enemy by

— but

while

they demoralized the

their persistent pursuit of

him

these adventures were not very ex-

citing.

The Potomac may be said to have been opened with the fall of the forts at Cockpit Point, for though the flotilla was maintained, and there were skirmishes with the enemy from time to time, there was nothing to hinder the passage of vessels up and

down

the river.

About the end of the year 1861, the United States Government began to realize the necessity of building vessels that

would be able to contend with the heavy which had been constructed by

iron-clads

the Confederates. By May, 1863, the latter had finished the powerful " Merrimac," together with the

"Louisiana"

and

"Arkansas,"

both

equally powerful with the "Merrimac," and had nearly completed the " Mississippi "at New Orleans, the "Albemarle," the " Atlanta," the " Tennessee," at Mobile, and several other iron-clads on the tributaries of the Mississippi. Up to this time the United States Government had only Ericsson's little "Monitor " to show, but the success of that famous vessel stirred the Navy Department up to building iron-clads able to cope with anything in the way of ships or forts that the Confederates could devise. Previous to the memorable encounter between the "Monitor" and the "Merrimac" the Department had exhibited neither zeal nor intelligence in dealing with this important problem. The following is a list of vessels of our Navy, published by the Navy Department in is

December, 1863 ; an enumeration which calculated to mislead, for if any one

THE NAVAL HISTORY

266

supposes that the vessels therein described as "iron-clads" bore any comparison to those built by the Confederates, he is mistaken. The Northern States, with all their

resources,

all

their

vessels

which

could have been cut down and made impervious to shot and shells, had not an ironclad stronger than those hastily built on the Mississippi River. Naval commanders had to take whatever would carry a gun, no matter how frail or vulnerable, and attempt impossible things with, at times, deplorable consequences to themselves, their officers and crews, from bursting steam pipes and boilers, which added new horrors to the ordinary havoc of war.

The work performed by Foote and Davis and their officers and men on the Western rivers, with the so-called "iron-clads," was herculean from the time the first gun-boats got afloat in January, until July 1863. They had captured, or assisted to capture, seven heavy forts armed with one hundred and ninety-eight guns, and manned or supported by over fifty thousand men, besides destroying thirteen or more of the enemy's vessels armed with forty guns and a floating battery of sixteen guns; and all this without the enemy's capturing a single vessel. In the Navy Department list, the Western "iron-clads" are put down as twenty-six armed vessels, a formidable force on paper, but in this number are included at least fifteen "tin-clads" small stern wheel merchant steamers, covered with quarter-inch iron to turn musket balls, but easily penetrated by a twelve pound shot or shell. The list may be interesting as showing the "historical account "of our naval forces in December, 1862, but it conveys no idea of the frail barks in which the officers and men of the Navy had to fight the heaviest kind of earthworks, often perched at a great height above the water where their plunging fire could perforate the vessels' decks and boilers, or even pass down through their bottoms.

—

NAVAL FORCE AT DATE OF THE LAST ANNUAL EEPOBT. Description.

LOSSES BY SHIPWRECK AND IN BATTLE. Name.

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

When the vessels now under construction are completed, the Navy will consist of SAILING VESSELS. Desceiption.

267 STEAM VESSELS.

CHAPTER

XXIII.

Mississippi River below Vicksburg fall into the hands op THE Confederates again. Destruction of the Ram "Arkansas."— Capture of Galveston by a portion of Farragut's Squadron Recapture of Galveston by the Confederates. Destruction of the " Westfield. " Commander Renshaw and a Portion of his Crew blown up. The Steamer " Harriet Lane" Captured BY the Confederates.— The Blockade Abandoned. Appearance of the " Alabama." Sinking op the "Hatteras"by the "Alabama." Hardships Endured by Officers and Crew of the " Hatteras " Attempt to Pass Port Hudson by Farragut's Squadron and Loss of the Frigate "Mississippi." Casualties. The effect of the return of Farragut's Fleet before Vicksburg. Capture of Baton Rouge, La. Effect of the Destruction of the Ram "Arkansas." Confederates Attack Baton Rouge and are Repulsed. Honor to whom Honor is DUE. Attack on Donaldsonville. Fight with the Confederate Iron-clad "Cotton." Capture of the "A. B. Seger." — Ascending the Louisiana Bayous. Miscellaneous Engagements of the Gun-boats. Death of Commander Buchanan. Vessels and Officers of the West Gulf Squadron, January 1, 1863.

Remarks on letting the

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

to the time of the escapade of the

" Arkansas," a general idea has been given of the performances of Farragut's fleet. After leaving Rear - Admiral Davis and running the Vicksburg batteries, he proceeded down the river to New Orleans with the " Hartford," " Richmond," " Brooklyn," "Pinola" and "Kennebec." The old

ram

mortar

fleet,

which

under Commander

Porter had done such good service at Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and at Vicksburg, had been divided up and withdrawn from the upper Mississippi, and the river from

Baton Rouge to Vicksburg was now virtually the Confederates, who deliberately work and lined the banks with guns, making, besides Vicksburg, another Gibralleft to

went

to

tar at Port Hudson, which caused much trouble to the Union commanders before they were able to retake it. The Mississippi had been so easily opened, all the way from New Orleans to Vicksburg, that it ought never to have been closed

required the whole power to keep it open. The importance of this river to the Confederates was too great for them not to strain every nerve to keep possession of its banks but the reader will naturally wonder that the Federal government should have alagain, even

if it

of the Federal

government

;

lowed such important positions to into their hands.

—

—

—

UP

—

—

—

—

—

—

fall

back

It is certain that great ignorance or indifference was shown with regard to the importance of Vicksburg and the part it was to play in the war, and this ignorance or indifference, or whatever it may be called, cost the United States many millions of

dollars to remedj''.

The several historians of the war have to glide by this subject with only a passing notice, but it is worthy of careful

managed

investigation.

The great importance of the Mississippi had been manifest from the

to both parties

beginning, but its importance was much greater to the Confederates than to the Federals. It washed the shores of ten different states, northern and southern, and received the waters of flfty or sixty navigable rivers. It was the great connecting link between the two sections, and was in fact the backbone of the rebellion. had provided the Confederates with guns enough at Nor-

We

folk to fortify it in all its length, and they had not failed to make the most of all their means of defence. The possession of the great river was equally sought by both parties for it was evident from the first that whichever side obtained control of it and its tributaries would possess an immense advantage. ;

If the Confederates lost it they would be cut off from their great source of supplies and be compelled to obtain everything from l268)

THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. Europe through blockade runners. This consideration alone would have been sufficient to account for all the blood and treasure which was expended in its defence, and the strength of the fortifications upon its banks

show that the importance of the Mississippi had been well estimated by the Confederate generals at the very beginning of the

war. All of the strongholds to the north of of the Federals as early as the spring of 1862, and they were now brought face to face with the great Gibraltar of the West, which still barred the way down the river, although all that portion below it had been opened after the capture of New Orleans. But it now seems that we were about to give up all the advantages we had gained, and allow the Confederates to obtain fresh strength by again yielding t6 them the most important part of the river, after we had so firmly secured it.

Vicksburg had fallen into the hands

when they attacked

our

269

Army with

—

;

the coast off Galveston.

The mortar fiotilla steamers were, in October 1862, placed under the command of

Commander W.

Renshaw. These vessels B.

While the river

by

were the " Har-

was held gun -

our

riet

Lane," Com-

boats, the Con-

mander

were

wright,

federates

a supe-

and the ram "Arkansas" was engaged by the "Essex," Captain W. D. Porter, accompanied by the " Cayuga " and "Sumter." She was soon set on fire and totally destroyed whether from the shells of the "Essex" or by the Confederates to escape capture is not known. The Confederates claim that one of her engines was disabled, and that she was destroyed by them but, be that as it may, her destruc" tion was due to the presence of the " Essex and her two consorts. It was a great relief to Farragut and his officers to get rid of the ram "Arkansas," as she had been a regular hi,ie noir to them, and no one could sleep comfortably while she was about. Farragut could now go to the Gulf and arrange for blockading rior force,

Wain"Owas-

Commander

prevented from obtaining cattle

co,"

and supplies from Texas. A

Lieut. -Commander Richard

Guest,"Clifton,"

L

report of Lieut.

.

Law and

Commanding

the

Eansom,U. S. N. shows that at one blow he captured 1500 head of cattle which

"

schooner

Henry Janes."

The mortar which had been left at New Orleans were aftpr-

vessels destedction of the ram

'

•

arkansas " by the

u.

s.

gdn-boat

'

ESSEX,"

theConfederates com:\iandee wm. d. porter. were trying to wards employed {FROM A SKETCH BY REAK-ADMIEAL WALKE.) pass across the at the siege of Port Hudson with good effect. river, and succeeded in getting them down On October 6th, Commander Renshaw reto New Orleans, where they became the ported to Rear- Admiral Farragut that with property of the Federal Army. Had the original plan been carried out the above named vessels he had captured the city of Galveston after a feeble resistance, (to push on to Vicksburg after the fall of New Orleans, and hold it with ten thousand and nowheld it ready for a garrison. This men) the Mississippi would never again was an important capture as it closed up have been closed against us. We sent a effectually one of the favorite resorts of few soldiers up to Vicksburg, it is true, but blockade runners. It was at once garrisoned by the Army, and Renshaw's vessels took scarcely enough to form a corporal's guard, and instead of landing at Vicksburg they positions in the several eiitrances of the took the opposite bank of the river and com- harbor to prevent the exit or entrance of the menced digging a ditch, but soon they all enemy. We did not hold this place long. On became sick and returned to Baton Eouge. The building of the forts at Port Hudson January 1st, 1863, General Magruder athad so far emboldened the Confederates tacked our vessels with three steamers, fitted with cotton-bale defences, and that they refitted the " Arkansas " and sent manned by sharpshooters. At 11.30 a. m., her down to Baton Rouge to co-operate these steamers were discovered coming with their Army against that port; but both down the bay towards our fleet. The " Harthe ram and the Army came to grief. " riet Lane " was above the city and she was The fire of the Union gun-boats '' Keneo and " Katahdin" repulsed the Confederates first attacked. At 4 a. m. two of the ene,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

370

my's steamers ran alongside of her and swept her decks with a fire from hundreds of

rifles.

Commander Wainwright was

gallantly leading his men; Lieutenant-Commander Lea, the Executive, fell mortally wounded, the next officer was severely wounded and half the people on deck shot down. It was a case of complete slaughter, and in ten minutes the " Harriet Lane" was in the enemy's possession. The other Union vessels opened their batteries but were not able to do much execution while the enemy's steamers were alongside the killed while

"Harriet Lane." At the same time that he attacked the

CAPTURE OF THE

Union

fleet.

D.

S.

would be allowed to take any one vessel, put his people on board of her, and leave This proposition was indigthe harbor. nantly rejected by the Union commander, who seeing that his steamer was immoveable, resolved to destroy her and transfer his crew to the Army steamer "Saxon," at the same time giving orders to LieutenantCommander Richard L. Law to go outside of the harbor with all the vessels that could move. In the meantime the Confederates had posted their steamers and batteries for a renewed attack. Commander Renshaw got all his men into the boats and sent them

STEAMEE "HAEEIET LANE" BY THE CONFEDEEATES, UNDEE GENX MAGEUDEE, HAEBOE ON THE NIGHT OF JANUAEY 1st, 1863.

General Magruder

filled

the

off,

m

GALVESTON

remaining with his own boat and a few

streets of Galveston with a superior force of troops, captured all our soldiers and stationed heavy batteries of artillery at prominent points to prevent our other vessels (which were mostly aground at low

officers to set the " Westfield " on fire. This they did, but the flames spread so rapidlv

tide) from escaping. It was a well conceived

Green, and a dozen men, were blown up. A flag of truce had been flying during the negotiations but it was soon hauled down on our side and our remaining vessels succeeded in leaving the harbor, after some of them had made a gallant resistance. Lieutenant-Commander Law, (now senior officer), seeing that he had only one vessel (the "Owasco"), that was in any condition

plan and carried

out with great gallantry.

The "Westfield" was at this moment hard and fast aground, and could not be moved. The Confederates seeing her helpless condition sent a flag of truce to Commander Renshaw, to inform him that if

he would surrender his

command

he

that

they reached the magazine just as

Renshaw entered his boat, and he, with Lieutenant Zimmerman, Chief Engineer

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

to meet the "Harriet Lane " in case she was refitted by the enemy, decided to abandon the blockade, and return to New Orleans This he did, and reported to Admiral Farragut the sad disaster. The "Harriet Lane" and two coal vessels were left in the hands of the Confederates, !

and they naturally exulted a great deal over their victory. They had good reason to do so for the force opposed to them was greatly superior, and many officers consider the retreat from before the harbor a disgraceful affair. Had the gallant Renshaw lived, it would have been different. In January, 1863, another disaster befell Farragut's fleet. As soon as he heard of the capture of Galveston, he sent Captain Bell with the " Brooklyn " and six gun-boats to retake the place. They had not all arrived on the llth of January, 1863, when in the evening of that day a sail, which afterwards proved to be the Confederate steamer "Alabama," appeared in the offing and Captain Bell sent the "Hatteras" in pursuit of her. On approaching the stranger. Captain Blake of the "Hatteras" hailed her and asked for her name. The reply was,

271

her wild career would have ended then and there. As it was she gained great prestige abroad by sinking a United States vessel of war, for people never stopped to inquire whether the conquered vessel had one gun or twenty. " When put on shore the condition of officers and men was pitiable, no one saved an article of extra, clothing, and many had not sufficient to protect from the inclemency of the weather landed on an unfriendly shore in a state of abject destitution that should have commanded the sympathy of even avowed enemies. The officers and men of the " Hatteras " were made to feel keenly the unkind criticisms of those who professed no unkind feeling towards the United States or its their bodies

people."

From January, 1863, Farragut was employed in conjunction with General Banks

" Her majesty's steamer Vixen.' " The Union commander then said that he would send a boat, and one was immediately lowered and shoved off from the ship's side. At this moment the stranger opened his broadside upon the " Hatteras" from a distance of only one hundred yards with terrible effect. The " Hatteras." though taken by surprise, returned the fire with spirit, and both vessels steamed ahead leaving the boat behind. The action was a short one and ended disastrously for the Federal vessel, as her inferior guns were no match for the armament of the "Alabama," (sixrifies in broadside and two pivot guns), and the " Hatteras " soon went to the bottom her crew was picked up by the enemy, and the '

;

latter

steamed away.

of the " Alabama " on No the coast created much excitement. doubt she came with the intention of capturing the small blockading force on the Southern coast, where no very large vessels were maintained. As soon as the flashes of the guns were seen from the "Brooklyn" she got underway and steamed in that direction, but did not discover anything until the next morning when the masts of the "Hatteras" were seen above the water with the pennant gaily flying. She had gone down in nine fathoms of water, twenty miles south of

The appearance

Galveston light. This action offers a good moral, "never send a boy on a man's errand." Had Commodore Bell sent two gun-boats instead of one. the "No. 390" or "Alabama," would probably have fallen into our hands, and

COMMANDER WILLIAM D. POETEE, (APTEEWAEDS COMMODOEE V. S. NAVY.)

way into the interior of Louisiana, and bringing all of the country that could be secured under subjection. This was a difficult task, for the Confederates opposed our forces at every step, with a courage and determination very difficult The lives of some valuable to overcome. officers were sacrificed, among them that of in forcing his

Lieutenant -Commander Thomas McKean Buchanan, who had been, while living, the leading spirit of the fleet. In the enterprises which were undertaken to possess the enemy's inlets and harbors some reverses were met with and some small vessels lost. These were mostly sailing vessels which were captured pretty

THE NAVAL HISTORY

272

much

as the " Harriet Lane " had been, by river steamers protected by cotton-bales and manned by large numbers of sharpshooters. The fact of our government using sailing vessels for blockade duty was simply absurd.

Only steamers make a blockade effective, and they should have speed enough to escape from a superior foe or capture an inferior one. On the 14th of March, 1863,

it was decided by Rear -Admiral Farragut and General Banks that the former should move with his fleet past Port Hudson, which was at that time well fortified with nineteen heavy guns bearing on the water approaches. General Banks was to make a diversion with his Army against the forts, and what was left of the mortar flotilla was to open on the batteries prior to and during the

passage of the fleet. Farragut seldom undertook to make a passage by a fort unless he had the mortar boats stationed where they could back him, notwithstanding would-be historians have stated that he did not desire their services. On every occasion he spoke of them in the highest terms, and the statements which have been made in a "Life of Farragut. written after his death, and in an article on the subject by a gwasi-statesman, which pretend to give his opinions, are fabrications and unworthy of any one who undertakes '

to write history. It would be difficult to find out why General Banks allowed these formidable works to be built within striking distance of his Army, and at a place which effectually blocked the way against our forces and secured the Red River to the Confederates as a great highway for their supplies. They had for the time being completely turned the tables on us, and although it was their last stand in this part of the country, it was a stubborn one and a great expenditure of force was necessary to overcome it. When General Banks reported his Army

ready to move on the enemy's works, and the mortar boats were in position, Farragut made his final preparations and at about 11 P. M. got underway with the following vessels " Hartford," "Mississippi," "Richmond." "Genesee," " Kineo" and "Albatross." Each of the larger vessels, except the '• Mississippi," had a gun-boat lashed to her port quarter. The " Hartford" attended by the "Albatross " led the attack, and was well fought and skillfully handled by her commander Captain James S. Palmer, who passed close to the enemy's works and delivered an effective fire. The Confederates were at first taken by surprise, but soon rushed to their guns and opened a rapid fire upon the fleet, which was passing within :

one hundred yards of the muzzles of their guns.

The " Richmond," Captain James Alden, to the " Hartford," with the " Genesee " as her consort. These vessels were admirably handled, but their commanders and pilots were greatly bothered by the smoke from the " Hartford's " guns which hung over the river obscuring their view of the enemj-'s works and the other

came next

It required great vigilance vessels in line. to prevent getting out of line or running

ashore, but the "Richmond" had reached the turn of the river in safety and was about passing the last battery when a plunging shot carried away the safety valves of her boilers and allowed so much steam to escape into her fire-room, that the pressure was " reduced to nine pounds. The " Richmond being thus deprived of her motive force, it was found that the "Genesee" was not able to drag both vessels up against the strong current then running, and under these circumstances there was nothing left to do but to drop down the stream again and anchor below the forts. The "' Monongahela" and " Kineo " came next in line, and these vessels also met with bad luck. The firing from the " Hartford" and " Richmond " had by this time so filled the air with smoke that it was found impossible to distinguish objects near by, and the pilots were completel}^ at sea. At 11.30. the " Monongahela " grounded on the west shore and the " Kineo," not touching, broke away from her, and ranging ahead a short distance grounded also. The enemy soon got the range of these vessels and disabled their principal guns. heavy shot carried away the supports of the bridge on which Com-

A

mander McKinstry was standing and precipitated him to the deck, by which he was seriously injured and incapacitated for further duty. The command of the " Monongahela " then devolved upon Lieut. -Commander N. W. Thomas, the executive officer, who with great coolness and judgment backed the vessel off and continued on his way up the river. As he was nearing the bend, however, the engines suddenly ceased to move, owing to a hot crank-pin, and the ship being unmanageable, she drifted down and was obliged to anchor below the batteries.

The steamship " Mississippi." Captain Melancton Smith, followed up in the wake of the " Monongahela, firing whenever her guns could be brought to bear. At 11.30. she had reached the turn which seemed to give our vessels so much trouble, and Captain Smith was congratulating himself on the prospect of soon catching up with the flag-officer, when his ship grounded and heeled

over three streaks to port. The engine was instantly reversed and the port

OF THE CIVIL WAR. guns run in in order to bring her on an even keel, while the fire from her starboard battery was reopened upon the forts. The engines were backed with all the steam that could be put upon them and the backing was continued for thirty minutes but without avail it was now seen that it would be impossible to get the ship afloat. Captain Smith gave the order to spike the :

and throw the guns overboard, was not done, for the enemy's fire was becoming so rapid and severe that the Captain deemed it judicious to abandon the

port battery

but

it

ship at once in order to save the lives of his men. While preparations were being made to destroy the ship, the sick and wounded were lowered into the boats and conveyed ashore, while the men at the starboard battery continued to fight in splendid style, firing at every flash of the enemy's guns. The small arms were thrown overboard, and all possible damage was done to the engines and everything else that might prove of use to the enemy. The ship was first set on fire in the foreward storeroom, but three shots came through below the water line and the water rushed in and put out the flames. She was then set fire to in four places aft, between decks, and when the flames were well underway so as to make her destruction certain, Captain Smith and his first- lieutenant left the ship, (all the officers and crew having been landed). The "Mississippi" was soon in a blaze, fore-and-aft, and as she was now relieved of a great deal of weight, (by the removal of her crew and the destruction of her upper works) she floated off the bank, and drifted down the river much to the danger of the Union vessels below; but she passed without doing them any injury and at 5.30, blew up and went to the bottom. The detonation was heard for miles around, and exceedingly rejoiced the hearts of the Confederates along the river banks. Thus ended the career of this old ship, which had been dear to many a naval officer and sailor. Many pleasant memories clustered about her, and no ship ever performed more faithful service, or came to a more glorious end. Her commander, officers and men lost no credit by the manner in which they performed their duty on this occasion; on the contrary everyone who knows anything about the matter is aware that every possible exertion was made to get the ship afloat, and that when she was finally abandoned it was done in a cool and orderly manner. It is in such trying moments that men show of what metal they are made, and in this instance the metal was of the very best. Farragut in the " Hartford," with the " Albatross " alongside, reached the mouth of Red River, and Port Hudson was as com-

273

boats had been there. But this affair was a great triumph to the enemy and equally depressing to the Federals for the time being. It was soon seen however that the object aimed at had been gained the works at Port Hudson were cut off from supplies and the fate of the garrison sealed. Farragut was much disappointed at the loss of the "Mississippi" and the failure of the other vessels to get up, but he bore it with his usual equanimity and looked upon it as the fortune of war. He was satisfied that his commanders had all done their duty and was well aware of the fact that the " Hartford " had fewer difficulties to contend with than the vessels in her rear. Her pilot could see everything ahead, while those astern were blinded by the smoke of her guns. The list of killed and wounded is as fol-

—

lows "Hartford," :

mond,"

3

3 killed, 6 wounded; "Richkilled, 12 wounded ; Missis-

sippi," 64 missing, of which 25 were believed to have been killed; " Monongahela," 6 killed, 21 wounded: Total 114 killed, wounded and missing, nearly as heavy a loss as was sustained by the whole fleet at the passage of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. Rear-Admiral Farragut steamed on up to

—

the mouth of the Red River which he closely blockaded, and remained there until relieved by Rear-Admiral Porter in the "Benton" on May 2d, 1863, when he returned overland to his fleet below Port Hudson. The effect of the return of Farragut's squadron from before Vicksburg was bad for the people living along the river. The population of the towns that had abstained

from

hostile acts,

and

in fact

had assumed

a very humble attitude, now became quite defiant the mayors of the little municipalities putting on the airs of autocrats, their importance being doubtless stimulated by the fact that Farragut and his officers di& not seem disposed to molest them or even question their loyalty to the United States. When the news of Farragut's victory was carried up the river by escaping steamers, there was a panic all through the region, and for the moment every one seemed disposed to submit to the Federal authority. Many persons were in their hearts glad to see the Union flag once more triumphant, and looked forward with pleasure at the idea that the old order of things would soon be restored. But when the mayor of Vicksburg at first mildly then defiantly treated Farragut's demand for the surrender of the city, and the other towns learned of the unsuccessful attempt of the fleet to obtain possession of Vicksburg, either by persuasion or force, their ardor in the Copfederate cause was suddenly stimulateu.

—

THE NAVAL HISTORY

274

the glory that enveloped Vicksburg and not only to forswear allegiance to the United States but fire upon the Union flag whenever it appeared in their neighborhood. This may have been heroic, but it was far from wise, as the Confederates had at that period few troops along the river and no guns except field-pieces, which although they might annoy would hardly arrest the progress of vessels of war. Baton Rouge, Natchez, and in fact every town along the river, seemed to have entered into a league against the Federal vessels, putting it out of the power of the Union officers to exercise that forbearance they desired to show both from motives of policy and humanity. It was desirable to satisfy the people living along the Mississippi, that the mission of the Navy was simply to restore the authority of the Federal government, not to destroy property or do harm to non-combatants but this course, instead of con;

vessels, well

knowing that they could inflict

no serious damage on their hulls although they might kill or wound some of their crews. Such acts were bound to lead to retaliation, and create a bitter feeling on the Federal side. Military and naval men do not stop long to think when a battery is opened upon them and the shot are falling They naturally fire back in their midst. without much considering whom they may This is one of the results of war. hurt. It is not intended to excuse the retaliatory measures of the Federal officers but merely

to give their reasons.

Baton Rouge was one of those defiant towns, notwithstanding its proximity to New Orleans and the large Federal Army stationed at the latter place. When summoned to surrender by Captain Palmer of the " Iroquois," the mayor replied that "Baton Rouge will not be voluntarily surrendered to any power on earth " Upon !

BATON ROUGE, THE CAPITAL OF LOUISIANA, CAPTUEED BY CAPTAIN PALMER OF THE IROQUOIS," AND AFTEBWARDS OCCUPIED BY GENERAL WILLIAMS.

ciliating the populace, only inflamed their dislike to the "invaders," as they were pleased to call the Union forces. The mild propositions of the naval commander were considered as proof of the weakness of the Federal government, and finally the military, which had but little to lose in the way of property, became so harassing that retaliation had to be resorted to in selfdefence and the innocent often suffered in

receiving this reply Captain Palmer informed the mayor that he would stand no nonsense and forthwith landed his men, hoisted the Union flag, and took possession of the public property. Fortunately this capture was accomplished without bloodshed, although that might easily have followed owing to tlie contumacy of the

consequence.

all citizens

Never in the course of any war was there so great a desire on the part of the Navy to abstain from harsh measures, and if the Confederate troops had confined themselves to firing upon naval vessels at places away officers would have been satisfied to try consequences with them on Such, however, was not their own terras. the case, the Confederate artillery generally selected points in the immediate vicinity of towns and sometimes in the towns themselves to fire upon the passing

from towns, our

municipal authorities. In this case the rights and property of were respected, and only the property claimed by the Confederate government was taken possession of. These were easj^ terms for people who had sturdily defied the Federal authority and refused to listen to any terms. Natchez offered fewer impediments to the

Union

commander. The mayor was a man, compared with the one at Baton Rouge, and on receiving a communication from Captain Palmer to the effect that the city must surrender, he replied "Coming as a conquerer, you will need not sensible

:

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

the interposition of the city authorities to possess the place. An unfortified city, an entirely defenceless people, have no alternative but to yield to an irresistible force, or uselessly to imperil innocent blood. Formalities are absurd in the face of such reality. So far as the authorities are concerned there will be no opposition to your possession of the city. They cannot however guarantee that your flag shall be unmolested in the sight of an excited people," etc., etc. As if the people who for a lifetime had existed under the protection of that flag were now unable to endure the sight of it. The mayors of these little cities used high sounding words, which seemed rather ridiculous coming from people who had neither guns nor soldiers. It would have been more to their credit to have accepted the situation without trying to delude the more ignorant part of the population with the idea that the Union fleet sought the destruction of their lives and property. The course taken by these municipal authorities led to very bad results and its evil influence was felt by the inhabitants all

along the

river.

The same summons was given at Vicksburg, where the mayor in the first instance bade defiance to the Army and Navy under The result of the Butler and Farragut. negotiations with the authorities of Vicksburg is best told in the account of the attack by Farragut' s squadron, where, owing to the long drawn out negotiations, all the energies of the Confederates had time to concentrate on the defences of the city,

a month was rendered impregnable against a purely naval attack. Grand Gulf, at that moment a place of no importance, following in the footsteps of its illustrious neighbor Vicksburg, set to work to erect batteries and opened fire on the gun-boats. In consequence of this, Captain Palmer, in the "Iroquois," with the other vessels under his command, dropped down the river and shelled the town, the first instance of such a proceeding on the part of our Navy. The little town was set on fire and destroyed. This was considered a great outrage by the Confederates, and was taken advantage of to infiame the

which

in

minds

of

the

people against the Union

forces.

From

time forth the Confederate to assemble at commanding positions along the river banks, and the once peaceful scene was marred by burning plantations, from whence the enemy There was no attacked the gun-boats. longer a hope of peace for the inhabitants artillery

this

began

of the river region.

Admiral Farraeut to know that the ram "Arkansas" It

was a great

relief to

375

was disposed

of, and that thus terminated the existence of one of the most troublesome vessels the Confederates had built. She was at that time the last Confederate ram on the Mississippi River. At the moment of her destruction there was considerable excitement along the river on hearing of her approach

towards Baton Rouge, where General

"Wil-

liams was in command of the Federal military forces, and expecting an attack from the Confederate troops under General Breckenridge, to be supported by the ram " Arkansas " and the gun-boats "Webb" and " Music." _

The Union vessels that were on the spot to meet the enemy and co-operate with the Army, were the " Katahdin," Lieut. -Commander Roe, and the "Kineo," Lieut.-Commander Ransom. The report that the enemy were approaching Baton Rouge for the purpose of attacking that place, was not an idle one, for on the morning of the 5th of April, one o'clock. General Breckenridge attacked General Williams' position with great vigor. The Union troops withstood the attack bravely, while the "Kineo" and " Katahdin" poured in a heavy fire on the enemy's lines. This battle was kept up fiercely until one o'clock, a. m., and the enemy would no doubt have succeeded but for the accurate firing of the gun-boats, which threw their shells right into the midst of the Confederate lines, causing great dismay. at

Lieut.-Commander Ransom, commanding the " Kineo," had an officer stationed on the State-house, who directed the firing by signal so successfully that the enemy was obliged to retreat.

Unfortunately the gallant General Williams fell in this engagement, and the Government lost the services of a most valuable ofiicer.

The ram "Arkansas" and her consorts upon the scene of battle, or it might have been still more hotly contested, did not appear

or even ended disastrously for the Federal cause, for if the attention of the gun-boats could have been diverted by the Confederate vessels, the Army would not have received that aid which contributed so much toward the repulse of the enemy; and there is no knowing how deplorable a defeat the Federal forces would have met with or what the consequences might have been. Soon after this affair was ended the smoke of a steamer (supposed to be the "Arkansas") was seen coming down the river with rapidity, to act apparently in concert with the land forces. She stopped about a mile above the bend of the river, moving up and down as if uncertain how to act. Later, she was passed by her two consorts, the " Webb "

and "Music." The "Essex," Commander Porter, accompanied by the "Cayuga" and "Sum-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

276

then moved up towards the bend to meet the Confederate squadron, which was ter,"

apparently afraid to take its share in the conflict according to the preconcerted plan; a general signal was made for the Katahdin" and "Kineo" to follow the other '

'

vessels.

As the " Essex" came within gunshot of the "Arkansas," Commander Porter opened fire on her, and in a short time the ram appeared to be disabled, though she still continued her fire on the "Essex." Some incendiary shells were now fired from the latter; directly after, there was seen a gush of flame from the "Arkansas'" side, and she was soon enveloped in fire. Her crew attempted to make her fast to the bank with a hawser, and then escaped to the shore, the "Essex" still keeping up her fire to prevent the fiames from being extinguished. The lines which had held the "Arkansas " to the bank soon burned away, and the Confederate

she

ram swung off

blew up with a

into the river, where terrible explosion,

Thus ended the to the bottom. career of one of the most formidable rams

and went

the Confederates had ever built. Up to the time the " Essex " attacked the " Arkansas," the machinery of the latter was in perfect order, and she went into action, no doubt, certain of vanquishing her clumsy foe, which could not do much more than stem the current of the river. But the "Arkansas" was driven ashore and destroyed after a short engagement. An attempt was made to take from Commander W. D. Porter, his officers and crew, the credit of destroying this vessel, because some of her crew that were picked up, stated that one of the engines was out of order, and that the captain tied up to the shore to keep his vessel from drifting down the river, and that the Confederates set fire to her themselves. This is a very unlikely It is not credible that a vessel, story. which had run the gauntlet of the two fleets, under Farragut and Davis, at Vicksburg, inflicting great injury upon them and receiving no vital injury in return, would avoid a conflict with the " Essex " (a vessel of weaker hull and very much less speed), unless she had been first so crippled by the "Essex's" guns that her commander saw no hope of success. Certain it is that the commander of the "Essex " did not hesitate to attack a Confederate ram that had defied the whole Union fleet, and she sunk while

under

his fire.

The two Confederate gun-boats escaped up the river when they witnessed the fate of their powerful companion which was to have driven all the Union naval forces from before Baton Rouge. There is no doubt but what the enemy depended on the ram " Arkansas " and her

two consorts for his success at Baton Rouge, as General Williams depended upon, the Union gun-boats for success over any force It that could be brought against him. shows what important factors in war the so-called gun-boats were (on either side). They could move about with their heavy guns, take positions which the enemy could not outfiank and pour in a destructive fire, directed by the best drilled gunners in the world, dealing death and destruction on any enemy that might venture to face them.

The

result of this battle

was a complete

victorv for the Union forces by land and by water, and there would have been cause for great rejoicing on the Federal side but for the untimely fate of the gallant General Williams, who fell with a Minie-ball through his heart while cheering on his men, who chased the Confederates three or four miles away from the scene of battle and then returned to their entrench-

ments.

When Admiral Farragut, who was at New Orleans, heard of the attack on Baton Rouge, he proceeded to that point without delay with the " Hartford," and on learning of tirie happy result, and the destruction deof the Confederate ram, he was lighted; for although the admiral, on the whole, "did not attach much importance to Confederate rams," he had seen enough of the performances of the "Arkansas" to know, that if properly managed, she was the most formidable vessel on the Mississippi River, and that there would be no security against her while she fioated. To render everything secure at Baton Rouge, Farragut left a sufficient force there to guard against all contingencies, and returned to New Orleans, satisfied that for the present he would hear no more of Confederate rams. He was not aware at the time, that the enemy had been so well satisfied with the performances of the "Arkansas" that they had commenced to build at Yazoo City two more rams, more powerful than any they had yet planned. Great credit was due the officers and men of the little flotilla, which co-operated so handsomely with General Williams in defeating General Breckenridge. particularly to Lieutenant Roe of the "Katahdin" and Lieutenant Ransom of the "Kineo," who threw the enemy's ranks into confusion by the remarkable accuracy of their flre.

The commander of the " Arkansas," on was Lieutenant H. K. Stevens of the Confederate Navy, her former fearless commander. Lieutenant Brown, having been taken sick at Vicksburg. The this occasion,

events that took place on board the ram, except through vague reports, have never

come

to light.

OF THE Notwithstanding: the want of success of the Confederates in their attacks on the approaches or outposts to New Orleans, they still kept up a guerilla warfare on the vessels moving up and down the river— mode of warfare of no avail whatever, and calculated only to bring distress upon the small towns where these roving bands held their headquarters. For a long time this practice of firing on armed and unarmed vessels had been practiced with impunity, and Farragut determined to repress it if possible. He had sent messengers several times to the town of Donaldson ville, to inform the authorities that, unless steps were taken to stop this useless and inhuman practice, the town would be held responsible. When passing up the river to the support of Baton Rouge, he anchored the "Hartford " two miles above Donaldsonville and heard them firing on vessels ascending the river (the transport, " Sallie Robinson " and the steamer "Brooklyn"), in the latter case, the enemy getting more than they bargained for and being driven to cover. The next night they fired upon the transport "St. Charles." Farragut, in consequence of these wanton and useless attacks, notified the authorities to send their women and children out of the town as he intended to destroy it on his way down the river, and he fulfilled his threat to a certain extent. He burned the hotels

and wharf

buildings, also all buildings belonging to one Phillippe Landry, who was said to be a captain of the guerilla band. Landry attacked the firing party but the sailors gave chase to him

and he fled. Some twenty negroes were taken from this place and a number of cattle and sheep for the use of the squadron.

Thus Farragut, while inflicting necessary punishment, endeavored to make it fall as lightly as possible on the innocent, and only those suffered who invited it by setting at defiance their conquerors, who were disposed to extend the greatest liberality to all those residing within reach of the Federal guns all that was required of them being to abstain from hostile proceedings against Federal vessels. This punishment of towns may smack somewhat of barbarity, and should not, in fact, be practiced but for very grave offenses, as an indiscriminate burning inpunishment upon innocent flicts severe people. But in this instance the punishment fell on the guilty ones, who took advantage of the security the town

—

gave them to commit their

hostile acts

against Federal vessels, supposing that the Federal authorities would respect the tnwns wbfire these acts were committed.

CIVIL

WAR.

They did so

277 until forbearance ceased to be

a virtue.

One

most gallant officers under of Rear- Admiral Farragut, was Lieutenant-Commander Thomas McKean Buchanan, commanding the steamer "Calhoun." He had been employed on Lake Pontchartrain, where he performed good service, and on October 25th, he proceeded to Southwest Pass, expecting to be met by the gun-boats "Estrella" and "St. Mary's," and intending to co-operate with the

of the

command

General Weitzel in the waters of Atchafalaya. He had on board the 21st Indiana regiment. With a great deal of difficulty he succeeded in getting the " Estrella," " St. Mary's," " Kinsman " and " Calhoun" into Atchafalaya Bay, from the channels of which the enemy had removed all the stakes and buoys. Entering the Atchafalaya River the little flotilla met the Confederate iron-clad " Cotton," which after a sharp engagement made her escape up the river. (The guns of this vessel were in iron casemates and she was very fast.) That same night, Lieutenant -Commander Buchanan captured the steamer "A. B. Seger," belonging to the Confederate Navy. Notwithstanding the shoals and low tides, Buchanan brought up the "St. Mary's" and anchored her off Brashear city, showing the enemy that there was no point the Union gun-boats would not reach when

commanded by an energetic one who had not tried it could

officer.

No

estimate the difficulties of ascending these Louisiana bayous and rivers. It was on these occasions (where men held their lives in their hands), that the most daring deeds of the war were performed. It cannot be said that these expeditions were always of advantage to the Union cause, for a great deal of energy was often wasted, and frequently valuable lives were lost. But at Army .headquarters these operations were called for under the pretext that they were important strategic movements, and our naval officers were too glad of the opportunity to face danger and aid the cause, to interpose any objections to them. Buchanan's expedition having forced its way through the narrow and shallow channels with great difficulty, reached Brashear City only to find that a large force of the enemy had crossed over and was makingits way up to Franklin. They were immediately followed by the fiotilla up the Atchafalaya River, through Bayou Teche to a point five miles above Pattersonville, and three from the mouth of the Teche where the enemy was found posted in force. The gun-boats opened fire, and the enemy retreated to a point two miles further ud the river, where thev had obstructed

THE NAVAL HISTORY

378

the approaches with piles, and where they were also supported by the gun-boat "Cot ton," which vessel was posted above a bridge. The " Calhoun's " Parrott gun became disabled almost at the first fire, and Lieutenant-Commander Cooke was sent ahead with the other two vessels to open the way. The second shot from the Confederate gun-boat struck the " Estrella " in her port bow, killing two soldiers and wounding another, and also carrying away the vessel's wheelropes, which caused her to run into the

The "Diana," having her gun mounted on an iron carriage, got it disarranged and had to stop, while the " Kinsbank.

man "

(Acting -Master George Wiggins) pushed on right up to the batteries (which contained eleven field-pieces), and to within 1,000 yards of the iron-clad "Cotton," as close as he could get. This courageous attack seemed to demoralize the enemy on shore, for they retreated immediately with their field-pieces. The " Kinsman " then opened her guns on the "Cotton," and kept up the unequal contest until relieved by the "Calhoun," which vessel backed up to the bridge and brought her guns to bear upon the enemy. After enduring a hot fire for about twenty minutes, the " Cotton" escaped up the river. While the " Kinsman " was under fire of the enemy's guns she received fifty-four shot through her hull and upper works, and three through the fiag, which still waved. One round shot passed through the magazine and shell-room, demolishing shell-boxes but doing no other damage. One man was killed and five wounded among the latter being

—

the pilot, who died next day. By the time the "Cotton" withdrew, the

"Estrella" and "Diana" succeeded in getBuchanan landed his men and tried to remove the obstructions and haul the "Diana" over the shoals to pursue the enemy, but without effect Not deeming it prudent to lie in the Teche all night (where the enemy could surround him and open fire from concealed places), he dropped down to Brashear City to repair damages and bury the dead. The Confederate gun-boat " Cotton " was no trifiing enemy; she was heavily armed ting up, and

and gallantly fought, and besides the

fifty-

four shot she put in the " Kinsman" she put eight into the "Calhoun," three into the "Diana," and three into the "Estrella." Fortunately their machinery was not touched. The enemy had exhibited a great deal of The obintelligence in blocking the river. structions consisted of the steamer " Flycatcher," thrown across the river and sunk, backed by a schooner, with heavy oak logs thrown in between and around the two ves-

such quantities that it was found imremove them without the aid of a stronger land force than Buchanan had at his command; for the men of the expedition could not have worked under such a fire as the enemy would have brought to bear upon them from the rifles and field artillery, to say nothing of the guns of the iron-clad which sels in

possible to

were

still

intact.

The Confederate force was under the command of General Monson, and numbered from three to four thousand men. They were badly cut up, and finally moved their camp to Centreville, three miles above the obstructions, keepingonly their cavalry and artillery below. All that day the gun-boats were busy rel-iuchanan, no way dispairing damages. heartened at the superiority of the enemy's force, started up the river, on the 5th, with the "Estrella," leaving the other The vessels to continue their repairs. enemy was driven off as before, but the vessel did not fare so well as formerly, a shot from the indomitable "Cotton" disabled the Parrott gun, killing two men instantly, and finding that he could do no more, Lieu-

tenant-Commander Buchanan withdrew

down

the river.

The encounter with

this

heavy work, and

the greatly superior force defending it, showed the character of this brave officer who had forced a well-equipped and wellposted enemy from a strong position, and only ceased his exertions when the Confederates had reached a defence from which it was impossible to dislodge them without the assistance of a large body of troops.

Buchanan was ably seconded by his ofiicers and men. and although he was unsuccessful in forcing the barricades and capturing the Confederate gun-boat, yet he compelled her to retreat up the river to a point where she was unable to do any

damage. The next day, the gallant Acting-Master Wiggins, commanding the "Kinsman," started with that vessel and the captured steamer "Seger," in pursuit of two steamers said to to be concealed in some of the bayous. The latter were eventually captured in Bayou Cheval, nine miles from Grand Lake. As the vessels were aground and it was impossible to move them, they were set on fire and destroyed. The result of this expedition was the evacuation of the district by the enemy for the time, but before leaving they burned over a hundred railroad cars and destroyed many plantations, which compelled the planters to desert their homes,

carrying their negroes These constant attacks resulted in driving the enemy from that part of the country, and gave our officers a knowledge of the topography and hydrooff

with them.

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

of the region, which was of much benefit later in the war. In the management of these small expeditions our younger officers showed the metal of which they were made, and LieutenantCommander Buchanan became particularly conspicuous. This gallant officer lost his life January 14, 1863, being killed by a Minieball fired from a rifle-pit. He died regretted

graphy

who knew

him, and by none more sincerely than Admiral Farragut. Buchanan had long been operating in the waters of the Atchafalaya. In October, 1863, he attacked the enemy as before mentioned, in the Teche, drove him from a strongly fortified position and blockaded the Confederate iron-clad above the obstructions near Pattersonville. In January, 1 863, he was again on the Teche chasing the Confederate forces and was this time accompanied by a brigade of infantry and cavalry under General Weitzel. The enemy were strongly posted and covered by the Confederate iron-clad " Cotton." Buchanan was advancing on the river, side by side with the troops who were marching along the banks, when they came in sight of the enemy's po-

by

all

279

men, who from fire.

one get ahead of him, especially the soldiers whom it was his duty to cover with his guns; he pushed on in the "Calhoun" to the attack and was soon in advance of the troops, but he paid with his life the penalty of his gallantry and was shot through the head by a concealed rifleman while standing on deck directing affairs. A number of his men fell, killed or wounded at the same time. Had Buchanan lived five minutes longer he would have had the satisfaction of seeing the enemy fleeing in every direction.

At the same time the gallant ActingMaster Wiggins was severely wounded by a Minie-ball through the shoulder, and Acting-Ensign Foster through the cheek. On board the " Calhoun " on this occasion three were killed and six wounded, and on board the " Kinsman " one was wounded. Lieutenant-Commander Buchanan was a great loss to the Union cause, but the object for which he had labored many months, the opening of the Teche had been accomplished. This would have happened

—

—

if a sufficient number of troops had been sent to accompany the gun-boats in the first instance, but it seems seldom to have been realized that these expeditions would be comparatively fruitless unless conducted as combined military and naval operations, when they were generally suc-

earlier

sition.

The "Cotton"

opened fire while the Federal troops were deployed as skirmishers to pick off the gunners of the Confederate vessel, a task they speedily accomplished. At the same time the enemy's field-pieces were driven back and the only part of his forces remaining were the rifleat once

cessful.

WEST GULF SQUADRON, JANUARY REAK-ADMIKAL DAVID

G.

STEAMER "HARTFORD," FLAG-SHIP. Captain, James 8. Palmer^ commanding

;

Fleet

;

ner, J. L. Staples; Carpenter, O. T. Stimson; Sailmaker, J. A. Holbrook; Acting Master, T. L. Peter-

son Acting-Master's Mates, H. H. Judson and Henry Western, Jr. ;

STEAMER " PENSACOLA." Commodore, Henry W. Morris; Lieutenants, Geo. H. Perkins and C. E. McKay; Surgeon, J. W. Taylor; Assistant Surgeons, W. B. Dick and Chas. Giberson; Paymaster, G. L. Davis; Chief Engineer, D. D. Hibbert; 2d Lieutenant Marines, J. C. Harris; Assistant Engineers, S. L. P. Ayres, C. H. Ball, P. G. Smith, J. L. Vauclain, J. T. Hawkins, J. C. Huntley and E. A. Magee; Boatswain, Nelson Goodrich; Gunner, D. A. Roe; Carpenter, J. E. Cox; Sailmaker, Charles Lawrence Acting-Masters, G. C.

F

;

TT

Grove

fl.nd

Edw. Herriek

:

1st,

1863

FARRAGUT, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

Captain, Thornton A. Jenkins; Lieutenant-Commander, Lewis A. Kimberly; Lieutenants, J. C. Watson and H. B. Tyson Fleet Surgeon, J. M. Foltz; Surgeon, W. M. King; Assistant Surgeon, Joseph Hugg; Paymaster, W. T. Meredith; Chief Engineer, J. B. Kimball; Marine Officers: Captain, J. L. Broome; 1st Lieutenant, J. H. Higbee; Ensigns, J. H. Read, J. J. Read, D. D.Wempleand C. D. Jones; Midshipman. H. J. Blake; Assistant Engineers, E. B. Latch, F. A. Wilson, Isaac de Graaf, C. M. Burchard, A. K. Fulton, H. H. Pilkington and J. E. Speights; Boatswain, James Walker; Acting-Gun-

sS/iViiiIro

up a galling to let any

their pits kept

Buchanan was not the man

Actinsr-

Masters' Mates, G. A. Storm, Joseph Gainsford.

Kent and Chas.

STEAMER "BROOKLYJf." Commodore, H. H.

Bell;

Lieutenant-Commander,

Chester Hatfield; Lieutenant, A. N.Mitchell; Surgeon, Samuel Jackson; Assistant Surgeon, C. J. S. Wells; Paymaster, C. W. Abbot; Chief Engineer, W. B. Brooks; 1st Lieutenant Marines, James Forney; Ensign, M. W. Saunders; Midshipmen, John R. Bartlettand H. T. Grafton; Assistant Engineers, B. E. Chassaing, James Atkins, A. V. Eraser, Jr., C. F Mayer, Jr., J. L. Bright, James Morgan and J. F. Walton; Boatswain, J. A. Selmer; Gunner, T. H. Fortune; Carpenter, W. T. Toy; Sailmaker, Jacob Stevens; Acting-Masters, T. L. Pickering, J. C. Stafford, Lyman Wells and W. C. Gibbs; Acting-Masters' Mates, E. S. Lowe, H. C. Leslie, Robert Beardsley, H. S. BoUes and James Buck.

STEAMER "SUSQUEHAXXA." Commodore, R. B. Hitchcock; Lieutenant-Commander, Montgomery Sicard; Lieutenant, Louis Kempft; Sui-geon, Joseph Beals; Assistant Surgeon, H. C. Nelson; Chief Engineer, George Sewell; Captain of Marines, P. R. Fendall, Jr. Ensign, Walter Abbott; Assistant Engineers, J. M. Hobby, James Butterworth, B. R. Arnold, Nelson Ross, R. H. Buel and F. T. H. Ramsden; Boatswain, Charles Miller; Gunner, E. J. Waugh; Carpenter, G. M. ;

Doughty; Sailmaker, J. G. B. Tiivins'stnne A

C. Herbert; Acting-Masters, 1, Ti ZprAo-n nnrl T,

W

inn.

zou

i\A-i.y^j^

Adams and

Churchill; Acting-Masters' Mates, F. G. E. B. Pratt.

STEAMER "ONEIDA." Captain, Samuel F. Hazard; Lieutenants, W. N. Allen and F. S. Brown; Surgeon, John Y. Taylor; Paymaster, C. W. Hassler; Chief Engineer, F. C. Dade; Assistant Engineers, Horace MoMurtrie, J. H. Morrison, R. H. Fitch, W. D. McHvaine and A. S, Brower Boatswain, James Herold; Gunner, Wm. Parlier; Acting-Masters, F. M. Green, Thos. Edwards and Elijah Ross; Acting-Masters' Mates, Edward Bird and D. H. Clark. ;

£j.ik3£\jivx

geon, A. A. Henderson

Sailmaker, H. T. Stocker; Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Fredk. S. Hill; Acting-Master, Chas. Gibbs; Acting-Ensign, R. P. Swan; Acting-Master's Mates, W. R. Cox, J. R Howell and T. S. Russell.

STEAMER "R. R. cutler." F. Emmons; Lieutenant, James

STBAMBB "MONON&AHELA." Captain, James P. McKinstry; Lieutenant-Commander, Jos. Watters Lieutenant, N. W. Thomas; Surgeon, David Kindleberger; Assistant Paymaster, Forbes Parker; Acting- Ensigns, C. R. Pomeroy, H. W. Grinnell and Robert Barlow; Acting-Masters' Mates, H. B. Rowe, W. S. Arnaud, Fredericli Beldon and C. H. Blount; Engineers: Chief, Geo. F. Kutz; Joseph Frilley, N. B. Clark, P. G. Eastwick, Edw. Cheney, G. J. Bissett and P. J. Langer; Boatswain, WilHam Green; Gunner, J. D. Fletcher. STEAMER " MISSISSIPPI." ;

Captain, Melancton Smith; Lieutenant, George R. T. Maccoun; Assistant Surgeon, J. W. Shively; Paymaster, T. M. Taylor; Chief Engineer, W. H. Rutherford; Captain of Marines, P. H. W. Fontane; Ensigns, A. S. Barker, O. A. Batcheller and E. M. Shepard; Assistant Engineers, G. B. N. Tower, J. Cox Hull, F. G. MoKean, S. R. Brooks, J. J. Noble and H. W. Phillips; Boatswain, Joseph Lewis; Gunner, Wm. Cope; Carpenter, John Green; Acting-Masters, F. T. King, George Munday, C. F. Chase, B. L. Kelly and F. E. ElUs; Acting-Masters' Mate, H. B. Francis.

Dewey; Surgeon,

STEAMER "COLORADO." John R. Goldsborough; LieutenantCommander, Edw. W. Henry Lieutenant, H. W. Miller; Assistant Surgeons, T. H.Whitney and Matthew Chalmers; Paymasters, J. O. Bradford and Captain,

;

W. H. H. Williams; Chaplain, D. X. Junkin; Marine officers Captain, George R. Graham; 1st Lieutenant, S. C. Adams; Acting-Masters^ Thomas Hanrahan and C. G. Folsom; Ensign, G. K. Haswell; Acting-Ensigns, Henry Arev and J. J. Butler; Acting-Masters' Mates, J. S. Russ, A. O. Child, C Littlefield, W. G. Perry and J. L. Vennard Engineers Chief, Richard M. Bartleman; Acting-Assistants, C. W. Pennington, G. L. Perkins, C. G. Stevens, T. J. Lavery, A. E. McConnell, Robert Wallace and H. Pomeroy; Gunner, RobB. Green; Boatswain, A. ert H. Cross; Carpenter, John A. Dixon; Sailmaker,

Commander, Geo.

O'Kane; Acting-Masters. P. C. Gibbs and J. F. Alcorn; Acting-Ensigns, W. Collins, C. C. Gill and J. O. Morse; Acting-Assistant-Surgeon, Henry Shaw; Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, Emory Wright; Acting-Masters' Mates, N. M. Dyer and N. R. Davis; Acting-Engineers Henry Waite, W. D. Adair, Wm. Morris, T. D. Hulse and T. W. Bolman.

STEAMER " WESTFIELD." Commander, W. B. Renshaw; Lieutenant, C. W. Zimmerman; Acting- Masters, F. C. Miller, L. D. Smalley and J. H. Warren; Acting- Masters' Mates, J. P. Arnett and J. B. Johnson; Acting- Assistant-Surgeon, E. H. AUis; Acting- Assistant-Paymaster, C. C. Walden; Acting-Engineers, Wm. K. Greene, G. S. Baker and C. W. Smith.

STEAMER "HARRIET LANE." Commander, J. M. Wainwright; Lieutenant-Commander, Edward Lea; Paymaster, J. J. Richardson; Assistant Surgeon T. N. Penrose.

IRON-CLAD STEAMER " ESSEX." Commander,C. H. B.Caldwell; Assistant Surgeon,

Wm. F. Terry; Acting-Vol. -Lieutenant, H. A. Glassford; Acting-Masters, J. C. Parker and M. B. Snyder; Acting-Masters' Mate, J. H. Mammen; ActingGunner, R. M. Long; Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, W. Slamm; Acting-Engineers, J. K- Heap and W. H. Manning. C.

STEAMER "MONTGOMERY."

:

H

;

W

William MauU.

Assistant Surgeon, J. D.

Murphy; Paymaster, Edwin Stewart; Chief Engineer, John W. Moore: Captain of Marines, Alan Ramsay; Ensign, Benj. F. Haskin; Assistant Engineers, Eben Hoyt, Jr., A. W. Morley, G. W. W. Dove, R. B. Plotts, C. E. Emery, John D. Ford and Robert Weir; Boatswain, Isaac T. Choate; Gunner, James Thayer; Carpenter, H. L. Dixon;

Commander,

Charles Hunter Acting-Masters, Geo. H. Pendleton and C. G. Arthur Acting-Ensigns, Robert Wiley and W. O. Putnam ActingMasters' Mates, H. M. Mather, C. H. Walker and Henry Harare; Aeting-Assistant-Surgeon, D. F. Lincoln; Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, Joseph Watson; Acting-Engineers, G. H. Wade, James Pollard, John Mulliolland, F.W. H. Whitaker and John McEwan. ;

;

;

STEAMER "KANAWHA." Commander, John C. Febiger Assistant Surgeon, J. H. Tinkham Assistant Engineers, Edward Farmer, F. S. Barlow, Hiram Parker and W. S. Cherry; Acting-Master, T. C. Dunn; Acting-Master's Mates, E. L. Hubbell, R, P. Boss and R. B. Smith; Acting- Assistant -Paymaster, L. L. Penniman. STEAMER "new LONDON." Lieutenant-Commander, Abner Read Lieutenant, Benj. F. Day Acting-Master, W. D. Roath ;

SLOOP-OF-WAR "PORTSMOUTH," Commander, Samuel Swartwout; Surgeon, J. 8. Dungan; Assistant Surgeon, G. Baumgarten; AsCaspar Schenck; 1st Lieutenant H. Hale; Boatswain, John Ross; Gunner, T S. Cassidy; Carpenter, John Shannon; SailActing-Masters, Gilbert nialier, H. T. Hayden Redmond, W. G. Mitchell and E. A. Terrell; Acting Masters' Mates, T. P. Jones and T. B. Gannon. sistant Paymaster,

Marines,

Wm.

;

FRIGATE "POTOMAC"— STORESHIP. Commander, Alex. Gibson; Lieutenant, A.V. Reed; Surgeon,

J.

D. Miller; Assistant Surgeon, N. H. Ad-

ams and G. R. Brush; 1st Lieutenant Marines, Geo. W. Collier; Boatswain, C. A. Bragdon; Gunner, Wm. H. French- Carpenter, J. C. Hoffman; Acting-Masters, W. H. Wood and G. D. Upham; Acting- Masters' Mates, S. H. Johnson and Wm. Baker; Acting-As-

W. W. Bassett. STEAMER "RICHMOND." Commander, James Alden Lieut. -Commander, A. B. Cummings Lieutenant, Edward Terry Sur-

sistant-Paymaster,

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

Acting-Master's Mate, Peter Faunce; Aoting-Assistant-Surgeon, L. H. Kindall Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, F. H. Thompson- Acting-Engineers, H. P. Powers, D. M. Howell, John Brooks and Henry ;

Farmer.

GUN-BOAT "KINEO." Lieutenant-Commander, George

M.

Ransom

Lieutenant, Frederick Rodgers; Assistant Surgeon, A. S. Oberly Assistant Engineers, S. W. Cragg, ;

James Maughlin,

C. P. Hollingsworth and C. J. McConnell; Acting-Masters, Oliver Colburn and L. A. Brown; Acting-Masters' Mates, W.8. Keen, John Bartol, Jr., W. H. Davis and G. A. Faunce; ActingAssistant-Paymaster, S. P. N. Warner.

OF THE

CIVIL

WAR.

281

STEAMER

"

€tDN-BOAT " PEMBINA." Lieutenant'Commander, Win. G. Temple; Lieutenant, Roderick Prentiss; Assistant Surgeon, A. W. H. Hawkins; Assistant Paymaster, H. L. Wait; Assistant Engineers, Jeflferson Young, Jolin Van Vovenberg, Absalom Kirby and J. F. Bingham; Acting-Masters, Wm. Rogers and J. A. Jackaway; Acting-Ensigiis, Wm. Sydden and B. M. Chester;

Lieutenant-Commander, W. M. Gamble; Lieutenant, J. P. McGlensey; Assistant Surgeon, A. C. Rhoades; Assistant Engineers, Caleb E. Lee, W. F. Fort and G. C. Julan; Acting-Masters, Edw. Baker and Thomas Symmes; Acting-Masters' Mates, J. M. Braisted, O. S. Willey and Caleb Fellowes; ActingAssistant Paymaster, Theo. Kitchen; Acting-Engi-

Acting-Masters' Mate, H. C. Cochrane.

neer,

SLOOP-OF-WAR "VINCBNNES." Lieutenant-Commander, John Madigan,

Jr.; As-

sistant Surgeon, D. M. Skinner; Second-Lieutenant Marines, N. L. Nokes; Acting-Boatswain, John

Smith; Acting-Gunner,

Wm.

Wilson; Acting-Car-

penter, A. O. Goodsoe; Acting-Sailmaker, Nicholas Lynch; Acting-Masters, W. H. Churchill, J. T. Seaver, J. R. Hamilton and O. B. Warren; ActingAssistant Paymaster, J. J. A. Kissam.

STEAMER "HATTERAS." Lieutenant-Commander, Homer C. Blake; Assistant Surgeon, E. S. Matthews; Acting-Masters, H. O. Porter, Enoch Brooks and G. D. Hoffner; ActingMasters' Mates, J. W. Hazlitt, A. H. Berry and T. G. McGrath; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. A. Conkling; Acting-Engineers, A. M. Covert, J. C. Cree, Jacob Colp and B. C. Bourne.

GUNBOAT

John Jordan. GUN-BOAT "KENNEBECK." Lieutenant-Commander, John H. Russell;

Assist-

ant Surgeon, Chas. H. Perry; Assistant Engineers, Henry W. Fitch, B. C. Gowing, E. E. Roberts and L. W. Robinson; Acting-Masters, H. C. Wade and Wm. Brooks; Acting-Masters' Mates, J. W. Merryman, H. E. Tinkhaiu and J. D. Ellis; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. L. Burnett. GUN-BOAT "ITASCA." Lieutenant-Commander, R. F. R. Lewis; Assistant Surgeon, Heber Smith; Assistant Paymaster, A. J. Pritchard; Assistant Engineers, T. Jones and John Borthwick; Acting-Masters, Edmund Jones and Sylvanus Nickerson; Acting-Masters' Mates, J. B. Crane, W. E. Bridges, George Spencer and Henry Miron; Acting-Engineers, David Frazier, H. C. Henshaw and M. Gerry.

STEAMER "TENNESSEE."

" SCIOTA."

Lieutenant-Commander, Reigart B. Lowry; Lieutenant F. O. Davenport; Assistant Surgeon, J. H. Clark; Assistant Engineers, C. B. De Valin, H. M. Quig, A. H. Price and Edw. Curtis; Acting-Master, A. MeFarlane; Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Field and S. S. Beck; Acting-Master's Mate, 8. H. Bemis; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. H.

POCAHONTAS."

Lockwood.

GUN-BOAT "CAYUGA." Lieutenant-Commander, D. A. McDermot; Assistant Surgeon, Edw. Bogart; Assistant Engineers, J. M. Harris, W. W. Sydney, J. C. Chaffee and Ralph Aston; Acting-Masters, E. D. Percy and John Hanson; Acting-Masters' Mates, James Gillin, W. W. Patten, F. P. Stevens, and R. O. Lanfere; Acting-

W. Whiffen. STEAMER "CLIFTON."

Assistant Paymaster, J.

Lieutenant-Commander, P. C. Johnson; Assistant Surgeon, H. M. Wells; Acting-Masters, J. D. Childs, Ezra Leonard, G. E. Nelson and S. V. Bennis; Acting-Masters' Mates, M. W. McEntee, A. P. Sampson and Oscar Peck; Acting-Gunner, Nathaniel Hobbs; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, B. F. D. Pitch; ActingEngineers, J. E. Schultz, G. L. Harris, Samuel Robinson, E. C. Mayloy and Thomas Fitzgerald. GUN-BOAT "OWASCO." Lietenant-Commander, Henry Wilson; Assistant Surgeon, W. W. Leavitt: Assistant Engineers. W. K. Purse. J. A. Scott, C. H. Greenleaf and D. M. Egbert; Acting- Masters, 8. A. Swimmerton and T. D. Babb; Acting- Masters' Mates, John Ulter and J. G. Arbona; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Richard Beardsley.

Lieutenant-Commander Richard L. Law; Midshipman, H. T. French; Acting-Masters, Robert Rhodes and B. S. Weeks; Acting-Ensign, W. W. Weld; Acting-Masters' Mate, Loring Cannon; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, D. D. T. Nestell; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. S, Carels; Acting-Engineers, James A. Fox, S. S. Vollum, F. J. Bradley and G. W. Spies.

GUN-BOAT "AROOSTOOK."

GON-BOAT "WINONA." Lieutenant-Commander, Aaron W. Weaver; Lieutenant, W. 8. Schley; Assistant Surgeon, Arthur Mathewson; Assistant Engineers, E. 8. Boynton, Edward Gay and R. L. Wamaling; Acting-Master, Charles Hallet; Acting Ensign, F. H. Beers; ActingMaster's Mates, H. D. Burdett and Alfred Staigg; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 8. F. Train; ActingAssistant Engineer, J.

W. MUestead.

Lieutenant - Commander, Samuel R. Franklin; Lieutenant, T. S. Spencer; Assistant Surgeon, C. J. Cleborne; Assistant Engineers, W. J. Buehler, George R. Holt, James Entwistle and Samuel Gragg; Acting-Masters, Eben Hoyt and W. A. Maine; Acting-Masters' Mates, Louis R. Hammersly, C. F. Palmer, Edw. Culbert and J. C. Henry; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. L. Pynchon.

GUN-BOAT "PINOLA." Lieutenant-Commander, James Stillwell; Lieutenant, G. Watson Sumner; Assistant Surgeon, L. M. Lyon; Assistant Engineers, John Johnson, B. B. Clemens, W. F. Law, John Everding and W. F. Pratt; Acting-Masters, W. P. Gibbs and J. G. Loyd; Acting-Masters' Mates, W. H. Thompson, C. V. Rummell and J. G. Rosling; Acting-Assistant Pay-

GUN-BOAT "KATAHDIN."

master, C. Stewart Warren. STEAMER "j. p. JACKSON." Lieutenant-Commander, Henry A. Adams; ActingMasters, M. B. Crowell, J. F. Dearborn and Wm. Hedger; Acting-Masters' Mates, Wm. H. Howard, Jeremiah Murphy and W. J. B. Laurence; ActingAssistant Surgeon, T. 8. Yard; Assistant Paymaster, H. Melville Hanna; Acting-Engineers, J. B. Morgan and J. D. Caldwell. STEAMER " CALHOUN."

Lieutenant-Commander, Francis A. Roe; Lieutenant, Nathaniel Green; Assistant Surgeon, Somerset Robinson; Assistant Engineers, T. M. Dukehart, W. J. Reid, W. W. Heaton and John Mclntyre; Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Hartshorn and J. G. Green; Acting-Masters' Mates, Geo. Leonard, John Leeds and Frank Kemble; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H.

LeRoy

Jones.

GUN-BOAT "ALBATROSS." Lieutenant-Commander, John E. Hart; 3d

Assist-

ant Engineei;, C. H. Ball; Acting-Masters, T. B. Dubois and C. S. Washburne; Acting-Ensign, J. H. Harris; Acting-Masters' Mate, Win. Harcourt; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. J. Burge; Acting Assistant Paymaster, G. R. Martin, Acting Engineers, J. W. Smyth, L. J. M. Boyd and C. H. Slack.

Lieutenant-Commander, T. McK. Buchanan; Acting-Master, M. Jordan; Acting-Ensign, H. D. Foster; Acting-Master's Mates, R. C. Bostwick and J. L. Blauvelt; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Ira C. Whitehead; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. M. 'VVatmough; Acting-Engineers, W. D. Brown, R. W. Mars, G. W. Baird and P. H. Pales.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

282

BARK "W.

STBAMER "ESTRELLA." Lieutenant-Commander, A. P. Cooke; ActingMaster's Mate, L. Richards; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, B. F. Wilson; Acting-Engineer, Robert Stott.

STORE-SHIP "relief." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, B. D. Manton; Acting-Master, N. 8. Morgan; Acting-Master's Mates^ \Vm. Jennevand M. J. Nicholson; Acting-Assistani Surgeon, Celso Pierucci; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, E. K. Gibson.

STEAMER "kinsman." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Geo. Wiggins; Acting-Master, A. 8. Wiggins.

STEAMER "KENSINGTON." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Fred. Crocker; Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, N. W. Hammond; Acting-Masters, Geo. Taylor, C. M. Tinker and C. W. Wilson- Acting-Masters' Mates, Robert Finney and F. A. Leach; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, John E. Cobb; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, John F. Tarbell; Acting-Engineers, Alex. Auchinbeck, T. W. O. Conner, W. S. Harden, S. B. Runnels, A. B. Besse

and

J. C.

Mockabee.

BiRK "ARTHUR." Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, Thomas F. Wade Acting- Masters, W. O. Lunt and Albert Cook; Acting Masters' Mates, Wm. Barker, J. C. Constant and C. 8. Bellows; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, O. D. Root; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, M. B. Osborn.

SCHOONER "HENRY JANES." W. Penning-

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Lewis ton.

SCHOONER "ORVETTA." (BOMB.) Acting-Master, F. E. Blanchard; Acting-Master's Mates, E. O. Adams and W. H. Monroe. BRIG "BOHIO." Acting-Masters, Geo. W. Browne and W. M. Stannard; Acting-Masters' Mates, James Sheppard and S. C. Heath; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. M. Skillman.

SCHOONER "JOHN GRIFFITHS." (BOMB.) Acting- Master, Henry Brown; Acting- Master's Mates, Asa Hawes and John McAllister.

SCHOONER "CHARLOTTE." Acting-Master, E. D. Bruner.

SCHOONER "SARAH BRUEN." (BOMB.) Acting - Master, A. Christian; Acting -Master's Mates, Sylvester Rowland, B. G. Cahoon and J. M.

Chad wick. SCHOONER "MARIA

A.

WOOD."

Acting-Master, Samuel C. Cruse; Acting-Master's Mates, F. C. Way and Charles Port.

SHIP

STEAMER "DIANA."

BARK "HORACE BEALES." Acting-Master, D. P. Heath; Assistant Surgeon, R. T. Edes; Acting-Ensign, J. F. Perkins; ActingMaster's Mates, James West and Eugene Biondi.

STORE-SHIP "NIGHTINGALE." Acting-Masters, D. B. Home and Edwin E. Drake; Acting-Masters' Mates, Thomas Stevens and Alonzo Gowdy; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Arthur Ricketson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. D. Kimberly.

COAL-SHIP "PAMPERO." Acting-Master, Charles Huggins; Acting-Master's Mate, Charles Bostwick; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. H. Langsley; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, A. A. Pancoast.

STEAMER "SACHEM." Acting-Master, Amos Johnson; Acting-Ensign, A. H. Reynolds; Acting- Master's Mates, G. C. J)olliver and L. C. Grainger; Acting-Engineers, John Eraser, J. R. Wall and G. C M. Wolfe.

SCHOONER

"

KITTATINNY."

Acting-Masters, G. W. Lamson and A. H. Atkinson; Acting-Masters' Mate, J. G. Crocker; ActingAssistant Paymaster, E. C. Bowman.

BARK "kuhn." Acting-Masters, R. G. Lee, J. T. Harden and WF. Hunt; Acting-Masters' Mate, AVm. Edgar; ActingAssistant Paymaster, J B. Hazelton.

STORE-SHIP "FEARNOT." Acting-Masters, Daniel S. Murphy and T. W. Williams; Acting-Masters' Mates, Fred. Furbish and G. H. Benson; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Augustus

Esenwein.

SLOOP-OF-WAB "PREBLE." Acting-Master, Wm. F. Shankland; Acting-Ensign.s, B. B. Knowlton, L. B. King and J. S. Clark; Assistant Surgeon, J. 8. Knight; Acting-Master's Mate, F. P. Parks; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. J. Hoodless; Boatswain, John Bates; Acting-Gunner, J. A. Cummins; Carpenter, J. McParlane; Sailmaker, G. W. Giet.

YACHT "CORYPHEUS." Acting-Master, A. T. Spear.

SCHOONER "OLIVER H. LEE.'' (BOMB.) Acting-Master, Washington Godfrey; Acting-Master's Mates, A. T. Parsons, J. A. Chadwiek and T. G. Hall.

"MORNING LIGHT."

Acting-Masters, John Dillingham, H. W. AVashburn, W. W. Fowler and L. H. Partridge; ActingMasters' Mates, Geo. H. Riee and J. L. Chambers; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, John W. Shrify; Assistant Paymaster, W. S. Blunt.

ANDERSON."

Acting- Master, Ezra S. Goodwin- Acting-Master's Mate, John D. Trott.

SCHOONER "RACHEL SEAMAN." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Quincy A. Hooper; Acting-Ensign, Edwin Janorin; Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. H. Metz.

G.

Acting-Masters, N. D'Oyly and Wm. Eailey; Acting-Masters' Mates, Roswell Davis and R. H. Carey; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Winthrop Butler; ActingAssistant Paymaster, Louis L. Scovel.

SCHOONER Acting-Master, Geo. J.

"

SAM HOUSTON."

W. Ward; Acting

Ensign,

J.

Kane.

BRIG "sea FOAM." Acting-Ensign. Thomas H. Baker; Acting-Master's Mates, D. F. O'Brien and Joseph Moss.

CHAPTER XXIV. SECOND ATTACK ON VICKSBURG,

ETC.

—

Eear- Admiral Porter takes Command of the Mississippi Squadron. Guerilla Warfare. General Grant's Plans. The Army and Navy Co-operate. Expedition UP the Yazoo. The "Cairo" Sunk by Torpedoes. Difficulties Surmounted by THE Army. Operations op Earl Van Dorn and Forrest. Repulse of General Sherman near Chickasaw Bayou. Attack on Haines' Bluff by the United States Steamer "Benton," etc., and Death of Lieut.-Com. Gwinn. Arrival op General McClernand to Relieve Sherman. Expedition to Arkansas Post. Last Act of the Navy in the Yazoo. Vessels that took part in the Yazoo Expedition.

—

—

—

—

PORTER

took the Mississippi Squadron in October, 1863.

Rear-Admiral Davis dered

liad

or-

the vessels except the " Benton "and the " Carondelet " up to Cairo for repairs, for what with being rammed and shaken up by constant firing of the guns, they required a thorough overhaulall

ing.

There being at this moment no actual operations in progress. Rear- Admiral Porter devoted his attention to putting the vessels in thorough order, changing their batteries to Dahlgren guns, and adding a number of small stern-wheel vessels, covered with light iron (called "tin-clads"), to the squadron. Up to this time the gun-boats had, strictly speaking, been under the control of the Army, but now all this was changed, and the Mississippi Squadron, like all the other naval forces, was brought directly under the supervision of the Secretary of the Navy. The Commander-in-Chief of the squadron had no longer to receive orders from General Halleck or Army headquarters, but was left to manage his command to the best of his ability, and to co-operate with the Army

whenever he could do so.

— —

— —

—

REAR-ADMIRAL command of

—

This was a

much

better arrangement, as it allowed the naval commander-in-chief to exercise his judgment, instead of being handicapped, as

Foote and Davis were. It may be remembered when Donelson

—

—

and Foote suggested to Halleck the importance of pushing on with the gun-boats to Nashville, General Halleck forbade his doing so. The new arrangement left the fell,

commander undertake

of the squadron at liberty to

any

expedition

he

thought

and he was not in the least hamEered by any instructions from the Navy proper,

department regarding his movements so that when the Army was operating in the interior of Tennessee, which seemed at that time the great battleground, the Navy could take advantage of the opportunity and make raids on the enemy along the Mississippi and its tributaries, keeping down guerillas, and enabling army transports to go and come without hindrance. In October, 1862, the guerillas were exceedingly troublesome all along the rivers, firing at every unarmed steamer which passed. Large quantities of goods were shipped from St. Louis to points along the river professedly Union, which ultimately reached the Confederates. All this was stopped, and the guerillas, when captured, were summarily dealt with, and the houses where they were harbored laid in ashes. No commerce was allowed on the Mississippi except with Memphis, and the river looked almost as deserted as in the earlydays of its discovery, its silence being seldom disturbed except by gun -boats and army transports, and the sharp report of the howitzers as they sent the shrapnel shells into the dense woods or over the hiarh banks ;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

284

where

it

might be supposed guerillas were

lying in wait to fire on the transports. This was slow work compared to the active warfare the iron-clads had been engaged in under Foote and Davis, but they were merely getting ready for the hard work before them and will be heard from ere long again. Before Admiral Porter left Washington he was informed by the President that General McClernand had been ordered to raise an Army at Springfield, 111., to prosecute the siege of Vicksburg. The President expressed the hope that the rear-admiral would co-operate heartily with General McClernand in the operations to be carried on. But as Vicksburg never would have been

taken

if it

ahead with the " Cairo," "Baron DeKalb," and "Pittsburg," (iron-clads,) and the " Signal " and " Marmora " (" tin-clads "), to clear the Yazoo River of torpedoes and cover the landing of Sherman's Army when it should arrive. This arduous and perilous service was well performed. On the 11th of December,Commander Walke dispatched the two " tin-clads " on a reconnoisance up the Yazoo. They ascended some twenty miles, when they were apprized of the presence of torpedoes by a great number of small boats along the channel of the river and an explosion near the " Signal." Another torpedo was exploded from the " Marmora" by firing into it with a musket as it appeared The commanding just below the surface.

had depended on General Mc-

Clernand's raising an Army sufficient for the purpose, the admiral, immediately on his arrival at Cairo, sent a message to General Grant, at Holly Springs, Miss., informing him of McClernand's intention, that he. Porter, had assumed command of the Mississippi Squadron, and was ready to cooperate with the Army on every occasion where the services of the Navy could be useful.

A

few

daj^s afterwards

General Grant

arrived at Cairo and proposed an expedition against Vicksburg, and asking the rearadmiral if he could furnish a sufficient force of gun-boats to accompany it. Grant's

plan was to embark Sherman from Memphis, where he then was, with thirty thousand soldiers, to be joined at Helena, Arkansas, by ten thousand more. Grant himself would march from Holly Springs with some sixty thousand men upon Granada. General Pemberton would naturally march

from Vicksburg to stop Grant at Granada until reinforcements could be thrown into Vicksburg fi-om the south, and while Pemberton was thus absent with the greater part of his Army Sherman and Porter could get possession of the defences of Vicksburg. General Grant having been informed that the gun-boats would be ready to move at short notice, and having sent orders to Sherman to put his troops aboard the transports as soon as the gun-boats arrived in Memphis, returned immediately to Holly Springs to carry out his part of the pro-

gramme. This interview between Grant and Porter lasted just half an hour, and thus was started the expedition against Vicksburg, which, after a long and arduous siege and

a great expenditure of men and money, resulted in the capture of the strongest point of defence occupied by the enemy during the war. The expedition from Memphis got away early

Walke,

in in

December,

1863,

Commander

the " Carondelet," being

sent

LIEUT.-COMMANDER (NOW CAPTAIN officers of these

T.

O.

U.

S.

SELFEIDGE, NAVY.)

two vessels reported that

with the assistance of two iron-clads to keep down the sharpshooters, they could clear the river of torpedoes, but nototherwise, as there were rifle-pits all along the left bank of the Yazoo, and the enemy were supplied with light artillery. At Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge's request he was sent on this duty in the " Cairo," with the " Pittsburg," Lieut. -Commanding Hoel, and the ram " Queen of the West." Colonel Charles EUet, Jr., commanding. These officers were cautioned to be particularly careful and run

no

risks.

On

the 12th of

December the

vessels pro-

ceeded on the duty assigned them under a

shower

of bullets

from the

rifle-pits,

which

was only checked by the gun-boats dropping

OF THE CIVIL WAR. close into the left bank rifle-pits with shrapnel.

and enfilading the

This cleared the enemy out, and the boats from the vessels were enabled to drag for the infernal machines and haul them to the shore, where they were destroyed by firing volleys of musketry into them. After this work had been prosecuted for sometime Lieut. -Comr. Self ridge proceeded ahead in the "Cairo"' to cover the "Marmora," which was thought to be sorely beset by the enemy's sharpshooters. The " Cairo " encountered a floating torpedo. Two explosions in quick succession occurred, which seemed almost to lift the vessel out of the water. Everything was done to keep the "Cairo" afloat, but without avail, and she sank in twelve minutes after the explosion, in six fathoms of water, with nothing but the tops of her chimneys showing above the surface. All the crew were saved. No fault was imputed to the commanding officer of the " Cairo." It was an accident liable to occur to any gal-

285

without the loss of a man from torpedoes or sharpshooters, his landing being covered in every direction by the gun-boats.

Sherman

if

first

a garrison for even a small force could hold ;

the place against a vastly superior attacking one.

who

There was only one point where the Confederates

loath to let others do wh at he is

thinks he ought

had possibly left a loophole open for an enemy to

to do himself.

This was a bad day's work for a beginning, but

get in if they neglected that point it would ;

the admiral looked

upon

it

simply

as an accident of war,

and Selfridge was immediately

U.

S.

lEON-CLAD "CAIRO" SUNK BY A TORPEDO. (FEOM A SKETCH BT REAK-ADMIBAL WALKE.)

command

of the "Conestoga." The " Cairo " was the more regretted as she had lately been made "shot proof," by covering her weakest points with railroad iron. It appeared on examination of the river banks that the torpedo wires were connected with galvanic batteries, and that the enemy was prepared with a system of torpedo defence that would require the utmost caution in ascending the Yazoo and seizing a point at which to land an Army. Eear- Admiral Porter arrived in the Yazoo a day or two after the loss of the "Cairo," and the whole squadron was set to work to clear the river of torpedoes. The gun-boats ascended to within range of the forts on Haines' Bluff and brought on an engagement with the enemy's batteries, during which the boats of the squadron pushed ahead, and succeeded in destroying num-

given

feint

to attack the

lant officer whose zeal carries him to the post of

danger, and

made a

on Haines' works and then landed at Chickasaw Bayou. Owing to the late heavy rains he found the roads to Vicksburg heights almost impassable, and when he attempted to advance with his Army he was headed off by innumerable bayous, which had to be bridged or corduroy roads built around them. It was killing work. Even at this time Vicksburg had been fortified at every point, and its only approaches by land led through dense swamps or over boggy open ground, where heavy guns were placed, so as to mow down an advancing Army. A general has seldom had so difficult a task assigned him, and there was little chance of Sherman's succeeding unless Pemberton had drawn off nearly all his forces to oppose Grant's advance on Granada, thus leaving Vicksburg without Bluff as

loss of the

bers of torpedoes.

General Sherman moved his transports to a point on the river called Chickasaw Bayou

be because they never supposed any one would attempt to pene-

trate swamps where men had to wade up to their middle in mud and water, and the passage of artillery was almost an impossibility.

At the time of which we are writing the rain had fallen in such torrents that the low lands in the vicinity of Vicksburg were submerged, the water extending nearly to the base of the frowning hills covered with earthworks and rifie-pits, against which an Army would have made little impression. There was, then, no other course but to attack the enemy's works by the road leading from Chickasaw Bayou and attempt to reach the landing at the foot of the high hills overlooking river and plain, where nature had placed obstacles nearly as formidable as the enemy's guns at other places. Sherman gained that point and established himself under the high hills it was necessary to assault before he could see the inside of Vicksburg but what was encountered in reaching that point no one but the brave ;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

386

and men of that Army will ever know. An Army of thirty thousand men can accomplish a great deal when well officers

directed but it cannot convert swamps into dry land. But the enemy had not neglected the swamps around Chickasaw Bayou or the approaches to Vicksburg on that side. On the contrary they seemed to have exercised their ingenuity to make that route impassable. Acres of wood had been felled, the trees overlapping one another and forming a chevaux de /rise which extended through the swamp for several miles. The difficulties seem great enough in the description, but this falls far short of the reality.

his Army at last reached

However Sherman and

overcame everything and

terra firma. In the meanwhile the Navy was doing what it could to help the Army, but its work was necessarily confined to the water, shelling the edges of the woods all around the

peninsula where Sherman and his Army were struggling, and keeping the enemy from bringing their artillery to bear. Sherman was of course aware of the perilous character of his undertaking, and the probability of his being driven back, but he had one strong motive to induce him to extra exertions and that was his loyalty to General Grant. The latter had run considerable risk in leaving his base at Holly Springs to draw Pemberton from Vicks-

Time was precious and Sherman had

burg.

with promptness, and he felt that it was due to his chief that he should leave nothing untried that would help Grant to carry out his plans. Those plans were well conceived but the best calculations in the world were liable to be upset in the face of such elements as prevailed at Chickasaw Bayou, when Sherman found himself in the swamp beneath the heights of Vicksburg. Grant had left Holly Springs with a large Army at the time he had appointed, merely with the design of drawing Pemberton from Vicksburg and thus helping Sherman in his attack on that place. This was all Grant proposed to do, although it was suggested to act

case Pemberton retreated before him, Grant would follow him up. Grant moved towards Granada and everything looked well, but the Confederate general. Earl Van Dorn, dashed into Holly Springs twenty-eight miles in the rear of the Union Army, capturing the garrison and all their stores. At the same time General Forrest pushed his cavalry into West Tennessee, cutting the railroad to Columbus at several points between that place and JackThis completely cut Grant off from son. his only line of communication with the North and also from his several commands. Due precautions had been taken to prevent that

in

mishap by leaving a strong force behind at Holly Springs, out the commanding officer was not on the alert and his cajjture was a complete surprise. In this raid of the Confederates a million dollars' worth of this

stores

were destroyed.

Under the circumstances it was impossible for Grant to continue his march on Granada, which Pemberton perceiving, the latter returned to Vicksburg in time to assist in Sherman's repulse. Had Grant been satisfied that he could subsist his Army in the enemy's country, he would have doubtless pushed on to Vicksburg at all hazards and the place would have fallen at that time, but such was not to be.

"There's a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we may." Had Vicksburg been taken at that moment, one of the best opportunities of displaying the strength and resources of the North would have been lost.

Sherman made

all his

arrangements

to

attack the enemy's works on the 39th of December, 1863, and the assault took place early on that day. One division succeeded in occupying the batteries on the heights and hoped shortly to reach those commanding the city of Vicksburg, but the division that was to follow the advance was behind time and the opportunity was lost. portion of Pemberton's Army had returned from

A

Granada, just in time to overwhelm and drive back the small force that had gained the hills. The latter were outnumbered four to one and were driven back. The enemy did not follow, being satisfied with driving our troops from the heights and there was nothing left for Sherman to do but to get his Army safely back to the transports.

Throughout these operations the Navy did everything that could be done to ensure the success of General Sherman's movement. As the soldiers pushed their way through the swamps the "Benton " and two other iron-clads with the "Marmora" and ram "Queen of the West," moved up to within easy range of Haines' Bluff. The

" Benton " opened on the Confederate batand also shelled the road leading to Vicksburg to prevent the enemy from sending reinforcements to Vicksburg and also to make them believe that Haines' Bluff was the intended point of attack. Boats were sent towards the forts to drag for torpedoes with the intention if the latter could be removed to advance the gun-boats to close quarters. When the small boats approached the enemy's works a rapid fire was opened on them, but they did not retire until it was supposed that the torpedoes were removed and the way was clear. Then the " Benton " advanced to the point where the boats had ceased work, some twelve teries

OF THE CIVIL WAR. hundred yards from the

fort, or as near as the' boats could operate against such

a

fire.

sels to fight abreast, consequently the " Benton " had to bear the brunt of the battle,

During

this

time

"Benton" received many heavy blows from the enemy's shot and shells, while her the

consorts had to lie idle, for if they threw shells over the "Benton "they might endanger those on board. Although the " Benton " was much cut up her efficiency was not impaired. She was hit on her bow casemates, which were "shot-proof," thirty times without damage, but plunging shots passed through her decks. Lieut. -Commanding Gwinn, stood on the upper deck

LIEUT.-COMMANDER WILLIAM GWINN,

U.

S.

NAVY.

during the whole action, as he was of opinion that a pilot-house or casemate was no place for the commander of a ship of war battle. This idea cost him his life, for he was struck with a fifty-pound rifle shell which tore away the muscles of his right arm and breast. His executive officer, Acting Lieutenant George P. Lord, was severely

m

wounded, and ten of the crew were killed and wounded. It was impossible for gun-boats alone to capture the works at Haines' Bluff, as but one vessel at a time could operate against them. Their reduction required a combined Army and Navy attack. The Confederates proved themselves good artillerists but had two of their guns dismounted by the " Benton's " fire. The gallant commander of the "Benton" notwithstanding his dreadful wounds, lingered two days and died in the admiral's cabin deeply regretted by every

and man in the squadron. The gunboats withdrew from before Haines' Bluff for it appeared evident that Vicksburg could not be taken from that direction. General Sherman came to the same conclusion with regard to attacking it from the Chickasaw Bayou. He met with no loss in withdrawing his troops to the transports, but in the assault he lost in killed, wounded, and missing, seventeen hundred men, a large number considering the short time his Army was actually engaged. The soldiers had to work their way back to the Yazoo through heavy rains, and the hardships they encountered in the march can hardly be realized by those who did not share them. That evening the sun came out again as if to let the soldiers dry themselves and all the signs promised fair weather. Rear-Admiral Porter being still hopeful, proposed to run the iron-clads at night close up under the forts and attack at close quarters with grape and canister, while a division of the Army disembarked and assaulted Haines' Bluff in the rear. General Sherman approved the plan and General Steele and his division were assigned to co-operate with the Navy on the following night, but the good weather indications proved a delusion and a snare, and on the afternoon of the day when the attack was to have been made on Haines' Bluff, a fog set in that shut out all objects at a distance of fifty feet, and this continued until the next day. The proposed expedition could do nothing on such a foggy night. At noon the following day it began to rain again heavier than ever and the land almost disappeared from sight. There was no longer any chance for a successful attack on Haines' Bluff and nothing was left but for the Army and Navy to retire from the scene where they had been so unsuccessful. General Sherman, on visiting the rearofficer

At this point the Yazoo River was verynarrow and only one iron-clad could pass up at a time. There was no room for two veswhich lasted two hours.

287

,

admiral on board his flag-ship, opposed further operations and at once proposed that Vicksburg should be given up for the present,^and as his troops were

somewhat

demoralized he must go with them to attack Arkansas Post and secure a success which would impart new confidence to them. He desired the admiral to go along with the gun-boats, and this being agreed to, preparations were made to start next day

on the new expedition. The following morning General Sherman learned that Major-General McClernandhad arrived at the

mouth

Yazoo to take Army. This was a surprise to every one, for although it was known that McClernand had received orders to proceed to Illinois and raise troops for of the

cominand of Sherman'

s

the purpose of undertaking the siege of Vicksburg, yet it never was supposed

THE NA VAL HISTORY

288

that he would take command of fortythousand men of Grant's Army, without even paying the latter, his superior oflficer, the compliment of informing him of his intention. However, General McClernand came with such orders from Washington that Sherman unhesitatingly agreed to turn over the

command

to him.

As Admiral Porter did not come under Army rule and knew exactly the terms on which General McClernand had received his orders, he declined to have anything to do with the proposed expedition to Arkansas Post, unless General Sherman should go in command of the troops. To this McClernand agreed, only stipulating that he should accompany the expedition. So the matter was arranged, and the expedition started. The last act of the Navy in the Yazoo was one to be remembered by the Confederates who, finding that our troops were re-embarked and ready to depart, determined to pounce on the rear transports and give them a parting remembrance. Two regiments made an attack with fieldpieces which were hauled along the road made by Sherman's soldiers, but unfortunately for the enemy they mistook the " Lexington," " Marmora," "Queen of the West" and '"Monarch" the two latter Colonel EUet's rams for transports. Before the

—

—

Confederates could fire a second round, these vessels opened on them with shrapnel,

grape and canister, cutting them up and sending them flying in all directions without the loss of a man on our side. In the meantime the transports steamed down the river in good order leaving nothing behind that could be of any use to the enemy. The following named vessels took part in the Yazoo expedition " Black Hawk,"(flag:

Lieutenant-Commander K. R. Breese, "Benton," Lieutenant-Commander Wm. Gwinn, Baron DeKalb, LieutenantCommander Jno. G. Walker, "Carondelet," Commander Henry Walke, " Louisville," Lieutenant-Commander E. K. Owen, "Cincinnati," Lieutenant-Commanding G. M. Bache, "Lexington," Lieutenant-Commander James W. Shirk, "Signal," ActingVolunteer-Lieutenant John Scott, " Romeo," ship)

'

'

'

'

Acting-Ensign R. B. Smith, " Juliet," Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant Edward Shaw, "Forest Rose," Acting-Master Geo. W.

Brown, " Rattler," Lieutenant-Commander Watson Smith, " Marmora," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant Robert Getty, "Monarch," (ram) "Queen of the West," (ram) Colonel Chas. EUet, Jr. The second attack on Vicksburg terminated quite as unsatisfactorily as the first, and every one came to the conclusion that Vicksburg could only be conquered by a long and troublesome siege which would severely test the endurance of both parties.

CH A PTER XXV. CAPTURE OF FORT HINDMAN OR ARKANSAS

POST.

Arrival of the Expedition. — The Army in the Rear op Arkansas Post. — Plan of THE Fort. — The Gun-boats in Position. — The Fort opens Fire. The Guns op the Fort silenced by the Gun-boats. — Sad Havoc. — The "Rattler's" hot Reception. The Battle renewed at Daylight. — The Guns op the Fort again Silenced.^ Sherman storms the Fort in the Rear. — The Army meets with an Unexpected Reception. — The Fort Surrenders. — The Honor of the Defenders op the Fokt Dimmed. — Harrowing Scenes. — Terrible Loss of Life. — McClernand on Hand. Expedition up the White River. — St. Charles Deserted. Munitions of War Captured. Grant assumes Command op all the Forces.

—

—

—

expedition against Arkansas Post arrived at a point four miles below the enemy's works, January

THE

10th, 1863.

The Army landed without delay at 10 a. m., and proceeded on their march to get in the rear of the enemy's works; but they had bad roads on which to travel and thick undergrowth to make their way through. Fifteen miles had to be marched over before the back of Arkansas Post could be reached, and the major part of the night was occupied in achieving their purpose.

There were some extensive rifle-pits and works thrown up from which to operate with field pieces. These, as the Army started on their march, were manned and prepared to contest the advance,

—

—

but the flag-ship

" Black

Hawk," Lieutenant-Commander and the " Rattler," Lieutenant-Commander Watson Smith, closed up on the enemy's works and drove them into the woods, so that the Army had no impediment in its way. General McClernand had accompanied the expedition, it was supposed merely as a spectator, but about 3 o'clock, he rode up to the bank near which the gun-boats laid and informed Admiral Porter that Sherman was in position in the rear of the work, and Breese,

waiting for the gun-boats to begin the attack on the fort. This could not very well be the case, but the gun-boats " Louisville," Lieutenant-Commander Owen, the " De

Lieutenant - Commander Walker, "Cincinnati," Lieutenant-Commanding George Bache, were ordered to go up within 400 yards, while the smaller vessels were to follow and use their howitzers as circumstances would admit. Arkansas Post was a large, well constructed fort built with the best engineering Kalb,"

and the

skill.

It

mounted

thirteen guns

:

two

ten-

inch Columbiads, one nine-inch Dahlgren, and ten rifled guns of various calibres. The

Columbiads were mounted in casemates covered in with four layers of heavy railroad iron, neatly fitted together to offer a

smooth surface, and slanting iron roof to the shot glance off. These were

make

simply after the plan of the iron-clads afioat and were formidable structures.

The nine-inch gun was mounted in an embrasure protected by sand-bags, as were the ten rifled guns. All the guns except one bore down the river and on the vessels coming abreast of the forts. The fort itself was built close to the river; the front not being more than twenty yards from the bank. There was nothing known to the military art that had been neglected in constructing these works, and to look at them one would suppose they could defy a naval force three times as strong as that now about to be brought against them. As was afterwards learned, the Confederates supposed the gun-boats would attack

THE NA VAL HISTORY

390

the works from a distance of 1200 yards, and range buoj^s had been placed at that distance by which to regulate the enemy's fire, and they had been practicing at that distance on targets so that the gunners would become expert. But all these calculations were upset by the " DeKalb " leading, and the "Cincinnati" and Louisville" close behind her, running up and taking position close to the fort where the current was slack

cape by that way, the only road open to retreat by.

Lieutenant-Commander Smith performed duty handsomely as far as he could, but after passing the fort he became entangled in some piles the enemy had driven down, and which were just awash, the enemy opened on him while in this condition, and raked him very eifectually fore and aft, knocking his cabins to pieces and doing a good deal of

this

damage

to his hull, but as the iron-clads opened their batteries again the firing from

the forts ceased, and the " Rattler " drifted back out of the enemy's range. In this attack, all the gun-boats were beautifully handled and not much injured; the success of the afternoon gave good promise for the morrow. The "Lexington," Lieutenant Commander Shirk, held a position 400 yards below the forts, and although pretty well cut up had no casualties. General McClernand's report that General Sherman had arrived in the rear of the works with his troops, might have led to ill results, for the enemy might have escaped that night with all his forces across the ferry; but fortunately General Churchill, the Confederate commander-in-chief, was

LIEUT.-COMIIANDER JOHN U.

S.

G.

WALKEB (NOW

CAPTAIN)

NAVY.

and the

vessels could maintain their places without any difficulty; while the other vessels could take such positions in the river

as best suited and throw in shrapnel from their small shell guns. The fort opened on the iron-clads as soon as they reached the range buoys made some good shots, and then lost their range, during which time the gun-boats were within 150 yards of them and firing accurately and steadily through their iron casemates, and committing sad havoc in the rear amongst the soldiers. It was evident from the first that this fort was doomed to fall, under the fire of the gun-boats. The superiority of their fire over that of the guns in the fort was such that the latter were silenced in the space of an hour, and the gun-boats ceased firing. As darkness was coming on and the smoke hung densely over the river, the gun-boats dropped down and tied up to the bank. Just before the gun boats dropped down the tin-clad "Rattler" was ordered to run past the fort and try to reach a point seven miles up the river, and cut off the enemy's troops in case they should attempt to es-

—

PLAN or FORT HINDM.AN OR AEKANSAS POST.

away from the fort, waiting to Sherman and attack him at a disadvantage, and knew not how roughly five miles

anticipate

the forts were being handled by the gunboats and Colonel Dunnington, the commander of the fort, (who had formerly been a lieutenant in the U. S. Navy) being a brave man and having a brave set of naval officers with him, did not consider himself as worsted by a great deal. For many hours the garrison worked with great zeal to repair damages, and the heavy ;

OF THE strokes

of

their

hammers on

covering could be heard

all

the

iron

through the

night. At daylight, the enemy seemed prepared for action again, and this time General Sherman having sent a messenger to inform the admiral that he was in position and was gradually encircling the Confederate Army, the gun-boats were ordered to take position again not further than 50 yards from the fort and begin to fire as soon as they pleased. The battle commenced and soon became very hot; when the tin-clads "Glide," Lieu-

tenant-CommandingWoodworth, and "Rattler," Lieutenant-Commander Smith, and

ram " Monarch," Colonel EUet, were ordered by the admiral to force their way through the obstructions above the forts, reach the ferry and cut off the enemy's the

retreat.

In a short time all the guns in the works were silenced and the flag-ship " Black Hawk" was run to the bank alongside the fort to board it with her crew; at the same

CIVIL WAR.

291

had been shot away and had not been hoisted again. At one time the admiral determined to assault without waiting for the Army, but courtesy to the general required that the Navy should wait until the Army assaulting party should appear, which they did in a few minutes, then there was a simultaneous movement from all parts of the fort by the Confederates (who had been concealed behind or underneath the buildings that had been knocked down), and with muskets in their hands they rushed to the rear parapet and crouched down behind the works. It was not known what this movement signified, the boat-guns on the flag-ship's upper deck (the flag-ship was a large river steamer unaltered), could have cut them to pieces, but there had been so much slaughter, the admiral would not fire on them, thinking they would throw down their arms as soon as Sherman's men got within twenty yards of them; but not so, for when our troops got within thirty or forty yards the Confederates 'rose together and poured in a withering volley from about 450 muskets, and nearly every bullet colors

told.

Our soldiers staggered at this unexpected reception, stopped, and then retreated, while at the same moment there appeared a white handkerchief or white cloth held up by every one of the Confederate shooters. The

officers

Hawk" APPEARANCE OF IX-IXCH GUN SILENCED BY THE "CINCINNATI."

and men from the "Black

boarded the fort as the enemy fired

their volley, their arms

when

the latter all laid

down

and surrendered the commander and officers handing their swords ;

to the admiral.

time a messenger was sent to General Sherman informing him of the condition of affairs, and that if he would send a storming party from the rear, the Navy would board from the water side. While waiting for Sherman's troops the " Black Hawk " laid alongside the fort, her high upper works on a level with the embrasures, while three boat-guns on wheels, on the upper deck, completely commanded the inside of the works, which presented a dreadful scene of killed and wounded. A large number of artillery horses had been kept in the fort for some reason, and the shells and shrapnel had made sad havoc with the dead and dying men, mixed up with the killed and wounded animals. It was a scene ever to be remembered. In the meantime, while waiting for Sherman's assaulting party, all firing had ceased on both sides and the victorious sailors were quietly looking on at the dreadful havoc that had been made inside the works, not anticipating that the enemy would make anv more resistance. Their

It

was an embarrassing moment when

the Federal troops were moving to the assault, and the enemy were waiting to receive them with bullets. The Navy could not fire without hitting the Federal troops, and the whole thing was so sudden and unexpected that the guns were not fired from the "Black Hawk." It seems that the garrison of the fort belonged to the Confederate ^avy and determined to surrender only to the U. S. Navy; yet they wanted to have a last blow at the soldiers, which they did but it dimmed the honor they had won in so gallantly defending the fort for there could be nothing gained by this act, their capture was too certain. They could not run away from the forts, for Sherman's army surrounded the entire Confederate force on the outside, including General Churchill and 6,000 troops, and the ferry was blockaded by the light gun-boats above but these were some of the things the Confederates did which might properly have prevented them from receiving anv quarter. ;

;

—

'

THE NAVAL HISTORY

293

Besides the 6,000

General Sherman, in the forts,

and

the names,

"

men

that surrendered to

tliere

were 500

left alive

was curious

in looking over the list of prisoners to see added to it

Seaman,"

" Ordinary

Sea-

man," "Coal-heaver," "Fireman," These men were part of the crew and

etc. offi-

cers of the Confederate ram " Ponchartrain," built at Little Rock, Ark., and the guns in the fort had been intended to form the battery of that vessel, which was destroyed by the enemy on hearing of the capture of Fort Hindman (Arkansas Post).

General McClernand assumed

all

the di-

rection of affairs on the surrender of the fort and the Confederate troops, and wrote the report of this affair, in which he gave fair credit to the Navy ; but he actually

CASEMATE NO.

1

DESTROYED BY THE

U. S.

GUN-BOAT

of trouble,

fight at Fort Hindman was one of the prettiest little affairs of the war, not so little either, for a very important post fell into our hands with 6,500 prisoners, and the destruction of a powerful ram

The

in the

West a great

deal

was ensured.

;

fight these batteries

was

at close quarters.

Lieutenant-Commanders Walker, Owen, Bache, Shirk, Watson, Smith, Woodworth, Breese, and the commander of the " Monarch " were all handsomely mentioned by

CASEMATE NO.

2

DESTROYED BY THE •

APPEAEANCE OF CASEMATES BEFORE THE ATTACK (COVERED WITH RAILROAD IRON).

Vicksburg.

Navy

In the battle, everything went on so smoothly, there were no mistakes made, and the officers and seamen gained confidence in the gun-boats which they lacked before. But these had been much strengthened and improved since the battles of Forts Donelson and Henry, and had entire new guns on them instead of the inferior batteries they started out with moreover, the officers had learned that the way to

•'BAEON DE KALB."

had nothing to do with the management of the Army, and was down four miles below the forts during all the operations. Sherman was virtually the military commander. But from this time the Army was under McClernand's command, and after the prisoners were received and sent off in transports and the forts and guns demolished as far as could be done by the Army, the fleet and transports retraced their steps towards Vicksburg. and landed at Milliken's Bend or Young's Point about seven miles above

which could have caused

at Little Rock,

the Federal

U.

8.

NO.

2.

GDN-BOAT

LOUISVILLE."

REAR VIEW OF CASEMATE

the admiral in his report to the Navy Department. This battle gave general satisfaction to the public. It was unexpected and few knew where Fort Hindman was situated. Directly after the capture of Fort Hind-

man, Lieutenant -Commander Walker in De Kalb," and Lieutenant- Commander George Bache in the "Cincinnati." were sent up the White River to capture the forts erected tliere by the Confederates, and General Gorman, U. S. A., accompan-

the "

ied the expedition with troops in the transports. On the arrival of the expedition at St. Charles, the fort under construction was

evacuated and the guns carried off in the steamer " Blue Wing," but these were re-

OF THE CIVIL WAR.

originated with General McClernand but when he knew all the circumstances connected with the movement, and that the Army left Vicksburg because no longer able to operate owing to the floods, and that the troops wanted a success after their late discouraging defeat, he became reconciled to the attack on Arkansas Post, though it was a side movement and could in no way contribute to the final overthrow of

captured at Duvall's Bluff, shipped in cars ready to be transported to Little Rock, the The Confederates deserting the place. railroad depot was destroyed by fire, all the rolling stock burned, and all the munitions of war placed on board the transports. This was the last expedition necessary to send up the White River for some time. It remained open during the war excepting

;

occasions when guerillas inbanks. The Arkansas River also remained open its difficult navigation offered no inducement for any one to seek adventures in its treacherous waters. To show how carelessly the history of the war of the Rebellion has been written as regards the Navy, the following quotation from a military historian is inserted here "McClernand immediately acquiesced in Sherman's proposition and moved his force up the Arkansas, the fleet under Porter accompanying. A naval bombardment lasting several days occurred, and on the 11th the troops assaulted the works,

on several fested

Vicksburg. Certain it is, the success at Arkansas Post had a most exhilarating effect on the troops, and they were a different set of men when they arrived at Milliken's Bend than they were when they left the Yazoo River. After the troops were settled in their tents opposite Vicksburg, it became apparent that there could be no harmonious cooperation while McClernand remained in command of all the military forces. His peculiarities unfitted him for such a com-

its

;

:

peculiarities became so offensive to Generals Sherman and McPherson, and to Admiral Porter, that they

mand, and these

when the Post surrendered

after a fight of three hours, in which the squadron bore a conspicious part. McClernand [Sherman it should be] lost about 1,000 men in killed, wounded and missing. The guns of the fort were silenced by the fleet, and Admiral Porter received the sword of its com-

urged General Grant to take command himself as the only chance for the success of the enterprise, and in consequence, the latter hastened to Milliken's Bend or Young's Point and assumed the command of all the forces, which he was entitled to do, being military commander of the department.

mander.

General Grant did not approve of this

movement on Arkansas Post when he

first

as he thought it improper to divert the army from the original design to capture Vicksburg. He supposed the idea

heard of

293

it,

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON,

JANUARY

1,

1863.

(Excepting some of the vessels engaged at Vicksburg.)

ACTING REAR-ADMIRAL DAVID BECBIVING-SHIP " CLARA DOLSON." (CAIBO.) Lieutenant-Commander, Thomas Pattison, Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Emile Gavarret; Paymaster, Edward May; Acting-Master, John C. Bunner; Acting-Ensigns, E. C. Van Pelt and D. W. Tainter; Acting-Master's Mates, H. G. Masters and John D. Holmes; Acting-Engineer, Geo. W. Pulton; ActingCarpenter, G. W. Armstrong.

STEAMER "EASTPORT." Lieutenant-Commander, S. L. 't'helps; Assistant Surgeon, Adrian Hudson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. H. Gilman; Acting-Master, J. L. Avery; Acting-Ensign, R. M. Williams: Acting- Master's Mates, J. W. Litherbury and E. A. Decamp; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Henry Hartwig; Acting- Assistants, T. F. Ackerman, James Vanzant, G. W. Heisel and G. W. Aiken; Acting-Gunner, Reuben Applegate; Acting-Carpenter, James Kirkland. STEAMER "LEXINGTON." Lieutenant-Commander, James W. Shirk; ActingVolunteer-Lieutenant, Martin Dunn; Acting-Assist-

D.

PORTER, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. IRON-CLAD STEAMER " BARON-DE-KALB." Lieutenant-Commander, John G. Walker; ActingVolunteer-Lieutenant, J. V. Johnston; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, John Wise; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Wm. A. Mann; Acting-Masters, Chas. Kendrick and R. H. MediU; Acting-Ensign, Charles Hunter; Acting-Masters' Mates, H. H. Gorringe, E. D. Breed, F. E. Davis and J. M. Meacham; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Thomas Hebron- Acting-Assistants, J. L. Smith, J. S. Wilcoxen and Geo. Britton. STEAMER '•CONESTOGA." Lieutenant-Commander, Thomas O. Selfridge; Assistant-Surgeon, J. Otis Burt; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, E. D. Ellsley; Acting-Master, George Hentig; Acting-Ensigns, Benj. Sebastian, James Kearney, Charles Pease and John Swaney; ActingMaster's Mates, S. J. Dewight, Henry Haskins, Thomas Devine and J. C. Petterson; Engineers: Acting-Cliief, Thomas Cook, Alex. McGee, Michael Norton, James O'Neil and Andrew Lusk; ActingGunner, Gilbert Morton; Acting-Carpenter, J. J.

Hays.

ant Surgeon, L. M. Reese; Assistant Paymaster, Geo. A. Lyon; Acting-Master, James Pitzpatriok;

STEAMER " FAIRPLAY." Lieutenant-Commander, Le Roy Fitch; Acting-

Acting-Ensigns, Sylvester Pooland James Marshall; Acting-Master's Mates, J. G. Magler, W. E. Anderson, F. O. Blake and S. S. Willett; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Wm. H. Meredith; Acting- Assistants,

Assistant Surgeon, S. D. Bolton; Acting-Master, Geo. J. Groves; Acting- En signs, J. C. Coyle and Thad. Conant; Acting-Master's Mates, W. C. Coulson, John Reville and Isaac Summons; Acting-Engineers, Robert Mahatha, G. S. Collins, Chas. Egster

Michael KeUy, J. H. Hilliard,

Wm.

Bishop and Job

THE NAVAL HISTORY

294

STORESHIP "sovereign."

STEAMER "TAYLOR." Lieutenant, James M. Prichett; ActinR-Assistant Surgeon, G. W. Ballentine; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. A. Gardiner; Acting-Master, W. H. Minor; Acting-Ensigns, Eliphalet Loring, C. T. Stanton, J. F. Holmes and S. E. Brown Acting-Master's Mates, Charles Acklev, H. S. Wetmore and Ira Athearn; Engineers: Acting-Chief, James Fleming; Acting

Acting-Master, Thomas Baldwin; Acting-Assistant Paymaster. Geo. L. Meade; Acting-Ensign, A. M. Rowland; Acting-Master's Mates, C. H. Gulick, T. J. Sheets and G. V. Meade; Acting-Engineers, T. W. Blair, A. L. Mann, Patrick Scaiilon and Benj. Cainda.

E. M.

Fleet Surgeon, Ninian Pinkney; Acting-Assistant Surgeons, G. H. Bixby and Geo. Hopkins.

;

Assistants,

J

R. Ramsey,

Wm. Furch and

Bumpus; Acting-Carpenter, A. B. Chapman. STEAMER "ROBB." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Jason Goudy; Acting-Ensigns, Rob't Wilkinson, W. Stoneall and E. C. Roe; Acting- Master's Mates, Lloyd Thomas and E. F. Rowe; Acting-Engineers, Benj. Emerson and John Miller.

STEAMER "ST. CLAIR." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. S. Hurd ActingAssistant Surgeon, D. D. Winslow; Acting-Master, G. W. Fontly; Acting- Ensign, Jos. Watson; ActingMaster's Mates, H. A. Proctor, Jos. Hurd and E. C. Williams; Acting-Engineers, Wm. McLain, Edward Lozier and C. C. Hamilton.

medical staff.

STEAMER "general PILLOW." Acting-Ensign, Joseph Moyer; Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Rives and E. M. Woods; Acting-Engineers, Peter Wagner and Jos. J. Wagner.

INSPECTION SHIP "ABRAHAM." Wm. Wagner; 1st Assistant-Engi-

Acting-Ensign neer, E. Hozier,

STEAM-TUG

;

"

PANSY."

Acting-Ensign, Amos Bolander; Acting-Master's Mate, Anthony McCarthy: Acting-Engineers, John Gilliss and A. P. Gardiner.

STEAM-TUG "FERN."

STEAMER "BRILLIANT."

Acting-Ensign Alpheus Semms; Acting-Master's Mate, John M. Kelly; Acting-Engineer, John Reed.

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Chas. G. Perkins; Acting Assistant Surgeon, W. W. Howard; ActingAssistant Paymaster, Horace Talcott; Acting-Ensigns, J. B. Dales, George Munday and G. D. Little; Acting-Master's Mate, J. J. Perkins; Acting-Engineers, W. A. Willey Samuel Bcoff and James Cutter.

Acting-Ensign, W. H. H. Ford; Acting-Master's Mate, Hamilton Bateman; Acting-Engineers, W. F.

STEAM-TUG "MISTLETOE." Sandford and Silas Hasky.

STEAM-TUG "SAMSON."

,

RAM "little rebel." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Thomas B. Gregory Acting-Ensign, N. T. Rennell; Acting- Master's Mate, J. S. Flint; Acting-Engineers, A. E. Giles, A. M.

Smith and Robert

Russell.

STEAMER "GREAT WESTERN." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. F. Hamilton; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. S. Harvey; Acting Master, J. C. Little; Acting-Ensign, Richard Ellis; Acting-Master's Mates, L. F. Knapp and Richard Mitchell: Acting-Chief Engineer, Chas. Christopher; Engineers, Jos. Goodwin, B. A. Farmer and G. S. Baker; Acting-Gunner, Robert Sherman; ActingCarpenter, Jos. Morton.

STEAMER "judge TORRENCB." Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. Acting-Ensign, Jeremiah Irwin; Mate, James Boss; Acting Chief Hartwig; Engineers, J. Stough, J. Y. Sedman.

F. Richardson; Acting-Master's Engineer, P. R. C.

Barr and W.

STEAMER "new era."

Acting-Master, F. W. Flammer; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Wm. B. Purdy: Acting-Ensigns, Wm. C. Hanford and Geo. L. Smith; Acting-Master's Mates, G. E. Cheever, W. C. Renner, W. B. Shillits and Wm. Wharry; Acting-Engineers, Israel Marsh, John Darragh and Richard Fengler; Acting-Gunner, Louis Fredericks.

receiving ship

"new

national."

Acting-Masters, Alex. M. Grant and O. H. Pratt; Acting-Ensign, John Hill; Acting- Master's Mate, Wm. C. Herron; Acting- Engineers, W. H. Price, James Wilkins and C. C. Rensford.

Acting-Ensign, James D. Buckley; Acting-Master's Mate, WUmot Duley; Acting-Engineers, Geo. Kimber and C. F. Yager.

STEAM-TUG "LILLY." Acting-Ensign, Richard H. Smith; Acting Engineers, James Miller and J. C. Jones.

STEAM-TUG "MYRTLE."

Thomas Guernsey. NAVAL STATION AT CAIRO, ILL.

Acting-Engineer,

Commander, Alex. M. Pennock, Fleet -Captain; Paymaster, A. E. Watson, Inspector-in-charge; W. Brenton Boifgs, Purchasing Payumster and Navy Agent; E. W. Dunn, Paymaster attached to Squadron; A. H. Gilman, Paymaster attached to Station; Acting-Lieutenant, J. P. Sandford. Ordnance Officer; Aoling-Chief-Engineer, W. D. Faulkner, Superintendent; Acting-Chief-Engineer,

Samuel Bicker-

Superintendent of light draughts; ActingMaster John W. Atkinson, Superintendent of tugs; Acting-Ensign, Peter O'Kell, Executive-Officer; Acting-Ensign, A. H. Edson, and Gunner, John T. Ritter on Ordnance Duty. MARINE OFFICERS. staff,

Captain,

Mathew

R. Kintzing; 1st Lieutenants,

Frank Munroe and S. H. Mathews; 2nd Lieutenant, Frank L. C?aurch. OFFICER AT NAVAL RENDEZVOUS, CINCINNATI. Acting-Master, A. S. Brown. OFFICERS AT NAVAL STATION, MEMPHIS. Acting-Master, John R. Neild; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Wm. P. Baird; Acting-Assistant master, J. H. Benton

Pay-

CHAPTER XXVI. SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. "Queen of the West," after Running the Vicksbueg Batteries and Destroying a Great Deal op the Enemy's Property. Running op the Batteries BY the Iron-clad "Indianola." — Combat between the "Indianola" and Confederate Flotilla, consisting op the " Webb," " Queen of the West " and two armed Transports, Capture of the "Indianola" by the Confederates. An Account Written by her Commanding Officer Lieut. -Commander George Brown. Attempt to cut a Canal to Lake Providence. Yazoo Pass Expedition by Gunboats and Transports. Engagement with Fort Pemberton on the Tallahatchie

Loss OP THE

—

—

—

—

—

—

River, etc.

THE

siege of Vicksburg

may

be said

have commenced January 36th, 1862, on which day the Army was landed at Young's Point, seven miles above Vickburg, and at Milliken's Bend, two or three miles above Young's Point. This was rather a desperate movement, but there was no other alternative. When to

Sherman first came down with the gunboats in company, he did not start out with the idea that he was to undertake a siege, but that Vicksburg was to be taken by an unexpected attack. Time was an important factor in this expedition, and that could not be lost by delaying for the purpose of collecting siege tools, etc. Therefore, when the Union Army landed above Vicksburg, it was deficient in all the many appliances for undertaking a siege. They had but four siege guns, and three were supplied by the Navy. Their position opposite Vicksburg was such a poor one that a sudden rise of water would have drowned them out; and, worst of all, they had a leader in whom not an officer of the expedition could put any confidence. McClernand had come to supersede Sherman in the Yazoo River just after the troops had fallen back to the transports, and he had accompanied the Army to Arkansas Post, but with the express understanding with Admiral Porter that he would not interfere with General Sherman. This

he refrained from doing until the

enemy

was beaten, and at that moment he assumed command and made all the reports himself.

There were splendid general s in that Army, all

men

of the higliest

military acquire-

ments, such as Sherman, McPherson, Steele and Smith, who now saw placed attheir head an officer who had not only no qualifications for managing an Army of such a size, but had not the necessary knowledge to be the leader of anything more than a division under another general. These and many other considerations induced General Grant to take the command of the Army at Vicksburg himself. He had become convinced that the siege would be a long one. and made his preparations accordingly. He arrived in person at Young's Poiiit on the 29th of January, 1863. and assumed comof the Army on the 30th. McClernand at once protested against this arrangement, but in vain, and thereafter was simply a divisional commander. At this time the naval force at Vicksburg " Benconsisted of the following vessels ton," "Cincinnati," " De Kalb," "Louis-

mand

:

ville," "

Mound City," "Carondelet." " Pittsburg," and " Chillicothe, " iron-clads; "Rattler," "Glide," "Linden," "Signal," "Romeo," "Juliet." "Forest Rose," and "Marmora," light-draughts; the "Taylor" and " Black Hawk," wooden armed steamers; "Queen of the West," "Monarch,"

THE NAVAL HISTORY

296

"Switzerland," and "Lioness," rams; During the following month the "Lafayette" and "Indianola," iron-clads, joined the fleet. The carpenter shops, machine shops, provision boats, ordnance department, hospital, etc., (all on large steamers) were ordered to the mouth of the Yazoo also ten of the mortar boats which had been used by Foote and Davis at Island No. 10 and Fort Pillow. Besides these, there were a number of ;

"tin-clads" with light batteries stationed all along the river from Cairo to Vicksburg,

each vessel having In this

its

beat.

manner the Army transports were

conveyed from one station to another, and the gun-boats performed this duty so efficiently that during the whole siege of seven months, the transportation of troops and stores was not interrupted. The guerillas along the bank were so handled by these small vessels, and so summarily dealt with, that they soon withdrew to other parts. General Grant soon saw that Vicksburg could not be taken by the Army sitting down and looking at it from Young's Point. The wide and swift running Mississippi was between them. No force could land in front of the city with its long line of heavy batteries on the hills and at the water front, with 42,000 men in garrison under a very clever general (Pemberton), and Gen. J. E. Johnston with 40,000 more troops at Jackson (the capital of Mississippi), within easy distance of the besieged if those may be so called who had ten times as much freedom and a hundred times more dry land to travel about on, than the

Ellet, was selected to perform the perilous duty of running the batteries and carrying out Admiral Porter's orders. Ellet was a gallant young fellow, full of dash and enterprise, and was delighted with this opportunity to distinguish himself; and, although his vessel was a very frail one for such an enterprise, he did not hesitate to accept the risk when this duty was proposed to

him.

The admiral depended a great deal on the darkness of the night to shield the vessel during the passage, and gave his orders accordingly. The "Queen of the West" started on her mission after midnight, but owing to the bad position of the wheel for manoeuvering, Ellet stopped on his way to shift it to a point from which bethought he could manoeuvre his vessel better, and lost so much time by the operation that the advantages of the darkness were lost. It was nearly daylight when he reached the first

—

besiegers.

There was no use attempting to attack the place on either flank. The attempt had been made by Sherman at Chickasaw Bayou without effect, and since then that point had been made doubly secure against invasion. The Federal Army could not cross the river below the town, for there were no transports on that side of the batteries, and it was then thought impossible to pass them. General Banks at one time received

or-

ders to march up to Vicksburg and assist Grant, and so envelop the city, but for

some reason

this

movement was delayed

from time to time, and the latter had to depend upon his own resources. Vicksburg and Port Hudson were both

Red River, step necessary to betaken was to send a vessel (or vessels) to establish a blockade. This, it was thought, would liasten the evacuation of Port Hudson, and thus leave Banks at liberty to ascend the Mississippi in steamers. On the 3d of February, 1863, the ram, "Queen of the West," Colonel Charles R. receiving large supplies via the

and the

first

ELLET'S STERN

WHEEL •RAM."

which he passed at full speed. The alarm gun was fired from the fort and

battery, in

an instant the gunners of the lower batwere at their posts, and when the

teries

"Queen" arrived abreast of the city battery after battery opened upon her. As it was supposed that Colonel Ellet would pass during the night-time, he had been ordered to ram a large steamer (the " Vicksburg") lying at the levee, and also to throw lighted tow balls on board of her to set her on fire. This could have been easily done at night, but it was almost certain destruction to attempt it in the day-time, but the gallant young fellow determined to carry out his orders at all hazards, rammed the Vessel as directed and endeavored to set her on fire, but by this time the enemy's shot were rattling about him, and the current carrying him past the steamer, he was obliged to speed on.

This being the first vessel to run their Confederate gunners were

batteries the

OF THE CIVIL WAR. nervous and did not at first get the proper range and many a screaming rifle shell went over EUet's head, and passed harmlessly by. The steamer at the levee burst into flames but they were afterwards extinguished by the Confederates. The " Queen of the West " had been well packed with cotton-bales to make her shot did not make her shell proof, moment she struck the " Vicksburg" and became stationary a shell from the enemy exploded in a cotton bale and in a moment the vessel was all ablaze. The flames spread rapidly and the dense smoke suffocated the engineers in the engineroom so all attempts to ram the Vicksburg again were given up and the "Queen" turned her head down stream. Every one was set to work to extinguish the fire, which was done by cutting away the barricades and throwing the cotton overboard. The enemy of course were not idle but continued to pour their shot and shells into the Missisproof, but for at the

it

—

297

He was again sent off to burn, sink and destroy or capture, and did good execution. He captured two steamers loaded with army stores for Port Hudson, and destroyed a wagon train returning from Shreveport then the " Queen of the West " started up Red River but a treacherous pilot grounded her under the guns of a fort the enemy opened upon her with four 33 pounders, every shot from which, struck her and killed or wounded many of the crew. At length a shot cut the steam pipe and the scalding steam amidst the wounded and dying made a never-to-be-forgotten scene. Every one who was able to do so jumped overboard to escape being scalded, and ;

with what was left of his crew floated the river on cotton-bales until he fell in w^ith one of his prizes, the "New Era," when all got on board and made their escape up to the Federal landing below Vicksburg. The Confederates soon repaired the "Queen of the West," manned her with a good crew of sharpshooters, and sent her in company with the " Webb," (another powerful ram) in pursuit of the " New Ellet

down

Era."

The " Queen of the West " had been so successful it was determined (to make mat-

_iililifiji

doubly sure) to send down an ironand the "Indianola," with a bow battery of two 11-inch guns, was prepared to pass the batteries at night. She was comters clad,

4*

SSi^TCrf*

manded by Lieutenant-Commander George Brown, an officer whose gallantry and prudence had been well established. She carried a coal-barge on each side of her with orders to cut them adrift if she should meet the " Webb," and every precaution was

"THE QUEEN OF THE WEST."

taken to prevent her being captured in case (FROM A DRAWrNQ BY EEAR-ADMIEAL "WALKE, MAY

sippi

River without

was struck twelve

stint.

15,

1862.)

The "Queen"

times, twice just above

the water line. Ellet reached

Red River and committed

great havoc along the shore. He had been ordered to sink or destroy all steamers he might capture, and to blockade the river so closely that no provisions could get to Port Hudson or Vicksburg. Almost immediately on his arrival he captured and burned three large steamers loaded with army Five army officers stores for Port Hudson. were also captured. Ellet then proceeded ten miles up the Red River where the enemy were known to have had a number of fine steamers engaged as army transports but they all fled on hearing that a Federal gun-boat was approach ing. Ellet got out of coal and took advantage of this panic to run up to Warrenton just below Vicksburg, to obtain a fresh supply and report progress.

—

she got into an action. She passed the batteries in safety, but a few days after her departure two of her crew appeared and stated that she had fallen in with the rams "Queen of the West " and " Webb," in company that she had been rammed six times and being in a sinking condition had surrendered. This was a great disappointment to the admiral and General Grant, but she was blown up next night by a Yankee ruse, and the Confederates did not benefit by her ;

capture. In justice

Brown,

to

Lieutenant-Commander

account of this affair is inserted. It will show the kind of fighting that took place on the Mississippi, and the desperate his

character of the foe the Federals had to contend with.

Washin&ton, D. C, May

Sib—At

my

28, 1863.

this earliest opportunity, I respectfully submit to the department a report of the operations of the U. S. steamer "Indianola," while below Vicksburg, Mississippi also the par;

THE NA VAL HIS TOR V

398

engagement with the rebel armed rams "Queen of the West" and " WilHam H. Webb,' and armed cotton-clad steamers "Dr. Batey " and "Grand Era, in which the " Indianola " was sunk and her ofDcers and crew made

the bunkers of the "Indianola"' full of would have sunk what remained in the barges but knowing that if another boat was sent below 'V'icksburg, I would be expected to supply her with coal, 1 concluded to hold on to the barges

prisoners.

as long as possible.

ticulars of the

'

In obedience to an order from Actingr-Rear-Admiral Porter, commanding Mississippi squadron, I passed the batteries at Vioksburg and Warrenton on the night of tlie loth of February last, having in tow two barges containing about 7,000 bushels of coal each, without being once struck, although eighteen shots were fired, all of which passed over us.

I kept coal, and ;

In consequence of having the barges alongside progress against the cur rent, the result of which wasj that 1 did not rea«h Grand Gulf until the morning of the 24th, at which point and at others above we were fired on by par-

we could make but slow

on shore. As I knew that it would be as much as I could do to get by the Warrenton batteries before dayties

I kept on down the river, but owing to dense fogs made but slow progress until the morning of the

light the next

16th, when, about ten miles below Natchez, I met the steamboat "Era No. .5," having on board Colonel BUet, of the raui fleet, and a portion of the officers and crew of the steamer " Queen of the West." I then learned for the first time of the loss of that boat, and after consulting with Colonel Ellet, I concluded to continue on down as far as the mouth of the Red River. On the afternoon of the same day I got under way, the " Era No. 5," leading. On nearing Ellis's Cliffs the "Era'' made the prearranged signal of danger ahead, soon after which. I made out thereliel steamer " Webb." Before I got within range of the "Webb" she had turned and was standing down stream with great speed. I fired two shots from the 11-ineh guns but both fell short of her. She soon ran out

on the 24th, the night being very dark, four boats were discovered in chase of us. I immediately cleared for action, and as soon as all preparations had been completed I turned and stood down the river to meet them. At this time the leading vessel was about three miles below, the

one party. At about

morning,

I

returned the

fire of

but

9.30 P. m.

others following in close order. As we neared them i made them out to be the rams "Queen of the West" and " AVilliam H. Webb," and two other steamers, cotton-clad and filled with men. The "Queen of the West" was the first to strike us, which she did after passing through the coal barge lashed to our port side, doing us no serious

damage. Next came the " Webb " I stood for her at full speed both vessels came together bows on, with a tremendous crash, which knocked nearly every one down on board both vessels, doing no damage to us, wliile the "Webb's" bow was cut in at least eight feet, extending from about two feet above the water line to the keelson. At this time the engagement became general and ;

.

at very close quarters.

THE IRON

CL.VD '

INDUNOLA."

of sight, and in consequence of a thick fog setting in I could not continue the chase but was obliged to anchor. I reached the mouth of the Red River on the 17th of February, from which time until the 21st of the same month I maintained a strict blockade at that point. I could procure no Red Riverpilots and therefore

did not enter that river.

The "Era No

5,"

being

unarmed, and having several prisoners on board. Colonel Ellet decided to go up the river and communicate with the squadron, and sailed at noon on the 18th of the same month for that purpose. On learning that the "Queen of the West" had been repaired by the rebels, and was nearly ready for service, al.so that the "William H. Webb" and four cotton-clads, with boarding parties on board, Indianola," I left were fitting out to attack the the Red River for the purpose of getting cotton to fill up the space between the casemate and wheelhouses so as to be better able to I'epel the boarding parties.

By

the afternoon of the 22d of the same month, I as much cotton as I required, and concluded to keep on up the river, thinking that I would certainly meet another boat the morning following, but I was disappointed. I then concluded to coumiunicate with the squadron as soon as possible, thinking that Colonel Ellet had not reached the squadron, or that Admiral Porter would expect me to return when I found that no other boat was sent below.

had procured

I devoted but little attention to the cotton-clad steamers, although they kept up a heavy fire with field-pieces and small arms as 1 knew that everything depended on my disabling the ram. The third blow crushed the starboard barge, leaving parts hanging by the lashings, which were speedily The crew of the " Indianola,' not numbering cut. enough men to man both batteries, I kept the forward guns manned all the time, and fired them whenever I could get a shot at the rams. The night being very dark, our aim was very uncertain, and

our

fire

proved

less effective

than" I thought

it

at

the time. The peep-holes in the pilot-house were so small that it would have been a difficult matter to have worked the vessel from that place in daylight, so that during the whole engagement the pilots were unable to aid me by their knowledge of the river as they were unable to see anything. Consequently they could do no more than obey such orders as they received from me in regard to work ing the engines and the helm. No misunderstanding occurred in the performance of that dutv, and I was enabled to receive the first five blows" from the rams forward of the wheels, and at such angles that they did no more damage than to stai-t the plating where they struck. The sixth blow we received was from the "Webb," which crushed in the starboard wheel, disabled the starboard rudder and started a number of leaks abaft the shaft. Being unable to work the starboard engine, placed us in an almost powerless condition but 1 continued the fight until after we received the seventh blow, which was given us bv the ;

"Webb."

She struck us fair in the stern and started the timbers and starboard rudder-box so that the water poured in in large volumes. At this time I knew that the " Indianola " could be of no more service to us, and my desire was to render her useless to the enemy, which I did by keeping her in deep water, until there was two and a half feet of

OF THE

CIVIL

"water over the floor, and the leaks were increasing rapidly as she settled, so as to bring the opening

made \>y the "Webb " under water. Knowing that if either of the rams struck us again in the stern, which they then had excellent opportunites of doing on account of our disabled condition, we would sink so suddenly that few if any lives would be saved, I succeeded in running her bows on shore by starting the screw engines. As fm-ther resistance could only result in a great loss of life on our part, without a corresponding result on the part of the enemy, I surrendered the "Indianola," a partially sunken vessel, fast filling with water, to a force of four vessels, mounting ten guns and manned by over one thou-

sand men.

The engagement

lasted one

hour and twenty-

seven minutes. I lost but one killed, one wounded and seven missing, while the enemy lost two officers and thirty-three men kiUed and many

wounded.

so fatal to us. Both signal

books were thrown into the river by a few minutes before the surrender. In conclusion, I would state that the 9-inch guns of the ''Indianola'' were thrown overboard, and the 11-inch guns damaged by being loaded with heavy charges and solid shot, placed muzzle to muzzle and fired by a slow match, so that they were rendered useless. This was done in consequence of the sham monitor, sent from above, having grounded about two miles above the wreck of the " Indianola." I have the honor to be, etc.,

me

GrBOB&K BrOWX, Lieut. -Commander

TJ.

S.

Navy.

Hon. GriDKON Welles. Secretary of the Namj.

Other means had now to be invented to get into the rear of the enemy or down the river in order to stop his supplies. The importance of this late mov6 cannot be estimated. The communications between Texas and Vicksburg had been cut off, and the capture of so many steamers loaded with army stores for Port Hudson had sealed the fate of that place; they could not hold out, and Bank's Army would soon be free to march upon Vicksburg by the left shore of the river. At this time Vicksburg mounted seventy-

heavy guns, and possessed a number of heavy rifled field-pieces, which, being able to move about, were quite as annoying to vessels running the blockade. The guns at Vicksburg were so scattered about and so cunningly concealed that it five

was almost impossible to detect them. A clever plan was adopted by a naval photo-

grapher to bring all the guns to light. A large photograph of the city was taken, and that again enlarged, when by means of magnifying glasses, every gun was revealed. They were situated in many queer ;

some

inside

the railroad

depot,

one in an engine house, others screened

bv

299

that time forth the Federal mortars and rifled guns sent their missiles to the right place.

Eight mortars on rafts were kept playing on the town and enemy's works day and

and three heavy rifled guns that could reach any part of Vicksburg, were placed on scows to protect the mortars. Vicksburg was by nature the strongest point on the river, but art had rendered it almost impregnable. It was very certain even in the early part of February,that this was to be a long and tiresome siege, and so night,

General Grant viewed it. A naval contingent could not do more than give protection to the Army, which was very important but as to the vessels ;

Before the enemy could make any preparations for endeavoring to save the " Indianola," her stern was under water. Both rams were so very much crippled that 1 doubt whether they would have tried to ram again had not their last blow proved

places

WAR.

carts tinned

UD. etc.. etc.:

but from

alone possessing the power to knock down these inaccessible forts, it was not to be thought of. If batteries should be placed on the right bank of the river, they would soon be driven out by the plunging shot and shells from the enemy. The military engineers in Vicksburg had employed many expedients to render the For a distance Federal fire ineffectual. of six miles all their heavy guns were scattered except at two points where water batteries were placed to concentrate their fire upon passing vessels. One of these batteries mounted thirteen guns and the other eleven. The fire of the Navy upon Vicksburg might in time have destroyed the city and its fine public buildings, but that would have brought the Army no nearer the desired object the possession of this stronghold and the opening of the Mississippi. When General Williams ascended the river in company with Farragut, with .3,000 men, he announced that this force was not sufficient to hold Vicksburg, even if he could capture it. In which opinion he was right. He set his troops to work to cut a canal across the isthmus, hoping to direct the waters of the Mississippi into this cut and make the river take a new direction, by which the city would have been left out in the cold; but the plan did not work as it had done in many other cases, and when General Williams departed he left only a dry ditch. General Grant being anxious to get transports past Vicksburg, determined to try the ditcli again, and had dredges brought down to work on it. It was hoped that when the river rose it would cut its way through, but that wished for event did not come to pass until after the fall of Vicksburg. The :

enemy mounted heavy guns opposite the mouth of the canal, and prevented any work upon it. General Grant now hit upon a new expedient — which was to deepen Lake Providence. This Lake communicated with the

THE NAVAL HISTORY

300

Tensas River (a deep stream), and the Tensas emptied into the Washita, and this latter into the Red River thus forming a beautiful system of inland navigation which if properly opened and intelligently directed would have been of great service to the country bordering on the rivers mentioned. But it was not to be, the engineers were not successful. Several transports were taken in, but there were miles of forest to work through and trees to be cut down. The

—

swift current drove the steamers against the trees and injured them so much that this plan had to be abandoned. Then some one proposed to cut away the levee at a place called Delta near Helena and open Yazoo Pass. This used to be the main way to Yazoo City and to the Tallahatchie and Yallabusha Rivers, before the Southern railroad was built, and it had been closed up to reclaim some millions of acres of land. It led into the Tallahatchie, and if our Navy could succeed in getting through it, a way would be opened for the Army to get into the rear of Vicksburg. The levee was cut and the Mississippi being on the rise the water rushed through the opening with great force, sweeping everything before it and cutting a channel 300 yards wide at the mouth. It took several days for the water to reach its level, as it had at first a fall of nine feet. In the mean time gun-boats were detailed and prepared for the expedition. These vessels were the " Chillicothe," LieutenantCommander Foster, the " Baron DeKalb," Lieutenant-Commander Walker, the tinclad "Rattler," "Lioness " (ram) and two other light draft vessels. All were under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Watson Smith, who had instructions to open the way to the Yazoo River and destroy all of the enemy's means that could not be carried away. General Grant sent an Army contingent along with the gunboats to assist in forcing the way through the obstructions. This force was commanded by Brigadier-General Ross. To describe the difficulties which attended this expedition would be impossible and they could only be realized by those who saw them. The pass had been closed for many years and trees had grown up in the middle of the channel which had become dry after the levee was built across its

mouth. Great rafts were channel as the water ran

left off

in

this

dry

and bushes and vines now grew thickly around them and tied them together as with withes. Overhanging trees joined together over the channel and their branches were so low that steamers could not pass without having their smoke-pipes knocked down and all their boats and upper-works swept away. The current was running swiftly, for the

—

vessels entered the cut before the water

had

reached its level. On the first day, not more than six miles was made, and this was only accomplished by all hands going to work and sawing or cutting away the obstructions.

Colonel Wilson, an Army engineer, who directed all this kind of work, was a thoughtful, energetic man, and he conducted the operations in an intelligent manner, and though the vessels did not make very rapid headway, they did wonderfully well considering the difficulties. They all had to be carefully handled with hawsers around the bends, for the Yazoo Pass, following the example of the mother Mississippi, was as crooked as a ram's horn. On the second day, the vessels were so torn to pieces that no more harm could be done to them they had hulls and engines left and that had to suffice. The officers and men performed a great deal of manual

—

U.

S.

NAVAL HOSPITAL BOAT "RED EOVEB

"

PASSING

EANDOLPH NEAR FULTON. TENN. (FEOM A SKETCH BY Il£AB-AJJMl£AL WAI.KE.)

labor, but no one jolly songs echoed

found fault, and their turough the woods as

they worked, frightening the birds out of their quiet retreats, where they had rested undisturbed for a quarter of a century. The men were rewarded after four days' of terrible labor by getting forty miles on their journey through such obstructions as they had never dreamed of. At last they arrived at the Tallahatchie (a clear and swift running river), and the vessels forming in some kind of order, with the gunboats leading, hastened on. Much time had been lost at Helena in getting the troops on board the transports, and the pass was not entered until the 8th of March, and not passed until the 11th; then, when everyone thought the way clear before them, they suddenly came upon a formidable fort, with a large steamer sunk in the middle of the channel to obstruct the passage of the Federal fleet. Here was a surprise to all parties. The Confederates did not

OF THE expect to see iron-clads in these waters, nor the Federals to find forts where the contrabands had reported the way clear before them. Fortunately the people in the fort had not yet removed the powder from the steamer, and the transports had time to back up the stream and take position behind the woods in a bend, and there make their preparations for attack. The"Chillicothe," Lieutenant -Commander Foster, and the " DeKalb." Lieutenant-Commander Walker, took position, side by sid(^, tied up to the bank with bows down, and began the action with a mortar boat that had accompanied the expedition, in the rear. At this time, unfortunately, LieutenantCommander Watson Smith gave evidence of aberration of mind, and much hampered Foster and Walker by contradictory orders which they felt bound to obey. The "Chillicothe" was temporarily disabled by having her port shutter closed by a shot from the fort, which returned the fire of the gun-boats as soon as the Confederates got their powder from the steamer; and wlien they did g:et to work they kept up a rapid and well directed fire. In obedience to the order of Lieutenant-Commander Smith, the two iron-clads had to withdraw from action, and this was put down as a reconnaissance. In the afternoon of the same day, the " Chillicothe " went down and attacked the fort at close quarters, but got the worst of it. She proved herself to be a poor vessel During the afternoon for resisting shot. fight she lost four men killed and fifteen

wounded.

On the 1.3th, the two iron-clads again went into action, lying alongside of each other as before. The " Chillicothe" remained in action one hour and thirty-eight minutes, and then had to withdraw for want of ammuni-

much

cut up by the enemy. The " DeKalb" remained in position and finally silenced the Confederate battery, after losing but three killed and three tion, besides

being

wounded. The only way this fort could be taken was by siege guns brought up close to the works but this was not done. The general ;

commanding

the military contingent did not consider himself strong enough to attempt anything of consequence, and after a delay of thirteen days, in which neither side did anything, the Federal forces withdrew. The Navy did all that was required of it on this occasion, but there was no hearty co-operation on the part of the Army. Fort Pemberton, though well fortified and in a strong position, ought to have been taken. This would have given the Federals command of the Tallahatchie, Yallabusha and

CIVIL

WAR.

301

Yazoo Rivers, and of course a clear way to the rear of Vicksburg. On the 18th of March, Lieutenant-Commander Watson Smith, owing to aberration of mind, gave up the command of the Naval force to Lieutenant -Commander Foster, who after trying all that could be thought of, followed the Army which had been ordered to retire from before Fort Pemberton. A great deal of cotton was taken by this expedition, but the result was a failure in The enemy burned two the main object. large steamers loaded with cotton, or they were set on fire by the shells of the gunboats.

The Confederates had a narrow escape and had it not been for the delay in embarking the troops at Helena the FedAs soon erals would have been successful. here,

as the Confederates discovered the object of this movement (which they did as soon as the levee was cut at Delta) they went to work and built the two formidable forts, Pemberton and Greenwood on the Tallahatchie and Yallabusha, and blocked the

way

effectually.

General Pemberton showed a great deal of ability in his defense of Vicksburg. all through, and won the respect of his opponents by his zeal and fidelity to his cause, to say nothing of his spirit of endurance. But in nothing did he show more energy than in watching the Federal tactics, and guarding against all attempts made to turn his flanks, especially by way of the streams which would have commanded the approaches to Vicksburg if held by an enemy. Pemberton took care that these passes should never be left unguarded in the future. These attempts to turn his flanks sharpened his wits and set them to work in other directions to make Vicksburg stronger than ever.

The vessels which composed the expedition through Yazoo Pass, worked their way back by the route they had entered. The zeal they exhibited in getting in had all left them, their vessels were much injured and their labors seemed interminable. It was a happy day to all when they found themselves on the wide Mississippi, which seemed to the explorers like an ocean in comparison with the small and tortuous streams over which they had been fighting their way. The shot and shell of the enemy were nothing compared to the manual labor of soldiers and sailors in removing obstructions which to many seemed insurmountable. Yet all alike were these difficulties to be overcome in getting into Vicksburg, and this was only one in a number of cases where the energy and courage of our Army and Navy were taxed to the utmost. In reading over some of the Western

THE NA VAL HISTORY

303

papers of those days one would suppose that the two branches of the service were sitting down quietly before Vicksburg, watching the daily performances of the besieged without making any efforts to get inside the city, while, in fact, from the general down, there was but one feeling, a total disregard of personal comfort and a stern determination to capture Vicksburg at any cost. Disappointment after disappointment was met with a stern philosophy which showed that the word "fail" was not understood

—

in that Army and Navy. Whenever our soldiers and sailors laid aside their work for a short time to rest, it was the signal for renewed libelous newspaper attacks upon their commanders, but these articles were

men with the same feeling contempt which has been felt in later times by those who have wasted life and read by our of

health in saving the unity of this great country for millions yet unborn, whom, it is hoped, will feel more grateful than their forefathers.

CH A PTER XXVII. EXPEDITION THROUGH STEELE'S BAYOU AND DEER CREEK. The Naval Expedition through the Woods. — Scenes and Incidents. — Through Black AND Steele's Bayou. — A Hazardous Journey. — Destruction of Cotton and other Property by the Confederates. — A Skirmish with Tree Cutters. — Sherman Marching to the Relief of the Gun-boats. — Dreadful Work of the Sharpshooters. — The Confederates attempt to Capture the Fleet. — Sherman Arrives.

— Repulse of the Confederates. — Retreat of the Army and Navy. — Repairing Damages. — Good effect of the Expedition. — Loss to the Confederates. — Grand Gulf Fortified. — A Council of War. — Grant's Decision. — The Rams run the Batteries — The "Lancaster" Sunk. — The "Switzerland" joins Farragut. — Brave Volunteers,

Etc., Etc.

the time of the Yazoo Pass expedition. Lieutenant McLeod Murphy, U. S. N., discovered a pass through the woods some ten miles above the mouth of the Yazoo, by which it was thought the gunboats could reach the valley of Deer Creek, and, perhaps get into the Yazoo River by the Sunflower and Yallabusha, thereby reaching the rear of Vicksburg. The water in the Mississippi had risen remarkably, so much so that land usually dry for miles in the interior, now had seventeen feet of water over it. The question was, could the gun-boats get through the woods and thick underbrush which abounded in that locality. The route was examined by General Grant and Admiral Porter, and being found apparently practicable for the purpose intended, it was determined between the Army and Naval leaders that an attempt should be made to get to the rear of

ABOUT

Vicksburg in

this

way.

So important was this route considered that Admiral Porter determined to go himself in charge of the naval part of the expedition, while General Sherman was to lead an army contingent of 8,000 or 10,000 men. A man who knew all about the country, and who gave his opinion that this was a favorable opportunity to get into the desired position in rear of the beleagured city,

was employed

to

accompany the expedi-

tion as pilot and at the start everything promised well. On the 14th of March, Admiral Porter started with the following vessels " Cincinnati," Lieutenant-Commanding Bache ;

:

''Louisville," Lieutenant Commander " Carondelet," Lieutenant-ComOwens manding Murphy; "Mound City," Lieu-

;

tenant-Commanding Byron Wilson; "Pittsburgh," Lieutenant-Commanding Hoel two mortar floats and four tugs. When the fleet came to the pass into which it was to turn, after having ascended the Yazoo, the entrance could scarcely be made out, so dense was the growth of the overhanging bushes and trees, but these the men cut away with cutlasses and axes, and a pass wide enough for three vessels abreast, showed itself, lined out by heavy trees, and through this the gun-boats fol-

lowed one another in line, their leadsmen singing out in melodious song, " quarter less three." There was no more channel here than elsewhere, as the water overflowed every place alike, but there was a long, straight pass opening through the forest, about 170 feet wide, which was, no doubt, a road cut through the woods for hauling cotton to some landing. It was a novel scene. Thousands of crows flew from their perches, and broke the silence of the forest with their discordant notes, no doubt wondering what

13031

THE NAVAL HISTORY

304

could

have caused

those

"mud-

great

turtles" to invade tlieir hitherto inaccessible abode, where for centuries they had reared their young and digested their plunder without interruption. On went the gun-boats, officers and sailors alike, delighted with the romantic every scenery, which baffled description heart was cheered with the hope that the long sought for road to Vicksburg had been found, and that the great prize would soon and then, a stray be in their hands. tree as much as three feet in diameter would be found standing in the middle of the channel as if to dispute the way. The vessels might have passed on either side, but the desire to try the strength of these outlying sentinels proved so great that the flagship "Cincinnati " would run into them with her strong, broad bow, and topple tliem over, a feat rendered possible by the softening action of the water upon the earth about their roots. The vessels in the rear were told to haul them out of the way. This was good practice, and came into play ;

Now

before the expedition had proceeded

many

It was all fair sailing at first, but became rough work in the end. After some ten miles of easy progress

miles.

through the woods, the fleet arrived at Black Bayou, a place about four miles long, leading into Deer Creek —and here the plain sailing ended. The gun-boats, being too wide to pass between the trees, had to go to work and knock them down, and pull them up by the roots. The line of vessels was broken, and each went to work to make her way through the tangle as best she could.

Saws and axes now came into use, and every means was resorted to for clearing the way. The nari-ow tugs and tlie mortar floats had no difficulty in getting along, but the wider iron-clads were, for a time, brought to a stand. The open roadway had vanished, and the pilot confessed his ignorance of this locality. There was plenty of water, and the stentorian voice of the leadsman was still heard singing out "quarter less three !"

There

nothing that will daunt the sailor but a lee shore and no sea room. There was plenty of sea room here, but no room to pass between the tangle. The obstruction was passed, after working is

American

twenty-four hours consecutively, and that four miles overcome, leaving a good road for those coming after, but a number of trees were moved away. Titans of the forest that had reigned there for a century or more. Sherman had arrived at Black Bayou with part of his force, another part had started to march over from a point tweiaty miles above the Yazoo River, on the Mississippi, following a ridge oi" land not in-

undated. The part of the Army embarked had been transported in small stern-wheel steamers, which being very narrow, succeeded in passing between the trees with only the loss of a few smoke-stacks. From Black Bayou, the gun-boats turned again into Steele's Bayou, a channel just one foot wider than the vessels, and here came the tug of war, such as no vessels ever encountered before. The keel of the skiff was the largest thing that had ever floated in waters now bearing vessels of 600 tons burthen.

These had to break through bridges spanning this muddy ditch, pass through the smoke and fire of burning cotton-bales (which the enemy set in a blaze as soon as the fleet was discovered), and work on, at the rate of half a mile an hour, through lithe willows growing in the middle of the stream, which at intervals was choked up with rafts that had been there for years. The pilot proved to be a fraud, he had never seen the place before. This bayou was bordered on both sides with

overhanging trees, whose Briarean arms would cling around the passing vessels and sweep away boats and smoke-stacks, while the limbs of decayed trees would fall upon the decks, smashing skylights to pieces, and injuring the people. It was dreadful to witness the infatuation of the Confederate Government agents, who, riding about on horseback, were setting fire to the cotton far and near. They must have imagined the expedition sent to gather cotton a purpose never thought of. Houses were often consumed with the cotton piles, and everything betokened a Moscow affair. It was the cotton of the

—

Confederate government, and they were allowed to burn it. It was the Confederate sinews of war they were destroying they were burning up their cash with which they had expected to carry on the struggle. The leaders of the expedition soon saw they were discovered; tlie move was certainly known in Vicksburg, and the whole Confederacy would be at work to defeat this measure, as they had at Fort Pemberton. The expedition hurried on to get into the Rolling Fork, and thence into the Sunflower, whence it could reach the Yazoo above Haines' Bluff. It seemed insane to proceed, there were so many dreadful obstacles in the way, yet no one apparently minded them. The work was hard on the sailors, nevertheless they only made a lark of it. Vicksburg was never so aroused as on hearing of the raid right into the heart of her preserves. The expedition had struck that city's store-house: here were the fleshpots that would make any people glad; ;

cattle, corn,

"hog and hominy Army.

"

enough

to

subsist a great

The government agents assembled

in

OF THE

CIVIL

numbers, they seemed to spring from the earth: the cattle, pigs and poultry were all driven to the woods. Corn ricks were set on fire that the Federals might not have a grain. The latter were not thinking of the flesh-pots, they were too intent upon getting to the rear of Vicksburg, too intent upon clearing out the obstructions in the

Bayou

to think of "

muddy

hog and hominy."

In the first twenty-four hours of this work, the fieet made four miles! At dark it tied up for the night that the hard worked men might rest, but there was no rest for any one there. At ten o'clock that night, lights were flitting about in the woods, and the sounds of wood chopping fell upon the ears of the watchers in the fleet, and the -

falling of trees satisfied them that the enemy was on the alert, cutting down trees across their path to pen in the gun -boats. Armed landing parties were made up from each vessel, and put ashore; a tug,

with a boat howitzer mounted on board, was sent up the bayou, and found two trees, two and a half feet in diameter each, cut down and lying across the stream, completely obstructing it. The tug fired after the tree cutters, and the landing party of 300 men, under Lieutenant McLeod Murphy, worked all night with axes and tackles to

remove the fallen timber. The fleet moved on at night, the banks being lighted by lanterns. They were determined not to be detained by tree cutters. The tug went ahead for twelve miles, firing her gun wherever a white man and an axe could be heard of. Twenty-five trees had been commenced upon by the cutters, but the latter were driven off by the howitzer. It was found that a large gang of negroes had been pressed into service by the Confederate agents who, with pistols at their heads, compelled them to cut the trees; but when the shrapnel from the howitzer began to rattle through the woods, government agents, woodcutters and all, left in a panic. Slowly as the naval vessels moved, they made greater progress than the troops, and got ahead of them some twenty miles; the troops met difficulties they were not prepared for, and the fleet moved on in advance. After four days of the greatest labor one can imagine, the fleet arrived at or near the entrance to the Rolling Fork, where it was supposed all difficulties would be at an end. Here, for a distance of 600 yards, a bed of willows blocked the way. The flag-ship " Cincinnati," ran into it under a full head of steam, and there she stuck; the willow wythes caught in the rough iron of her overhang, and held her as if in a vise. All the arts of seamanship could not displace this obstacle, it would

WAR.

305

After working a whole day and night with saws, chisels and cutlasses, the men stopped for a breathing spell, during which a steamer landed at the bank, four miles off on the Rolling Fork. Another soon came higher up, and both landed artillery, which, in two hours, opened a cross fire on the fleet with about twenty shells a minute, driving the men on the banks to seek the shelter of the iron-clads. The mortars were brought to bear on the enemy, and for a time, checked the fire. Spy-glasses, used from the top of an Indian mound disclosed the fact that the enemy were landing a large

—

—

force of infantry the guns of the iron-clads were so far below the banks of the bayou that they were not a particle of use, the vessels themselves were so jammed up against the bank on either side that there was danger of their crews being kept prisoners on board by sharpshooters. Sherman's troops were not in sight and it became necessary to send back a messenger to the general urging him to hurry up to the assistance of the gun -boats, which were very helpless at one time. The united efforts of the steamers astern of the "Cincinnati" pulled her out of the willows, but not without great trouble, the

people on deck and on the banks being exposed to the artillery which kept up a sharp fire. There was but one thing to be done under the circumstances, and that was to fall back and meet the Army, which the admiral received assurances was moving on as fast as possible. As soon as Sherman received the dispatch announcing the condition of the gun-boats, he started off his troops, though it was night, and made his way along the tortuous route by the light of pine knots. He got into swamps and cane brakes, and made but slow progress. This did not prove to any one the fair road to Vicksburg. The soldiers were as severely tried as the sailors.

As night came on, the gun-boats were ordered to unship their rudders, and drop down with the current; and, the water now running rapidly into the bayou, owing to the cut at Delta -which was overfiowing the whole country the vessels bumped along at double the rate they had ascended, bounding from tree to tree, and bringing down the dead branches on the decks, to the destruction of everything around— boats were smashed, and more or less injury done to everything. As the gun-boats departed, the enemy appeared upon the Indian mound, and owing to the tortuous windings of the stream, kept the fleet under fire without the latter being able to fire more than an occasional gun until nightfall, when it was found necessary

—

—

THE NAVAL HISTORY

306

the howitzers were put ashore in preparation for emergencies In the night the patrolling parties captured two of the enemy's officers and some men, who stated that two batteries had been landed, and three thousand sharpshooters, and that they were quite satisfied they would capture the gun-boats in twenty -four hours. They were not aware that an army was with the fleet; they took this for a raid of gun-boats only, and, as one of them remarked, " a crazy one at that." At daylight the fleet started down stream again, stern foremost, hoping to meet the army by noon, but at 8 a. m., they were surrounded by sharpshooters, who kept up such a fire that it was almost impossible for any one to show himself on deck. The riflemen on board, lying behind defences, kept up a brisk fire whenever they saw a curl of smoke. The howitzers were kept at work from behind the deck-houses, and the mortars, which were fired with small charges, landed (heir shells in amongst the

enemy, and kept them at a distance. Now and then a mortar shell, landing at the foot of a tree behind which was a sharpshooter, would overthrow the tree as it exploded

making trees unsafe as a protection. Still, the sharpshooters increased in numbers, when, suddenly, the fleet had to come to a stand. Eight or ten large trees, some three feet in diameter, had been felled right across their track, from either side of the bayou, thus completely blocking the way, and the loud cheers of the Confederates as they rang through the woods showed they thought their prey entrapped. The officers and men of the fleet, undaunted by this state of things, went to to surmount the difiiculty and rethe trees. Five hundred armed men were put on shore, and took to the trees to meet the enemy's sharpshooters, while howitzers and mortars kept up a rapid fire which was more than the enemy cared to

work move

face.

The working party from the vessels commenced operations below the banks, out of reach of the enemy's fire, and by using hawsers, tackles, and that powerful adjunct, steam, in six hours the trees

were

removed, and the

its

down

fleet

went on

all

way

rejoicing.

Sherman had heard the firing, and had pushed on to get to the aid of the gun-boats. In the meantime, the enemy had landed more infantry there were about four thousand in all. Pemberton, at Vicksburg, was well posted in all that was going on, and was determined to leave nothing undone to capture the venturesome fleet.

—

Again the fleet came to a stand-still, but this time only two large trees had been felled. The crews of the vessels commenced

work of removal, when a large body of Confederate troops were seen advancing directly through the woods upon the steamers, while the sharpshooters in redoubled numbers opened fire on the fleet from behind trees not more than fifty yards the

distant.

The working parties were called on board defend the vessels, but before they could get to their arms, there was a rattle of musketry in the woods, a cheering of the crews, and a rapid retreat by the Confederates. They had fallen in with the head of Sherman's column, which was a great surprise to them, and after one or two volleys, they broke and fled back to their steamers. Sherman arrived just in the nick of time. Whether the gun-boats could have held their own under the circumstances is impossible to say. They were well prepared for a brave fight, and from behind the banks they could have mown down the enemy as they rushed on, but it was better as it was, and they were not subjected to the trial. The broadside guns of the vessels had been given their greatest elevation, and loaded with grape and cannister. The iron sides of the vessels had all been well greased, and nothing was left for assailants to hold on by. Fourteen hundred good men, with breech-loaders and howitzers, were ready to repel boarders, but there is no knowing what a desperate set of men under good leaders might have accomplished, with such a prize in view as the best vessels of the Mississippi squadron. No set of people were ever so glad to see the soldiers as the men of that fieet were to see Sherman and his Army; and, as the gallant general rode up to the gun-boats, he was received with the warmest cheers he ever had in his life. That was the end of the Steele's Bayou expedition; the impossibility of going on again in the face of all the difficulties was conceded by all parties, and it was decided to get the fleet out of that ditch before the enemy blocked up the entrance in the rear and left it in the mud. The impracticability of the campaign had to

been fully demonstrated. So much time had been consumed by the numerous obstacles the Army and Navy had to contend with that the enemy had the opportunity to produce the means of checkmating the expedition. The point

have

where the gun-boats would

to leave Steele's

Rolling Fork would take

Bayou to get into the up that it many days to remove the was

so blocked

obstacles, and the Confederates could throw in such a force as would prevent their opponents from working at it. The enemy had clear, open rivers to work in; and, in two davs. could transnort, nnv

OF THE number of troops and guns they desired. The country would not answer for a base of operations, so the Union forces returned to the woods and deep water, having gained a great deal of experience, and the knowledge that Vicksburg could not be taken in that direction. This expedition greatly alarmed the Vicksburg people: the Army and Navy had thereby found the way right into the store-house from which the besieged had been fed, and upon which they depended in the future. This greatly changed their system of defence; guns were removed from prominent points along the Mississippi, while the rivers Tallahatchie, Sunflower and Yazoo were strongly fortified, and were guarded against any attack in the future. Every precaution was likewise taken to protect the flanks of the city, but the soldiers and sailors reveled in all the good things whicii abounded in this district, and thinking there was vastly more food there than the Confederates could possibly want, the gun-boats and transports carried off an astonishing amount of loot, which reconciled them in a measure for their disappointment in not fully succeeding in their attempt to reach the rear of Vicksburg. The Navy carried away over a hundred dollars' worth of cotton, marked A.," which the Confederates had collected for the use of their government, only waiting for the opportunity to carry it to the sea-board. Over three hundred thousand dollars' worth of cotton was destroyed by fire, by command of Confederate agents, who determined that it should not fall into the hands of the Federals. This was all a great loss to the enemy, but unimportant in comparison with what the combined forces had hoped to attain. When it was decided that no more could be done on this expedition, the Army returned to their transports, and the Navy led the way out of the woods, the men at the leads singing out "quarter less three," in cheery tones, as if everything had gone on smoothly with them, and the gun-boats had not been almost smashed to pieces while rebounding from tree to tree in

thousand " C.

S.

Steele's

On

Bayou.

the 26th of March, the fleet arrived All the at its old anchorage on the Yazoo. machinists, carpenters, boatbuilders, etc., from the shops afloat were set to work to repair damages, and in a week, with the finishing touch of a new coat of paint, they looked as good as new. This expedition, though in a measure unsuccessful, still had a good effect on the Army and Navy. While the men were kept so employed on what were really very exciting expeditions, they had no time to become disheartened by only looking: at

CIVIL WAR.

307

the frowning hills of Vicksburg, which they, as well as the officers, could see were not to be taken in front. It inured both services to hard work which would the better enable them to overcome like obstacles in the future the constant employment hardened their bodies, while it benefited ;

and kept them in good spirits. They gained a thorough knowledge of the difficulties they had to encounter, and all this prepared them to battle with others of the same kind. their minds,

These persistent attempts of the Army to overcome all the obstacles in the way of getting into Vicksburg, kept the enemy continually on the alert, and obliged them to be moving through a country filled with all kinds of obstacles, and made them doubtful where the blow would fall. On this account, Pemberton had to reduce his Army in the city, and keep a larger portion of it at points remote from the real objective point at which the

and Navy

Union general aimed. The Confederate soldiers were worn out and dispirited by the numerous marches and countermarches they were obliged to make. They were compelled to live upon the country when they went to expel the invaders, and this soon exhausted the stores in the invaded district on which the people in Vicksburg depended when the hardest time should come. Besides the Confederates were raiders even among their own people. The Union soldiers did pay a little respect to private property, but the former paid no such compliment to anything that could

add

to their comfort, or fill their commissariat and, on the whole, the Federal invaders were more acceptable to the people on the estates than were the Confederates. In this invasion, the Army and Navy both inflicted serious losses on the owners of slaves, and large numbers of the latter went off either in the transports or on the ;

The negroes stated that they had been employed in working on the forgun-boats.

tifications at Vicksburg, Haines' Bluff, etc., and the fact that they had been emiiloyed to cut down the trees on Steele's Bayou, thereby to hem in the gun-boats, was a

good reason for taking them away. The last and best reason was that the undeniable right of freedom was theirs, and it was the duty of every Christian officer and man to help them escape from the most miserable slavery that ever existed in any part of the world. General Grant, though disappointed in the result of this last expedition, was not discouraged He saw that this was the last attempt that could be made in this direction, and turned his attention to other ways, believing, with the Duke of Marlborough, that though all trials misrht fail, there was

THE NAVAL HISTORY

308

always one way

left to

were good ones — in writing; and McClernand, to whom Grant had spoken on the subject, wrote a letter, and proposed the plan of going below, as originating with himself, which was a habit this general had when anything of importance was about to be un-

get into a fortified

city.

So evident was it to the Confederates that in both the Yazoo Pass and the Steele's Bayou expedition they had left the northern flank of Vicksburg unprotected, that they removed the depot at once. Not only that, though there was no apparent necessity for it, they went to work to strengthen their left flank also, as far down the river as Grand Gulf, thinking, perhaps, that the gun-boats might pass the batteries at Vicksburg, pass up the Black River, and gain the rear of the besieged city by arriving at Jackson, the capital of Mississippi a thing much more easily done than getting through

—

Steele's

Bayou.

Whether they were influenced by these ideas or not, they proceeded at once to forGrand Gulf in such a manner that no vessel could pass up Black River, and with hope that the forts would be strong enough to prevent vessels of war from passing up and down the Mississippi itself. While the Confederates were considering these matters. Admiral Farragut arrived in the " Hartford," just below Warrenton, in pursuit of coal and provisions. This was after his passage of the Port Hudson batteries. From him Grant obtained information of affairs at the latter place, and the little probability there was of General Banks making the Confederates evacuate it. tify

On

hearing

General Grant thought to co-operate with Banks, get possession of the works at Port Hudson, and then bring all Banks' forces to operate against Vicksburg. But this of sending

this,

an army corps

idea did not exist long, the general coming to this opinion through the fact that the water had overflowed everything about the upper part of Vicksburg, and dry land could only be found on the heights. There was no foot-hold for an army, and Grant thought a better chance of turning Vicksburg might be found below, between Warrenton and Grand Gulf. Having consulted with Admiral Porter regarding the possibility of passing the batteries at Vicksburg with a sufficient force ^a point on which his mind was made easy he called a council of war, at which all the divisional commanders, except Sherman

—

and McClernand, were present. The plan proposed to the council was to send the gun-boats below Vicksburg with a sufficient number of transports, well packed with cotton to protect their boilers and machinery to march the Army over to Carthage, and thence transport it to the Vicksburg side, as circumstaiaces war-

— —

ranted.

This proposition was respectfully but strongly opposed by all the generals present.

Sherman

sent his objections

— which

dertaken. This plan of Grant's seemed to those around him to be full of danger, and they left no eloquence untried to persuade him not to undertake a move threatening so much peril to his Army. They urged that to

move

his

Army

below Vicksburg was

to

cut himself off from his base of supplies at the North, to cut his own communications, and do exactly what his enemies most desired him to do: to place himself in a position, where, if defeated, the defeat would be overwhelming. The inundated state of the country was pointed out to him, and the difficulty of moving an Army and supplies over such roads as there were. Some of the most accomplished soldiers in his Army, men who had won their way to fame, urged him, with all the power of eloquence, not to undertake the rash movement.

Grant listened to them respectfully, and when the last had spoken, he said: " I am sorry to diflier with you all, but my mind is made up; the Army will move to-morrow at ten o'clock."

When Grant was asked how he would get the transports past the batteries, he replied: " That is the Admiral's affair. Where the Queen of the West and Switzerland can go in broad daylight, the transports can pass at night." few days before this council. Admiral Farragut. who had come up from Red River, as before mentioned, requested Colonel Alfred Ellet to let him have two of the Ram fleet (to run the batteries at night) for the purpose of returning with him to the blockade of the Red River saying he would make it all right with Admiral Porter, etc. To this Colonel Ellet at once agreed. Accordingly the rams "Lancaster" and " Switzerland " were prepared to run the batteries, the former commanded bv Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Ellet. the latter by Charles Rivers Ellet. These EUets were"'all brave fellows, and were full of the spirit of adventure. Instead of going past the batteries with comparative ease at night, thev chose a time near daylight, and bv the tinie they got abreast of the citv all the batteries opened on them. The Lancaster's " boilers '

'

'

'

A

—

'

'

were exploded by a shell, and being a frail vessel, she went to pieces and sunk immediately. The Switzerland " had her boilers perforated by a plunging shot, and received '

'

a number of hits, but otherwise the damage done to her was not material, and she joined Farragut, and afterward performed good service

down

river.

OF THE

CIVIL

WAR.

30!)

If such frail boats as these could pass in open daylight, there was no reason why transports could not pass at night, under

pilots,

the lee of the iron-clads. number of transports were prepared by packing them well with cotton-bales. Their crews in most cases declining to serve, their places were filled by volunteers from the Army. The pilots, as a rule, determined to stay by their vessels, and put them through, if posIt was a hazardous task, but the sible.

dangerous than racingwith another steamer, with the captain sitting on the safety-valve. This seemed to be the spirit which animated

a brave set of officers, got used to it after awhile, and running the batteries came to be considered by them as not much more

A

soldier volunteers cases, sailors.

who

were, in

many

With these preparations the expedition was ready to move at the appointed time -

the night of April 16th.

CH

A

PTER XXVIII.

PASSAGE OF THE FLEET BY VICKSBURG AND CAPTURE OF GRAND GULF. —CAPTURE OF ALEXANDRIA, ETC.

—

—

Plans for Running the Batteries. The Fleet Underway. The Batteries open Fire. The Transport "Henry Clay" Sunk. — A Grand Scene.— The Batteries Run. The Fleet Anchors below the City. — McClernand confronted with " Quaker Guns." — Grant pushes on to Grand Gulf. — The "Price" in front of the Batteries. — Insubordination of McClernand. — Grand Gulf Described. The Gunboats Commence the Attack. The Fight Fiercely Contested. The " Benton's" Wheel Disabled. Damages to the Vessels.— The Gun-boats Tie up at Hard Times.— Burying the Dead. — The Attack Renewed. — The Confederates stand to their Guns.— So-called History." Grant's Brightest Chapter. Attack on Haines' Bluff.— Captain Walke Captures Sharpshooters.— Grand Gulf Captured. — Porter confers with Farragut. Up the Red River. — Fort DeRussy partially Destroyed. — Capture of Alexandria. — General Banks takes Possession —Up the Black River. Harrisonburg Shelled. Operations of the Mississippi Squadron Summarized.

—

—

—

—

—

—

'•

—

—

—

—

THE Army

had already moved on

the 15th of April, 1803, and that night was selected for the naval vessels to pass the batteries of

Vicksburg. Orders had been given that the coal in the furnaces should be well ignited, so as to show no smoke, that low steam should be carried, that not a wheel was to turn except to keep the vessel's bow down river, and to drift past the enemy's works fifty yards apart.

Most

the vessels had a coal barge them on the side away from the enemy, and the wooden gun-boat " General Price," was lashed to the off side of the of

lashed to

iron-clad "Lafayette."

When

all

was ready the

signal

was made

to get under way and the squadron started in the following order: "Benton" (flagship) Lieutenant-Commander James A.

Greer;

Walke

"Lafayette,"

Commander Henry

" General Price," Lieutenant-Commander Selim Wood worth "Louisville," Lieutenant - Commander E. K. Owen "Mound City," Lieutenant - Commander ;

;

Byron Wilson; "Pittsburg," VolunteerLieutenant Hoel

;

" Carondelet." Lieuten-

—

- Commander J. McL. Murphy, and "Tuscumbia," Lieutenant-Commander J. W. Shirk. The tug "Ivy" was lashed to the "Benton," three army transports were in the rear and the " Tuscumbia " was at the end of the line to take care of them. The "Benton," passed the first battery

ant

without receiving a shot, but as she came

up with the second, the railroad station on the right bank of the river was set on fire, and tar barrels were lighted all along the Vicksburg shore, illuminating the river and showing every object as plainly as if it was daylight. Then the enemy opened his batteries all along the line, and the sharpshooters in

rifle-pits

along the levee

commenced operations at the same instant. The fire was returned with spirit by the vessels as they drifted on. and the sound falling buildings as the shells burst within them attested the efficiency of the gun-boats' fire. The vessels had drifted perhaps a mile when a shell exploded in the cotton barricades of the transport "Henry Clay," and almost immediately the vessel was in a blaze another shell soon after bursting in her hull, the transport went to pieces and of

;

THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. The " Forest Queen," another transwas also disabled by the enemy, but she was taken in tow by the " Tuscumbia " and conveyed safely through. The scene while the fleet was passing the batteries was grand in the extreme, but the danger to the vessels was more apparent than real. Their weak points on the sides sank. port,

were mostly protected by heavy logs which prevented many shot and shells going through the iron. Some rents were made but the vessels stood the ordeal bravely and received no damage calculated to impair their efficiency.

THE

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON,

who handled them

Texas would be cut off and they would have to depend on what they could receive from Richmond. General Steele had been sent up to the Steele's Bayou region to destroy all the provisions in that quarter, andPemberton knew that if Grant's Army once got below Vicksburg it would eat up everything in the way of food between Warrenton and Bruensburg. Although the squadron was under fire from the time of passing the first battery until the last vessel got by, a period of two hours and thirty minutes, the vessels were

UNDER ADMIRAL PORTER, PASSING THE BATTERIES AT VICKSBURG ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 15, 1863.

The management of the vessels on this occasion was virtually in the hands of the pilots,

311

beautifully

and

kept them in line at the distance apart ordered.

The enemy's shot was not well aimed; owing to the rapid fire of shells, shrapnel, grape and canister from the gun-boats, the sharpshooters were glad to lay low, and the men at the great guns gave up in disgust when they saw the fleet drift on apparently unscathed.

struck in their hulls but sixty-eight times

by shot and shells, and only fifteen men were wounded. At 2.30 a. "m., all the vessels were safely anchored at Carthage, ten miles below Vicksburg, where was encamped the advanced division of the Army under General McClernand. The plantation at this place was owned by an ultra Confederate who exulted over the expected loss of all the gun-boats when he heard that they were to attempt the passage of the batteries, but when at two o'clock he saw them one after another heave in sight

They must have known that Vicksburg was doomed, for if the fleet got safely below

their night

the batteries their supplies of provisions from

fiag-ship, " all's well,"

numbers up and signaling to the he went off in despair,

house and all the negro cabins, and departed to parts unknown. The negroes had already jouied the Union Army,' having no attachment to

got drunk, set

fire to his

their brutal master,

who had become

so

debased that he scarcely bore resemblance to a man. When the day broke after the arrival of the squadron at Carthage, some four hundred men, the advance guard of McClernand's division, were found behind intrenchments hastily thrown up with a log on a pair of cart-wheels, to represent a field piece, while less than a thousand yards infront of them was a formidable looking set of earth-works with four large guns in position; and Generals McClernand and Osterhaus were momentarily expecting an attack.

The soldiers had therefore to ally stalled. " cordurov " the roads so that those after could get along faster, but it was terrible marching at the best.

commg

From

the

little

damage

that

had been m-

flicted on the gun- boats, General Grant felt satisfied he could send transports by the batteries of Vicksburg, and shortly after-

wards

down

six of these, on a dark night, passed in charge of their pilots— a daring

set of men who never shrunk from any dangerous service,— only one steamer was sunk by the enemy's shot.

A

been

sufficient left at the

number of gun boats had mouth of the Yazoo River

to take care of the upper Mississippi, and to look out for two formidable rams that were building at Yazoo City, forty miles from the mouth of the river.

Sherman remained with his division at Young's Point, ready to make another attack from the Yazoo if opportunity offered, and also to protect the supplies at MiUiken's Bend from General Sterling Price, who with a large Confederate force was encamped some thirty miles away on the west bank of the Mississippi. The Mississippi Marine Brigade, consisting of two thousand men, under BrigadierGeneral Alfred Ellet, in six or seven large These flying steamers, was left there. troops were attached to the Navy. Every precaution had been taken to prevent a surprise from the Confederates, or any attempt on their part to fortify the river banks

LIEUT.-COMMANDEE (NOW CAPTAIN) JAMES A. GKEEE, COMMANDING ELAG-SHIP "BENTON."

The enemy's worlds appeared to be full of men, and as the Union troops had been under arms all night, the arrival of the gunboats was a great relief to them. The " Tuscumbia " was sent down to shell the enemy out, but the latter scampered ofl" as soon as they saw the gun-boat coming. The Confederates had been playing a " bluff game " with McClernand, and held him in check until part of their force could get away with some light field-pieces. The frowning guns on the parapet proved on examination

—

to be nothing but logs such are the devices in war The advance of General Grant's Army moved but slowly on its way to Carthage. The roads were in wretched condition, and the artillery and wagons were continu!

again in the absence of the Army. General McClernand had been ordered by Grant to push forward with his division, and with the help of the Navy, to seize upon Grand Gulf. Had it not been for the great overflow at that time, the Union Army might have landed on the east side of the river, but Vicksburg was now almost surrounded by water, which obliterated all roads except those on the high lands, which could only be reached by going further down the Mississippi. Hence it was that after a careful examination of the left bank of the river. Grant decided to push on to Grand Gulf, a long and tedious march. General McClernand had been given the advance to satisfy his ambition, but he was not equal to the occasion, and this desire of General Grant to show McClernand that he was anxious to give him an opportunity for distinction, might have hazarded the success of the campaign. Had McClernand pushed on at once with the Navy to back him Grand Gulf and its batteries would have easily fallen into Federal hands; Big Black River, which led up to the rear of Jackson, would have been kept open by the gunboats; and the main Army instead of having to land at Bruensburg. eight or ten miles below Grand Gulf, could have disembarked

OF THE at the latter point and marched to the rear of Vicksburg by favorable roads. Instead of carrying out his instructions, McClernand advanced only to Perkins' Landing, where he pitched his tents (although he had been directed to leave these behind on account of the difficulties of transportation), and called upon General McPherson for rations, of which he had failed to provide himself a sufficient supply. Perkins' Landing seemed to have such a fascination for McClernand that he remained there until Grant ordered him to move on. Admiral Porter proceeded in the wooden gun-boat "General Price" to reconnoitre

Grand Gulf and ascertained that large numbers of troops were engaged in constructing extensive fortifications. Some guns were already mounted and others lying on ,

the ground. The " Price " had but two guns and with these Lieutenant-Commanding Woodworth

was ordered

to proceed within twelve hundred yards of the upper battery, and open fire. The shells exploded in the battery, and the workers sought the shelter of the hills. The " Price " kept up a fire for over an hour, the Confederates firing only two shots from a Whitworth field-piece; for, as was afterwards ascertained, they had at that time received no ammunition for the great guns. The Admiral having satisfied himself that the works could be easily carried by assault under cover of the fire of the gunboats, hastened back to Perkins' Landing, and stated the case to General McClernand, urging the co-operation of two thousand soldiers to enable him to occupy Grand Gulf, but no heed was given to the application; for McClernand, wrapped in his dignity, scorned all advice. Failing in that direction, the Admiral

wrote to General Sherman, detailing the state of affairs and begged him to induce General Grant to come to the front and take charge in person, before the favorable opportunity should pass away. Grant was then at Milliken's Bend, forty miles distant. It took Sherman twenty hours to get the dispatch to him, and twenty- four hours more for Grant to reach Perkins' Landing, where he assumed command of the advance in spite of McClernand's objections, which were manifested in such an insubordinate way that most commanding generals would have at once

him from duty. Three or four days had passed since the reconnoissance of Grand Gulf by the Admiral and time was lost which could never be regained. The Confederates concluded from the reconnoissance that measures were on foot to attack Grand Gulf, and relieved

they worked incessantly to strengthen the

CIVIL WAR.

313

defences. Men and munitions of war were poured in from Vicksburg, and the enemy were prepared to make a strong resistance to the gun-boats or to land forces.

any assault from the

Grand Gulf was by nature as strong as Vicksburg, the Confederates in their pride called it "the Little Gibraltar." The principal work called Bald Head, was on a bold bluff promontory at a bend in the river commanding a view for miles up and down the Mississippi. The current of the river, which

ran here five miles an hour with innumerahad cut away the shore until beneath the fort was a perpendicular wall more than eighty feet in height, while in ble eddies,

hills rising three hundred and fifty above the river were dotted with field works to protect the flanks of Bald Head, which fort mounted four heavy guns, Brooke rifles and 8-inch Columbiads. In front of this the river formed a large circular bay or gulf from which the place took its name. Black River emptied into the gulf and the approach to it was commanded by two 8-inch Columbiads. The lower forts were half a mile below Bald Head, and were connected with the latter by intrenchments by which troops could pass under cover from one fort to another. The lower batteries mounted nine heavy guns situated on the brow of a hill eight hundred yards from the river and one hundred and fifty feet above it. The guns were mostly long 32-pounders and 8-inch. There were some smaller batteries in which were rified field pieces. All these batteries were more formidable from the fact that they were in very elevated positions, giving them a plunging fire, while it was difficult to elevate the guns afioat so that their shot would reach the enemy. After Grant had got his Army in motion part of McClernand's division was embarked on transports, the rest of the troops being obliged to march to Hard Times, twentytwo miles from Perkins' Landing. Five barges and a steamer were sunk by the batteries at Vicksburg when the last six transports ran the blockade, which made transportation by water for all of the

the rear feet

troops out of the question. When the troops arrived at the point abreast of Bald Head, and the soldiers on the transports were ready to land as soon as the batteries should be silenced, Admiral Porter got under way with the squadron and commenced the attack at 8 a. m., on the 29th of April, 1863. The "Pittsburg" "Louisville," "Mound City," and "Carondelet" attacked the lower batteries, while the "Benton," "Tuscumbia," and " Lafayette " attacked Bald Head battery, the two former as close as they could get, and the "' Lafayette" lying

THE

314 in an eddy four hundred yards fort where she could enfilade it. As the vessels approached the

AVAL

IS

above the

works the

enemy opened fire and in ten minutes the The battle was raging all along the line.

fight was severely contested, and it was not until three hours after the first gun was fired, that the enemy deserted his guns at the lower batteries, and then only after the

"Lafayette" had been first

ordered from her

position to reinforce the gun-boats be-

low. In the meantime the flag-ship " Benton," and the " Tuscumbia" were doing their best to silence the upper battery, getting close under the guns and endeavoring to knock

BATTERIES AT

•

tlliilUKX

minutes— the "Pittsburg" and had twelve wounded.

shot entered the " Benton's " pilot house, disabled the wheel and cut Pilot Williams' Though the brave pilot foot nearly off. never left his post it was impossible to manage the vessel and she was accordingly run into the bank to repair damages. The gun-boats at the lower batteries had been signalled to double up on Bald Head, the " Lafayette" to resume her old position, and the "Pittsburg," Volunteer - Lieutenant Hoel, arrived opportunely to take the "Benton's" place. During the time the latter vessel was out of action twenty -five

—

six killed

After all the vessels concentrated their on Bald Head, there was less resistance, although the Confederates still stood to their guns. When the battle had lasted more than five hours, General Grant, who from a tug up the river, was looking on, made signal to the Admiral that he wished to communicate, and the "Benton" joined him two miles above the forts. The Confederates had now ceased firing, but the gun-boats maintained their position around Bald Head, occasionally firing a shell to keep the enemy out of the works. When General Grant went on board the fire

GRAND GULF" CAPTURED BY THE

off their muzzles, when they were run out to fire. The current was so strong, however, that it was impossible to keep the two vessels in position and they sheered about In one of these sheers, a very much.

lost

U.

S.

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON,

MAY

3,

1863.

he decided that it would be too hazardous to attempt to land troops, as it did not appear that the guns in the enemy's works were dismounted and the gunners flag-ship,

would therefore jump to their batteries again, open on the unprotected transports and destroy many of the troops. For the same reason the general concluded not to send the transports past the batteries with the soldiers on board but to march the latter around by land. In this he was quite right, as afterwards appeared. As there was no longer any object in keeping the gun-boats under the batteries, all but the "Lafayette" were recalled, and the latter was left in her old position to keep the enemy from reoccupying the works and repairing- damages. This duty Com-

OF THE

CIVIL

mander Walke effectually performed,

firing

shell every five minutes into the until darkness set in.

works

a

The engagement was fought under great disadvantages; the current around the promontory of Bald Head ran with great rapidity, and it was as much as the gunboats could do to, stem it. Clumsy vessels at best, the iron-clads would frequently be turned completely round, presenting their weak points to the enemy, of which the expert Confederate gunners were not slow to take advantage, and seldom missed their mark so close were the vessels to the forts. The light armor plates of most of the vessels offered but an imperfect resistance to the heavy missiles of the enemy, and, in consequence, the list of killed and wounded in the squadron was large. The "Tuscumbia," on which vessel great reliance was placed to resist heavy shot, proved herself the weakest vessel in the squadron, although Lieutenant-Commander Shirk stood up to his work manfully. In the beginning of the engagement, a rifle shell struck the outer edge of the shutter of the midship port she fought three 11-inch guns in the bow opened the port and entered the casemate, killing six men and

— —

wounding several others. Another shell jammed the shutters of the same port so tightly, that the gun could not

A

be used for the remainder of the action. from the lower battery entered the stern port, disabling every man at the 9inch gun, and yet this vessel was supposed Some of the armor on the to be shot proof

shell

!

forward casemate peated blows, and

fell

overboard from

all of it

re-

was started from

its seat.

The " Tuscumbia " was struck eighty-one times by shot and shells, and was completely riddled; one engine was disabled, six men killed and twenty-four wounded, some of them mortally. The flag-ship "Benton," although the strongest of the gun-boats, was badly cut up. A shell passed through her armor on the starboard quarter and exploded in a stateroom, setting fire to the vessel. The "Benton" was struck forty-seven times in the casemates, and seventy times in all by heavy shot, the three-quarter inch iron was perforated twelve times, the two and-a-half inch, four times. A hundred pound shot passed through the pilot-house, smashing the wheel and severely wounding the pilot, nine men were killed and nineteen wounded. The " Lafayette," Commander Walke, proved herself an excellent fighting vessel. She was struck by cannon shot forty -five times, but only five shots did any serious damage. She had only one officer

wounded.

WAR.

315

The "Pittsburg," Volunteer-LieutenantHoel, was struck in the hull thirty-five times, and had six killed and thirteen wounded. The other vessels, although considerably cut up, were not materially damaged, and all reported "ready for service" half an

Commanding

hour after the action, when the gun-boats tied up to the bank at Hard Times. Then came the melancholy duty of burying the dead, who were followed mournfully to their graves by their messmates and friends.

Three hours afterwards the squadron got

underway and again attacked the batteries, while the transports all passed in safety below Hard Times. Some of the Confederate gunners fired at the gun-boats but did no damage. During the whole engagement the Confederates stood to their guns manfully, and certainly pointed them to some purpose. Colonel Wade, the commanding officer at Bald Head, was killed; his chief-of-staff also, and eleven men were reported killed by the Confederates, although more graves than that were counted. The enemy had many wounded, but the number was not mentioned in the returns. Rear- Admiral Porter, in his report, speaks in the highest terms of Commander Walke, Lieutenant-Commanding Murphy, Lieutenant-Commanders Shirk and Owen, Lieutenants-Commanding Hoel and Wilson, some of whom had already distinguished themselves on the upper Mississippi. The remarks on this battle of Grand Gulf

by military historians show how reluctant they are to give the Navy credit. The following quotation from a well known writer, Speaking of Grand is an instance in point. Gulf he says " The vessels were handled with :

skill

and bold-

but the rebel batteries were too elevated for Porter to accomplish anything. He was not able to dismount a solitary piece and it would have been madness to attempt a landing under unsilenced guns like these. No serious injury was sustained by any of the fleet. [!] The Admiral withdrew after the utter futility of his effort had been amply demonstrated. The enemy also suspended fire."

ness,

Such are the statements that have for years passed for " history," one " historian" repeating another only changing a little the language of his predecessor to make it pass for his own. The above quotation reads like an excuse for the Army not landing, although no excuse Avas needed. It was General Grant's opinion that it would be wiser to land the Army lower down, in which opinion the naval commanding officer concurred. Grant had too few' men with him to run the risk of losing any of them, and there was no particular advantage to be gained by landing immediately at Grand Gulf, as was afterwards proven. The military historian whom we have

THE NA VAL HISTORY

316

quoted has not stated the case truthfully, but his statements are in keeping with those of many other writers who seem to fear that by giving credit to the Navy, they mav detract from that which is An due the other arm of the service. intelligent reader will readily understand that a campaign such as is here described must have been a failure without the assistance of the Navy. In default of credit from the " military historians," the officers and men of the Navy must rely on the reports

The naval demonstration was really a fine one, calculated to impress the Confederates, who had seen so many nondescripts pass Vicksburg that they hardly knew a gunboat from a transport. While Pemberton was making his preparations to meet Grant's Army on Big Black River, he received a dispatch informing him that Haines' Bluflf was the real point of attack and that a large Army supported by numerous gun-boats was moving against that place. It was desirable that

own chiefs to do them justice. The night following the attack on Grand Gulf information was obtained from a negro, that there was a good landing at Bruensburg, six miles below Grand Gulf, and that from Bruensburg an excellent road led

the Confederates should be encouraged in the belief that Haines' Bluff was the real point of attack, and the "DeKalb," "Choctaw" and "Taylor," approaching as near as they could get, opened a heavy fire on the works while Sherman disembarked his

Port Gibson, twelve miles in the interior. In consequence of this information the gunboats and transports were next morning

troops.

of their

to

crowded with

and steamed down

troops,

the river. About noon, Grant disembarked thirty -two thousand men with four days' rations, and without transportation determined to live upon the enemy, as he was satisfied the supply of provisions in the district

was ample

to

meet

all his

require-

ments.

Here Grant started on that remarkmarch against an enemy who outnumbered his forces two to one; he outgenable

eraled the Confederates, fought battle after and finally reached the rear of Vicksburg, shutting General Pemberton inside the fortifications and causing General battle

Joseph E. Johnston to evacuate Jackson

and

retreat.

Grant's conduct of this campaign forms the brightest chapter in his military record and can only be appreciated by those who know the difficulties with which he had to contend, and particularly the nature of the country through which he had to march his

Army. General Grant had made arrangements make a feint up Yazoo River the same day the gun-boats attacked Grand Gulf. Accordingly, on that for Sherman's division to

day Sherman moved up the Yazoo in transports preceeded by " the gun-boats," as the military historian puts it. Most of these gunboats were what were called " workshops," i. e.,the machinevessel, carpenter shop, store vessel, powder vessel and hospital vessel. These were simply river steamers painted black. The naval forces were led by Lieutenant-Commander K. R. Breese in the " Black Hawk " and comprised the " Baron DeKalb," Lieutenant-Commander John G. Walker, Lieutenant - ComChoctaw,' mander F. M. Ramsay, "Taylor." Lieu'

'

'

tenant-Commander Prichett, '•Signal," "Romeo," "Linden" and "Petrel" with three 13-inch mortars.

There was but one narrow road which led along the levee, and this was wide enough for but four men to march abreast. As Sherman advanced along this road towards Haines' Bluff the three gun-boats maintained their incessant fire and confirmed the Confederates in their belief that this was really the point of attack, although the condition of the country ought to have assured them that no Army would be likely to attack a place so strongly fortified, under the circumstances. The fire of the gun-boats was kept up as long as possible, and videttes and skirmishers were thrown out by the Army on the road leading to the Bluff; upon this road the enemy opened with heavy guns and apparently could have swept away any force approaching from that direction. At dark, General Sherman re-embarked his men, having accomplished the object of his movement, which was simply to deceive the Confederates. Notwithstanding the movement was but a feint, the three gun-boats, "Choctaw," "DeKalb," and "Taylor," together with the "Black Hawk," kept up a hot fire for three hours as well as they could wedged in a stream which was here not over forty yards wide; as, since the demonstration was considered of such importance by Gen-, eral Sherman, it was necessary to do everything that would make the attack appear a real one. The morning after these transactions, it was discovered that new works had been thrown up by the Confederates during the night, that the old ones had been extended, and several additional heavy guns had been placed in position. This feint against Haines' Bluff continued for several days, and Pemberton was obliged, in answer to solicitations, to send re-inf orcements, thus weakening his Army below. Ox teams were observed hauling heavy guns to mount at Haines' Bluff, to check the advance of the Federal forces,

—

OF THE CIVIL WAR.

317

showing that the enemy was exerting all his energy to strengthen the threatened

lower battery blew up, throwing a vast cloud of dust into the air. Several other

position.

magazines in the smaller forts followed, and the Confederate troops evacuated all

During

this

movement, the " DeKalb,"

while temporarily dropping out of action was attacked by sharpshooters from some buildings on the eastern bank. LieutenantCommander Walker immediately ran the vessel into the bank and landed twenty-five men under command of Acting-Master C. S. Kendrick, who dislodged the enemy and chased them into the swamp, killing one officer and three privates, and taking a lieutenant of the Third Louisiana Infantry This officer was captured in a prisoner. hand-to-hand fight by Mr. Kendrick, who knocked him down with a pistol. In two days firing, the "DeKalb" expended two hundred rounds of shot and shells, did not suffer materially in her hull, and had only

one casualty.

The "Choctaw," Lieutenant-Commander Ramsay, had an opportunity of showing her -fighting qualities. She was a sister ship to the "Lafayette," and had lately joined the squadron. She was struck fortyseven times in her hull, and had thirteen shots through her smoke-stack. The turret was struck six times. A ten-inch shot penetrated the crown, and a six inch rifle shot buried itself in the iron plating. Two shots struck below the water line on the starboard side forward of the turret. With the exception that the good order of the vessel was rather marred, no great injury was done, and, fortunately, no one was killed.

The "Taylor," being a wooden vessel, could only take an occasional part in the bombardment. She was struck below the water line with a rifle shot, and made to leak so badly that she had to withdraw from action to repair damages. At one time the flre of the gun-boats was so effective that the enemy's flre almost ceased, and but for a raft which blocked the further advance of the vessels, the latter would have endeavored to get close enough

grape and canister, which might have made quite a difference in the state of affairs. As it was, everything turned out to General Sherman's satisfaction, and returning to Young's Point, he started with his division to join General Grant, crossing the river at Grand Gulf and overtaking the main body of the Army in time to be present during the important events which laid Vicksburg at the mercy of the Federal Army. After General Grant and his troops landed at Bruensburg, Admiral Porter returned the same night to Grand Gulf with to use

the intention of trying to get possession of the enemy's works. As seven o'clock, on the following morning, the "Lafayette" was sent up to draw the flre of the forts. As she annroached. the maa-azine in the

the works.

The fort at Bald Head, on Point of Rocks, was left intact, and a tiny Confederate flag was left sticking in a flower-pot to show that the enemy did not surrender. There is no other instance during the war of a fort holding out so determinedly as one at Bald Head. The destruction wrought inside the work was marvellous one would suppose that no living thing

this

could have continued there under such a The military historian whom we have flre. quoted was wrong, for every gun in the fort was rendered useless by the shot and shells from the gun-boats; only one gun could be flred and that could not be trained, owing to the destruction of its carriage. Some of the guns in the lower batteries were still intact, and these opened on the fleet. In the evening, the guns were all dismounted by the sailors and laid along the levee, where they could be shipped to Cairo. The following is a copv of a report made by T. M. Farrell, U. S. N., May, 1863 "These batteries mounted one lOO-pounder, two 64-pounders, two 7-inch rifles, one 30-pounder Parrott, two 30-pounder Parrotts in battery, two 20-pounder Parrotts in main magazine, three 10pound er Parrotts on the hills. 'Batteries engaged by the gun-boats for live hours and thirty-five minutes, the lower battery silenced in three hours, the upper battery silenced with the exception of one gun. The " Lafayette laid opposite this battery and kept the people from working until dark, when it was partially repaired. The defences were all earthworks. :

'

'

"In addition to the above, four or five small fieldpieces were used by the rebels and shifted about from place to place."

Admiral Farragut was

still at the mouth Red River in the flag-ship " Hartford," where he had remained ever since he had made the passage by Port Hudson, and Admiral Porter having left LieutenantCommander Owen in charge at Grand Gulf with the " Louisville " and " Tuscumbia," proceeded down the river to meet Farragut and relieve him of the command of

of

that part of the river. On the 3d of May, 1863, Admiral Porter reached the mouth of Red River and after conferring with Admiral Farragut, proceeded up that stream with the "Benton," " Lafayette," " Pittsburg," "General Price," tug " Ivy " and ram " Switzerland." Meeting two of Admiral Farragut's vessels, the "Arizona" and the " Estella," they were

turned back and accompanied Admiral Porter's squadron which arrived next morning at Fort DeRussy. This work was a casemated battery built in the most substantial after the stvle of the

manner and plated rams with

railrnnil

318

THE NAVAL HISTORY

iron. On the rumored approach of the gunboats the Confederates hastily dismounted and carried off all the guns except one 64pounder. There were at Fort DeRussy, three casemates intended for two guns each, and a flanking battery at right angles to the casemates calculated to mount seven guns more. There was also a large square earthwork eight hundred yards inland not yet ready for guns.

These works would have been very formidable had they been finished, and it was as well they were not completed and manned. They were a monument of the energy and determination of the enemy, which seemed to be without limit. After partially destroying the works at Fort DeRussy, the squadron proceeded up to Alexandria which place submitted without a dissenting voice, many of the inhabitants professing themselves Unionists. The day after the arrival of the gun-boats MajorGeneral Banks marched into Alexandria and the town was turned over to him by the Navy. The following day the squadron returned down the Red River with the exception of the "Lafayette," "Estella" and "Arizona," and the ram "Switzerland" which were left to co-operate with General Banks in case he should require the assistance of the Navy. While in Red River,

Lieutenant-Commanding Woodworth was sent up Black River, a branch of the former stream, to make a reconnaissance with the " General Price," "Pittsburg," "Estella," and "Ari-

These vessels ascended as far as Harrisonburg which was found to be strongly fortified. The works were shelled for some time with little apparent effect and after destroying a large amount of Conzona."

federate

Army

stores,

amounting

to three

hundred thousand dollars in value, the gunboats returned to Red River, and the " Benton " and consorts proceeded to Grand Gulf to co-operate with General Grant in any of his plans where the Navy could be useful.

Thus within ten days the flag-ship and her consorts, after dismantling the fortifications at Grand Gulf, had River, had destroyed the

DeRussy,

broken up

ascended Red

works

at Fort raft

an immense

intended to obstruct Red River, captured Alexandria, destroyed a large amount of the enemy's stores on Black River, and returned to Grand Gulf, where it was found that General Grant had moved his Army to-

wards Vicksburg. The whole squadron then ascended the river to a point two miles below Vicksburg. and the admiral again hoisted his flag on board the " Black Hawk," at Young's Point, ready to communicate with General Grant the moment his Army should arrive in the rear of the besieged city. In less than a month, the Mississippi

squadron had passed through a sharp and exciting campaign, had failed in nothing it had undertaken, and had given the Army the assistance necessary to enable it to reach a position which ensured the fall of

Vicksburg.

CHAPTER XXIX. SIEGE OF VICKSBURG— Continued. The Army marches from Bruensburg towards Vicksburg. — Destruction of the last works built by the confederates on the mississippi. —admiral porter opens Communication with General Grant in the rear of Vicksburg, and occupies Haines' Bluff. — Midnight attack on Vicksburg by the Army and Navy. — Attack on Yazoo City by the Gun-boats and Destruction of three Iron-clad Rams. — Attack on the Vicksburg Works, May 23, by the Army and Navy. — Loss of the "Cincinnati" before Vicksburg. —Her Guns transferred to the rear of the

City. — Destruction of Nine Confederate Steamers up the Yazoo, by Lieutenant-Commander Walker.— Attack on Vicksburg, June 19, by the Army and Navy. —All the Enemy's Guns Silenced. — General Price's Army repulsed by General Mower and the Marine Brigade. — Energy shown by the Confederates in Vicksburg. Short Summary of the Work Accomplished before Vicksburg by the Navy. — Surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863. Meeting of the Officers of the Army and Navy on Board the Flag-ship " Black Hawk." Letters from General Sherman to Admiral Porter.— Generous Terms granted the Besieged after the Capture of Vicksburg. True History. — Harmony in Army and Navy Co-operation. Last words of Grant. — Detailed Report of Rear-Admiral Porter. — Congratulatory Letter of Secretary Welles.

—

—

—

—

AS

THE Army

had marched from

Bruensburg, and was well on the way to Vicksburg, Admiral Porter

changed

his station

from Grand

" Gulf to the flag-ship " Black Hawk at the mouth of the Yazoo River, ready to co-operate with the Army the moment it should make its appearance in the rear of Vicksburg.

,

Two iron-clads were left at the mouth of the Red River, blocking it up closely, which sealed the fate of Fort Hudson. No more supplies would get to the Confederates from that quarter. One iron-clad was left at Carthage, three at Warrenton, (where the enemy aimed at building heavy works), and two or three in the Yazoo. Notwithstanding the Confederates were so hardly pressed, they still clung to the idea that they would beat the Federal Army back from its hard-won positions, and they were not even willing that the gun-boats should have the satisfaction of going to the landing ODDosite Warrenton to obtain provisions and

They proceeded to erect a heavy work there that would command the river both ways, and particularly the opposite landing. The enemy had labored hard on these works, night and day, in hopes of having them ready by the time the vessels of the It was intended to mount fleet returned. eight 10- inch guns and some 100-pound rifles. The work was built of cotton-bales covered with logs the logs to be covered with several layers of railroad iron and the whole to be covered with bags of earth a fort, in fact, impervious to shot or shells. Lieutenant-Commanding Wilson, in the " Mound City," appeared below Warrenton about the 12th of May, and seeing these works and no persons about, sent a party on shore to reconnoitre. These mounted the parapets and discovered a number of artillerists inside the fort, who, to make themselves secure from observation, were crouching under the parapets. The Federal party emptied their revolvers into the enemy and then, jumping down, hailed the " Mound City " and told those on coal.

—

—

THE NAVAL HISTORY

320

fire on the works, which was done. stray shell found its way into a cotton-bale in ten minutes this formidable work was in a blaze, and in less than an hour the whole fabric was consumed. This was the last work built by the Confederates on the Mississippi River. All the appliances of a fort and a quantity of stores were in the houses at Warrenton, which the Confederates set fire to and destroyed. And what houses were left in the town were destroyed by the Mound City's " men. Warrenton had been a troublesome place and

board to open

A

—

'

'

merited

its fate.

On

the 15th of May, the admiral joined the fleet in the Yazoo, and on the Itith firing was heard in the rear of Vicksburg a sign that General Grant's Army was not far off, and that he was driving Pemberton into the

—

Vicksburg with about the same number

of

troops.

In the meantime the "DeKalb" pushed to Haines' Bluff, which had been the great obstacle to our advance in that direction, and which the enemy had commenced evacuating the day before. part of the garrison had remained behind in hopes of carrying off a quantity of stores, but they were driven away by the '"DeKalb" and were cut off by some of Sherman's command who had marched in that direction. The Confederates had been so completely surprised by the sudden appearance of our gun-boats and Army that they had not time to destroy anything guns, tents, equipage and all kinds of stores were left in good order and fell into the hands of the Federals. As soon as the Army appeared, driving the Confederates into Vicksburg, all the gun-boats below the city were ordered up to attack the batteries, which fire was kept up for tliree hours. At midnight the fire was reopened and directed to all points where it might be possible to harass the en-

on

A

—

emy's troops, and it was continued all night. The Confederates must have had an uncomfortable time of it, after marching and fighting all day with little hope of rest within their trenches. Shot and shells were whistling about them and every now and then a fire broke out in the city, threatening destruction to their stores and munitions of war.

The Admiral ordered up the army transports with stores and provisions, which the Union forces were glad to get that day before sunset. The works at Haines' Bluff were found to be very formidable far too much so to have been taken by our Army; or from the water side ; there were eighteen of the heaviest guns (8-inch and 10-inch columblads, and 7^-inch rifles) with ammunition enough to last a long siege, and much of it suited for the guns of the naval vessels. The works and encampment (which consisted of permanent houses), covered many acres of ground, and the fortifications and

—

LIEUT.-COMMANDING (NOW CAPTAIN) BYEON WILSON,

U. S. N.

city. The flag-ship pushed up the river as near as she could get to the combatants, and it was soon discovered by the aid of glasses that General Sherman's division was coming in on the left of Snyder's Bluff, cutting

off the

enemy at that place from

joining the

troops in the city.

The "DeKalb," Lieutenant - Commander Walker, the " Choctaw," Lieutenant-Com-

mander Ramsay, the " Linden," " Romeo," and " Forest Rose," all under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Breese, were now sent up the Yazoo to open communication with the Army. In tliree hours, letters were received bj^ the Admiral from Generals Grant, Sherman and Steele, informing him of their complete success in driving General J. E. Johnston away with his Army of 40,000 meUj and forcing Pemberton into

rifle-pits

quarter.

extended over one mile and a

Wide

ditches, chevaux-de-frise,

and net works (obstructions that would delight any military engineer,) formed part of their defenses; and these were but a counterpart of miles of the same kind of work, in and around Vicksburg. Most of these works were destroyed as not conducing in any way to the requirements of the Federal Army, and to prevent their being used to check the advance of the gun- boats, in case the enemy by superior force caused the siege to be raised. As soon as the Confederates

had evacuated Haines' Bluff, and all the rafts which blocked the river above had been removed.

OF THE - Commander Walker, in the "DeKalb," was sent up the Yazoo River

Lieutenant

with a

sufficient force to destroy all the at Yazoo City, which had been used in the construction of their rams. As this naval force approached Yazoo City, the Confederate property was set on fire by Lieutenant Brown, late commander of the " Arkansas," and our men had only to add fuel to the flames which were well un-

works

der way. Three powerful rams were burned the " Mobile," a screw steamer ready for her plating; the "Republic," already plated with railroad iron, and a monster steamer on the stocks (310 feet long and 70 beam). Intended to be the most powerful vessel of the kind ever built. She was to have had six engines, four side wheels and two propellers, with a speed of sixteen knots. The Confederates were unfortunate in their rams they built them only to lose them. But the amount of energy they exhibited in endeavoring to obtain vessels of this class was remarkable, and what they accomplished, in this line, was more astonishing still. Every ram which they built was either destroyed by our Navy, or \>Y themselves to prevent the Navy from capturing them. Naval officers knew how much damage one of these vessels would commit, if she could ever get fairly afloat, and when one was heard of as building at any point, no effort was left untried to reach the place and destroy her. Yazoo City fared badly for its misfortune in being selected as a site for a Navy Yard. The expedition which had been directed to do its work with all dispatch and return as quickly as possible to headquarters, set fire to everything of a public character. The Navy Yard contained five saw-mills, besides planing-mills, machine shops, carpenter and blacksmith shops, in fact all the appliances for building a Navy. Saw-mills above the city were also destroyed and the Federal forces left nothing that could be used towards building a boat even. Yazoo never built another ram; the people were quite satisfied to have their houses left standing. The expedition returned down the river, liaving fully accomplished all they went

—

for.

They were attacked

at Liverpool Landing, at a very sharp bend in the narrow river, by three field-pieces and 300 rifle-men

concealed in the bushes; but these were soon made to retreat. The vessels only lost one man killed and eight wounded but the amount of destruction which they caused can hardly be realized. The Confederates now lost all hope of being able to build rams or any other vessels on the tributaries of the Mississippi, and though Yazoo City was for some time after

—

CIVIL WAR.

321

the rendevous of the cowardly guerillas, yet it no longer formed a source of anxiety to the Union forces. On the evening of the 21st of May, Admiral Porter received a communication from General Grant to the effect that he intended to make a general attack upon the Confederate works at Vicksburg at 10 a. m. the next day. He had closely invested the enemy's works and was so near that he thought he could get inside. The Admiral was requested to attack on the water side, and shell all the batteries from 9.30 to 10.30 A. M., to annoy the garrison and draw off as many as possible from the trenches. In the meantime the Admiral with the " Benton," '• Tuscumbia," " Carondelet," and " Mound City " opened on the hill batteries and silenced them one after another, and the " Mound City " had the honor of disabling the heaviest gun the enemy had mounted, called " Whistling Dick," a gun that had hitherto defied the best marksmen

"

WHISTLING DICK."

(SKETCHED BY BEAR-ADMIRAL WALKE FROM A PHOTOGRAPH BY

PAYMASTER BENTON.)

The Confederates did not stand to their guns this day as they had been accustomed to do. They were receiving a heavy fire in the rear as well as in front, and the shriek of the shells from the army field-pieces, as they fell by the hundred in the Confederate works, could be heard down on the water amid the roar of the heavy cannon. The batteries one after another were silenced, as the gunboats, firing bow and broadside guns, moved upon them until they came to the 13-gun battery in front of the city. This battery was commanded by Colonel Higgins (formerly a lieutenant in the U. S. Navy), who had so gallantly defended Fort Jackson. He felt called upon to show his old naval friends that he would not flinch from his post no matter what force was brought against him. But the water was high (nearly level with the banks), and the gunboats were above the enemy's water batteries; the first time they had ever enjoyed this advantage. They had nothing but this one battery to engage their attention, as all the

THE NAVAL HISTORY

332

others had been silenced. This was the hottest fire the gun-boats had yet been under, as Col. Higgins clung to his works with the greatest tenacity and placed a number of shot (fortunately they were not This went on shells) below the water-line. for two hours and a quarter when it was quite time, accordingto rule, that the enemy snould abandon his post, but he still held on.

works from which the Navy had driven the Confederates, he would have kept possession of every fort on the ridge of hills which overlooked Vicksburg, and decided the fate of the city.

To show that these attacks of the gunboats were not child's play, the reports of some of the injuries received by them are herewith mentioned

The "Tuscumbia" was brought up with her 11-inch guns, but Higgins soon made her turret untenable, and she was finally completely disabled and had to drop out of action.

The gun-boats had started down the river with a large amount of ammunition, but they had been under fire a good deal and up to this time had had no opportunity of Reports came replenishing their supply. up from below that the ammunition was running short and would be out in a few Colonel minutes. This was provoking. Higgins' fire had begun to slacken and in half an hour more he would have been silenced; but no; one after another the gunboats got out of ammunition, and were obliged to drop down, and finally the last one was obliged to retire and Colonel HigIt is not gins was left master of the field. likely that he enjoyed the sport however, as he afterwards confessed to losing a great many of his men.

The gun-boats had done what was required of them by General Grant, and more. He asked an hours attack to annoy the garrison, while his Army assaulted in the rear; they fought the batteries for two hours and a half, more than twice as long as was required, and with what success will be seen from the following letter of General McArthur. Headquarters, 6th Division, 17th Army Corps, in field Miss.,

Admiral — I

near Vicksburg, May 23, 1863.

received your communication with

regard to silencing the two batteries below Vicksburg, and in reply would say that I witnessed with intense interest the firing on that day, it being the finest I have yet seen. I would have taken advantage of the results thus gained by your vessels, and had given the necessary

when

peremptory orders from Major-General McClernand to move my command around to the right of my position, to suporders to do

so,

I received

port a portion of his troops who had gained a lodgment in the enemy's works. I arrived, however, too late, and have now been ordered back to my former position and to follow

up any advantage your

vessels

may

gain.

have made a request to have some rifle guns sent me, which I require, and on receipt of which I I

expect to enfilade " Whistling Dick's " position any rate I will try I am, your obedient servant, I.

;

at

McArthur,

Brig.-Gen. Corn'ding 6th Division, 17th Corps.

Had

Gen. McArthur been

not been prevented

let alone, and from occupying the

"

A

:

Mound City,' May 23d, 1863. shot struck and lodged in starboard bow near "

'

the stern, and five feet under water A shot went through the forecastle on port side into the coal bunkers; a shot on starboard side went through the hammock netting and starboard chimney at the lower band, tearing the chimney half off, then through the galley and overboard. A shot in front passed through two heavy thicknesses of boiler iron, the iron of the the pilot-house near the deck, and through the deck, cutting away carlines, and lodged in a mess-chest. "A shot on starboard side passed through haU of the hog-chain stanchion, passed through wheelhouse, cutting away iron wheel and brace; then through the steerage, tearing up eight feet of the planks and breaking carlines and woodwork in ward- room. A shell burst close to No. 6 gun, knocking off part of the muzzle. A shot on starside struck the iron near the top, cutting board half through and bending one of the plates, knocking out a stanchion and starting the bolts on the inside. A shot on starboard side struck the muzzle of No. 7 gun, wrecking the gun, then glanced, went through the hammock netting and fell into the pitman. A shot struck the iron on starboard side, over shell- room, knocking off the plate and driving a piece of it through the iron plating of the casemate. A shot on starboard side cut away an awning stanchion, and passed through cabin skylight tearing up the plank. "A shot struck front chimney twenty feet from deck. A shot through brace of forward stanchion and skylight. A shot on starboard side struck iron plating between guns Nos. 4 and 5, three feet above the water, and glanced off bending the plates and starting the bolts. A shot on starboard side at shell room two feet below water; a shot struck binacle on port quarter, and glanced knocking hole in the plating of casemate. A shot struck boat davit and bent it, etc." '

'

Half the number of these shots striking a wooden vessel would have destroyed her. The "Benton" was struck in her hull thirteen times; four times at the water line, etc.

While this was going on, the Army assaulted in the rear of Vicksburg, but did not succeed in getting in. Pemberton had at this time 42,000 men toman his ramparts. The gun-boats kept up their attack until the 37th when there was a lull for a time. On the 29th, General W. T. Sherman signalled to the flag-ship, requesting that two gun-boats be sent down to clear out a battery of two guns that prevented him from extending his right flank. It being a rule with the Navy never to refuse a request from the Army, the "Cincinnati" was prepared for the adventure. Sherman was under the impression that the enemy had moved a battery of eleven

OF THE

CIVIL

WAR.

333

bluff commanding the Mississippi to the land side, but the guns had only been lowered from their carriages to avoid the naval fire, and Colonel Higgins (who had made out all the signals passing between our Army and

tempting to reach the bank and twenty more were killed or wounded. This was an unfortunate affair, but the calamity was somewhat deprived of its sting by the cool and courageous conduct

Navy), quickly remounted them under cover of the night and screened them with

withstood the

heavy guns from a

bushes.

Next morning the "Cincinnati," Lieutenant George M. Bache, started down the river to attack the small battery mentioned by Sherman, but as the vessel rounded to and opened her broadside, the battery on the bluff opened on her stern with its heaviest guns. The first shot from the enemy passed through the magazine and then through the bottom, causing the "Cincinnati" to fill rapidly Then the starboard tiller was shot away, the enemy firing rapidly and with great accuracy 8-inch and 10-inch shot went .

officers and crew, who Confederate fire unflinchingly and preferred to sink rather than haul down their colors. The Confederates kept up their fire on the fiag, and many of the plunging shot found their way through the

of the

commander,

vessel's hull.

As soon

as General

Sherman wrote to the Admiral, deploring the loss of the vessel, but said: " the importance of the object desired to be accomplished fully warranted the attempt. It has proved successful

and will stimulate us to further efforts to the line which ter-

break

;

clear through bulwarks of

Sherman saw what

had happened he sent a company of the 76th Ohio to the relief of our oflScers and men.

minates on the

the hay

Mississippi in such

formidable bat-

and logs, and plunging shots from the heights went

teries."

deck

In a few days the water in the river

and did much dam-

fell sufficiently for

age.

the guns to be re-

through the

moved from

The vessel could not return this

the

"Cincinnati." This was done by the

fire

and putting on

Army

steam crept along

at night

river,

when the enemy

making against the current not more than three miles an

could not see what

the shore,

up

was going

hour.

The "Cincinnati" was soon in a sinking condition, and her

gallant

on.

Some of the guns were mounted in LIEUTENANT GEORGE

M

BACHE,

NOW COMMANDEK

TJ.

S.

N.

front of division,

under

mand

com-

Sherman's and were the comof

Lieu-

into the bank and got out a plank to save his crew before the vessel

tenant-Commander T. O. Self ridge, with blue-jackets to work them; and this battery finally accomplished what the " Cincinnati had not time to do; viz., clear out the batteries which threatened Sherman's right

allowed the vessel to slide off into deep water. All this time the enemy continued Bache would to pour in a destructive fire. not haul down his fiag, but nailed it to the

stump of his fiag-pole which had been shot away.

fiank. These guns were also employed in firing upon such points as Sherman pointed out, where he thought it advantageous to clear a way for the Army in case of another assault. The "Cincinnati's " 9-inch guns were tem-

As the vessel was now sinking the order was given for all who could to swim to the shore, which was not far off; the boats had all been shot to pieces and were of no

mounted in the rear of the city, and worked by a party of blue -jackets under Lieut. -Commander Walker. Both of these batteries did good service during the

mander ran her

went down. A hawser was taken on shore and made fast to a tree, but, unfortunately, it was not properly secured, and giving way

use. There were but three fathoms of ter where the " Cincinnati" went down,

waand

her colors and smoke-pipes remained in sight. Fifteen men were drowned in at-

porarily

siege.

The Secretary of the Navy wrote a handsome letter to Lieutenant Bache, concluding as follows:

THE NAVAL HISTORY

324

" Amid an incessant Are of shot and shells, even when the fate of the vessel had been sealed, and destruction both from the elements and the enemy was threatened, the officers and men appear to have

stood bravely at their posts, and it is a jjroud record of the "Cincinnati" that when her last moments came, she went down with her colors nailed to the mast. " It is with no ordinary pleasure that I express to you and the surviving officers and crew of the " Cincinnati " the department's appreciation of your brave conduct."

There was still work for the Navy to do in the Yazoo, whileGeneral Grant was starving the Confederates out in Vicksburg. There was no use in wasting life in assaulting a place with such defences, and the Army continued to make their approaches and mount their batteries until they were within fifty feet of the enemy's works. The surrender was but a matter of time, and a short time at that. Every opening was stopped up, no one inside could get out, nor those outside get in.

now acknowledging one Pemberton (clever as he was) had more than met his match in the leader of the Federal Army, and that the Union soldiers.when well commanded, could meet a larger number of the enemy and defeat them with ease. federates

were

to another that

There were still a number of steamers on the Yazoo that might in some way be serviceable to the enemy and an expedition

under Lieutenant-Commander Walker of the "DeKalb" was sent up that river to capture or destroy them. The " Forest Rose," -'Linden," "Signal" and -'Petrel" (vessels whose names have appeared frequently in this history) accomThe "Signal" panied the expedition. knocked down her chimney among the trees the first night, and had to return. Walker pushed on with the smaller vessels (leaving the

"DeKalb"

to follow after) to within fifteen miles of

The enemy now had to subsist on what provisions they had on hand, which was not much, and unless relieved a superior force a month more or less would bring about a surrender. It was not likely that the siege would be raised, for if the Federal Army, with all the disadvantages un-

Fort Pemberton, where the steame r s

land" were

by

der which it labored, could

''John

Walsh," "Lockwood," "Golden Age " and "Scotfound sunk on a bar,

completely

blocking

the

way. Failing in his efforts to make a passage

through

the boats, he set fire to them and

they were U.

S.

GUN-BOAT 'CINCINNATI" SUNK BY THE UPPER WATER BATTERY AT VICKSBURG, MAY 27, 1863. (FBOM A PEN-AND-INK SKETCH BY EEAE-ADMIBAI WALKE.)

manage to

dispose of an enemy 80,000 strong a country where the latter occupied all the strong positions, it could prevent the escape of that portion of them which had been driven into the city. It is not the province of the writer to give an account of the military operations of the siege of Vicksburg; this book is mostly confined to the naval operations, and he is not sufficiently informed on the subject to do full justice to the movements of the Arm^^ He knows enough, however, to be satisfied that everything was done by the generals of our Army in a masterly manner, and that they had posted themselves so securely around Vicksburg that all the power of the Confederacy could not affect them in any way, and that while our soldiers were fed by a commissariat that had no equal in any part of the world, in

Pemberton and his troops inside the city were living on short rations. The Con-

all

destroyed. The expedition

was attacked this

point

at

by

and sharp-shooters in force, but they were driven off with loss. Saw-mills were burned, the corn on whicli an enemy could subsist was destroyed, and at Yazoo City the crews landed and brought away all the bar, round and flat iron intended to be used in the building of their ironartillery

clads.

Armed boats were sent through the Rolling Fork and into bayous which were inaccessible at that moment to the gun-boats. Pour other steamers were found hidden away in snug retreats and burned— almost rivalling the mischief done by the "Alabama," who had taught us how to retaliate upon an enemj'. This was a terrible raid and involved a loss to the enemy of more than two millions of dollars. The performance showed how easily the Delta expedition could have obtained possession of the Yazoo River and district as far as the rear of Vicksburg but for the

OF THE

CIVIL

WAR.

325

delay at Helena. It also assured the success of the Steele's Bayou expedition, which was undertaken soon after the expedition to

organization consisted of about two thousand men, well equipped and fairly disciplined. General Mower, a very brave offi-

Yazoo Pass.

cer, had about 8,000 men at Young's Point, and uniting the marine brigade with his troops he marched out to hunt up General Price's army, — found it and scattered it after a short and decisive battle. Price's army now left this district and troubled it no more. This was the last hope of the besieged, if they had ever hoped anything from so forlorn a scheme, and they sat in

On

the 19th of June, Admiral Porter received a notification from General Grant that he intended to open a general bombardment on the city at 4 a. m. and continue it until 10 o'clock. At the appointed time the bombardment commenced all along the army line and was joined on the water side by every gun-boat, the guns on scows and the mortars, until the earth fairly shook with the thundering noise. The gun-boats spread themselves all along in front of the city cross firing on everything in the shape of a battery but there was no response whatever the works were all deserted even the indefatigable Colonel Higgins, who loved to give his old shipmates a reminder of his gallantry, failed to fire a shot from his spiteful water-battery which had so often defied them. After the fire was all over on the Union side, the city of Vicksburg was as quiet as .the grave not a soul could be seen. The women had all taken refuge in the shelters built in the hillsides, and every man that could hold a musket or point a bayonet was in the trenches. There they would stay for days and nights, lying in the mud and having what food they could get served out to

—

—

—

—

them there. The trials and privations which the Confederates suffered at this time can desci'ibed by those who took part defence. The day on which they dered was a day of jubilee to them,

only be in the surrenfor the

Federal commanders served out full rations which were eaten with an enjoyment that can only be realized by people who have been on quarter rations for a month. Every effort was made to bring relief to the Confederates through Louisiana. General Price had been moving about some twelve miles from Young's Point among the swamps and bayous, and it was reported that he intended to seize Young's Point with some ten thousand men and try to provision Vicksburg by the front. There was only a small force of Federal troops at Young's Point and Milliken's Bend at this time, and Price might have gained a partial success, but nothing subto everybody,

stantial.

One attempt was made on Milliken's Bend, and quite a number of the garrison killed, but the gun-boats "Choctaw" and "Lexington" went immediately to the relief of our troops and the Confederates were driven off with loss The Marine Brigade under Brigadier-General Alfred EUet had joined the squadron \

j.«;„„i

their trenches waiting for the time when the last ration should be served out. On the 30th of June, this was the condition of affairs in the city. The gun-boats were by turns throwing shells day and night;

the mortars kept up an incessant bombard-

ment, which if it damaged no works demoralized the enemy's troops; a constant fire

from the Army and Navy guns in the rear was kept up, day and night, and a 6-inch rifle battery taken from the gun-boats was served with great skill by General McArthur on the left flank. General McPherson had blown up what was called the citadel of the Confederate works, and mounted on the debris four 9-inch guns from the squadron, and some rifled 30pounders.

These guns now commanded a large portion of the enemy's works, and when they opened fire the requiem of Vicksburg was sung by the shrieking shell, as they flew through the air carrying death and destruction all over the city. On the 4th of July, 1863, that historic day was rendered more memorable by the surrender of Vicksburg to the Federal forces after a desperate but vain resistance, in which the Confederates had won the respect of their conquerors by the bravery and endurance displayed during a siege of seven months. Southern historians have eulogized them for their faithful adherence to a cause which received its deatli-blow when they surrendered, but as this history is more particularly connected with the boys in blue than with the boys in gray we must leave the latter to the future military historian, who, when the excitements and prejudices of the time have worn away, will no doubt do them justice. It was from no want of ability on the part of our military leaders that this surrender was not brought about sooner, but owing to the magnitude of the Confederate defences, which were intended to keep at bay any force the Federal Government could bring against them, and calculating that even were the city to be enveloped by troops the Confederacy could always send a sufficient number from the South to raise the siege. ^rt.-.'U-J-

fl^^

riU

T^+U +V,,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

336

Confederates to do as they thought could be done, but the great oak that has been torn and twisted by the winds for centuries must succumb at last to a tornado: the Confederacy had now received many telling blows, and its strength had begun to fail. Many could see the end of the rebellion, and no one knew how near it was, better than the Confederates themselves. If doubts still remained with any of them, the fall of Vicksburg, the opening of the Mississippi from the Northern States to the sea, and the complete severance of the three most important States (as regarded supplies others) would have removed their delusion. But they still fought on, though it was only with the spirit of the game-cock which strikes at random while the life-blood

from

flowing from its veins History has seldom had an opportunity of recording so desperate a defence on one side, with so much ability, courage, perseverance and endurance on the other. The Army of the Tennessee covered itself with honor of which no one can ever deprive it. Though the Navy performed naturally a less conspicuous part than the Army, yet it did its duty in a manner which not even the most exacting could find fault with. Less zeal on the part of its officers and men would doubtless have extended the is

siege to some indefinite time. short summary of the work done by the Navy during the last forty days of the siege, may not be amiss. It will assure those who served at this critical period in the Navy, that they are not forgotten, and that their names will go down to history, honored as

A

they deserve to be. The mortar boats were kept at work for forty days, night and day, throwing shells into every part of Vicksburg and its works, some of them even reaching the trenches in tlin rear of the city. Three heavy guns plac(jj on scows, one 9-inch, one 10-inch, and a 100-pounder rifle were placed in position a mile from the town, and commanded all the important water batteries. They kept up an incessant and accurate fire for fourteen days, while the path of the missiles was filled with destruction. Five 8-inch, four 9-inch, two 42-pounder rifled guns and four 32-pounder shell guns were landed from the gun-boats at different points during the siege at the request of the

commanding

divisions, or of Genand whenever officers and men could be spared from the fleet they were sent on shore to work the guns. As no dissatisfaction was expressed by the officers in command, it was presumed that the officers

eral Grant,

sailors

performed their duty

The banks

of

well.

the Mississippi were so

watchfully guarded from Vicksburg to Cairo that the Armv transnorts went

through with troops and stores, for a distance of about 450 miles, without molestaThe marine brigade, under Brigation. dier-General Ellet, was constantly landing along the river to break up guerilla warfare. Without a watchful eye on the Mississippi, on the part of the Navy, the operations of the Army would have been often interrupted.

Only one

Army

steamer was

dis-

abled during the siege operations, and six or seven men killed on board of her. When the whole of our Army was in the rear of Vicksburg, with the exception of a small force at Young's Point under General Mower, and that place was attacked by Major-General Price with 12,000 men, the marine brigade and the gun-boats united with General Mower's force to put the Confederates down, which was effectually done;

General Grant was satisfied that Young's Point would be taken care of by the Navy, while he was engaged in reducing the monster on the east bank of the

and

Mississippi.

When the Army and Navy started out to capture Vicksburg the Mississippi was closed against the Federal forces from Helena to Port Hudson. This latter place fell shortly after the surrender of Vicksburg and the river was thus open to the sea.

There was no longer a doubt that the bellious states

re-

were divided, and that the

uninterrupted navigation of the "father of waters" and its tributaries was soon to be restored to the Union. So satisfied were the Confederate leaders that Vicksburg was the key to this great network of water which enriched the vast do-

main through which

it found its way to the they staked their cause upon its retention. When they failed in this effort they were almost in their last throes, though their vitality enabled them to prolong the struggle (that was impoverishing and ruining their country,) for some time

sea, that

longer. But there could be no hope of success for the Southern cause, when the great slave power which had controlled so many miles of the banks of the Mississippi no longer existed. The chain which held slavery together was broken, and the commerce of the nation went rejoicing on its way to the great ocean, once more to barter with the people of the outside world. That 4th of July was a happy day to all those who had joined in the herculean efforts to bring about the desired end. At a certain hour the American flag was to be hoisted on the court-house where the Confederate emblem had so long flaunted in the face of the Union forces. At the moment the flag went up every vessel in the river, ffun -boats

and trn.nsnnrts

. Steamer "St. Clair.' — Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant " Sybil.'

—

Brilliant. Acting- Volu nteer- Lieutenant C. G. Perkins 18641. Tug "Lilly."— Acting-Ensign R. H. Smith. Steamer " Vindicator." Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant H. H. Gorringe il865'.

"Gen. Burnside."— Lieutenant

Forest

(1865).

Steamer " Gen. Thomas.'' Morton 1865

—Acting-Master

.

Steamer "General Sherman."'

Moreau Gilbert

— Acting-Master J. W.

Morehead (1805\ Steamer "General Grant." Acting-Master Joseph Watson (1865 Steamer "Volunteer. "—Acting- Ensign M. K. Haines

—

.

il805\

Iron - clad

Baron de - Kalb. "

'

-

'

mander

J. G.

—* Lieutenant

-

Com-

Walker.

;

(1864

VESSELS STATIONED AT CAIRO.

.

Tug "Hyacinth." — Acting-Ensign (1863-41.

Tug

J.

—

B. Heizerman

"Thistle." Acting-Ensign P. H. Timmons; Acting-Ensign R. E. Ettingham '1864\ " Tug Daisy."—Acting-Ensign D. C. Bowers (1833-4). Despatch Steamer "Gen. Lyon." Pilot R. E.

—

Birch.

Inspection-ship " Abraham."

—Acting- Ensign Wm.

Wagner.

Tug

" Sampson."— Acting Ensign J. D. Buckley. Receiving-ship "Clara Dolson.'' Lieutenant-Commander Thomas Pattison. Receiving-ship "Grampus.'' Acting- Master Elijah

—

—

Sells a864'.

CHAPTER XXXI. Bounds of Farragut's Command up to 1863.— Operations of Farragut's Vessels on THE Coast of Texas. — Gallant attack on Corpus Christi by Volunteer-Lieutenant Kittredge. — Galveston, Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi fall into the Federal hands. An Expedition of the Army and Navy defeated at Sabine Pass. — Farragut blockades Red River in the " Hartford." — Capture of the "Diana " by the Confederates. — Loss of the Union Gun-boat " Barrataria." — Destruction OF the " Queen-of-the-West " by Lieutenant-Commander A. P. Cooke. — Farragut relieved from Command in the Mississippi, May 7th. 1863. — Expedition UP Red River under Lieutenant-Commander Hart. Farragut arrives below Port Hudson, and Commences Active Operations against that Place. — Attack ON DONALDSONVILLE BY CONFEDERATE GENERAL GrEEN. — HiS ReTREAT UNDER THE FIRE OF THE GUN BOAT "PRINCESS RoYAL." — ATTACK OF CONFEDERATE ARTILLERY ON THE Gun-boat " New London." — Gallant Conduct of Lieutenant-Commander Geo. H. Perkins. Death of Commander Abner Reed. — Rejoicing of the Army and Navy at New Orleans on hearing of the Fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson.— General Remarks.

—

—

—

WHILE

Flag-officer Farragut in the operations before Vicksburg, down to the time when he passed the batteries at Port Hudson, many events occurred in the fleet which have not been mentioned heretofore, as it could not have been done without interrupting the narrative of current events. Farragut's command up to May, 1863, included the Mississippi River as far as

watchfulness in guarding against the people they had to contend with, for they were a brave, hardy set of men, regardless of danger, and amply supplied with smallarms and field-artillery to withstand any attack that could be made upon them by the combined forces of our Army and

Vicksburg, and all its tributaries below also the coasts of Louisiana, Florida and Texas, extending from Pensacola on the east to the mouth of the Rio Grande, including that network of bays, streams, inlets, bayous, sounds, and island groups which extends from the mouth of the Mississippi as far west as Sabine Pass, and the difficult bars and channels leading to Gal-

tions in the Mississippi, for it took every vessel he had to control that part of the river which was under his command; and it was not until after the fall of Port Hudson, when the navigation of the river was once more free, that the smaller vessels could be spared. All this time the Confederates on the coasts of Louisiana and Texas kept up active operations with their blockade- runners, which had nothing to interfere with them until August, 186:i, when Farragut sent down a small force of sailing-vessels and one small steamer (the " Sachem ") to try and close some of the Texan ports. Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant J. W. Kittredge, with the bark " Arthur," the above-

was engaged

Matagorda and Corpus Christi, where none but the smallest vessels could enter, and which afforded safe refuges for veston,

blockade-runners during the entire war. This coast, with its indentations, is over 600 miles in length, and had to be guarded with great care to prevent supplies reaching the Confederates through the numerous gates leading into Louisiana and Texas. The Federal officers had to exercise great

Navy.

The blockade of this part of the Southern had been indifferently carried on while Farragut was confined to his operacoast

mentioned steamer, and an armed launch, proceeded on this duty. He captured Corpus

THE NA VAL HISTORY

346

and the adjacent waters, from many small craft had been running to Havana. Lieutenant Kittredge showed not only great cleverness in the performance of this duty but cool courage. He had under his command a small yacht (the " Corypheus ") and with the aid of her crew he removed some obstructions which the Confederates had placed in Corpus Christi " dug-out to protect several small schooners which they had collected at that point. Lieuten-

Christi

whence

so

''

ant Kittredge ran his vessel through the gut and attacking one of the schooners, she was soon driven ashore and burned. Another one was also set on fire by the enemy. He then ran across the bay to Corpus Christi, with his little flotilla following him, and called upon the authorities to surrender and for the military forces to evacuate the town. The Confederates set flre to a sloop on his approach and asked for a truce of fortyeight hours. At the end of that time they refused to evacuate the place, and on August 16th opened fire on Kittredge's vessel from a battery planted behind the levee. This was replied to with spirit by the Union vessels, which kept up such an incessant and accurate fire on the enemy, that they were three times driven from their guns on

At night-fall the Union forces withdrew out of range. The next day the Confederates set fire to a steamer that had run aground and could not be moved. On August 30th, Lieutenant Kittredge went to work again on the enemy. He landed a 12-pounder howitzer under command of Master's Mate A. H. Reynolds, placed the schooner "Reindeer," Masters Mate William Barker, in position to cover the landing party, and proceeded to enfilade the enemy's battery and pour shrapnel and canister into his flank. Master's Mate Reynolds moved up his howitzer to within musket range, and mowed the enemy down, the latter de-

that day.

ployed 100 infantry to the right of the land party with the intention of flanking it. but they were soon scattered and driven off by the flre of the "Reindeer" and her consorts. The Confederates then charged the 12-pound howitzer with 250 men, and for a time its capture seemed certain. But Lieutenant Kittredge moved the " Corypheus" and " Sachem " close in shore, and met the enemy with so heavy a fire of canister that they wavered and retreated with considerable loss. The engagement continued all day, the enemy's battery was silenced and the vessels shelled the town. This was a very gallant affair, conducted entirely by volunteer officers, who, although they had not received a regular naval training, displayed as much ability as if they had.

Not having the force to hold the town, the out in the bay and blockaded it. Unfortunately the gallant Kittredge was surprised and with his boat's crew captured

flotilla laid

while reconnoitering. Galveston, Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi fell into the Federal hands a short time afterwards; the former place being captured by Commander Renshaw without the loss of a man. This for a time put a stop to blockade-runn ing on the Texas coast. Its unfortunate recapture, the loss of the " Harriet Lane" and the blowing up of the " Westfield," have been already related, and Galveston once more became a shelter to blockade-runners, which much rejoiced the hearts of our enemies in Texas. Their success at thispoint fired the hearts of the Texan soldiers and they assembled in large numbers along the coast, making it very dangerous to attempt any landing operations without the assistance of the army, which it seems was not prepared for such a purpose.

Several unimportant affairs occurred along the coast, but nothing of a very satisfactory nature.

Maj.-Gen. Banks,

who had

relieved Genwishing to comby a signal victory over the enemy, proposed a combined expedition against Sabine Pass, which had been retaken and fortified by the enemy. The defences on shore, it was supposed, consisted only of two 32-pounders, while on the water the Confederates had two steamboats

eral Butler at New Orleans, memorate his appointment

converted into rams. The Army organization consisted of 4,000 men under General Franklin and Commodore H. H. Bell, who commanded the naval force at New Orleans in the absence of the Flag-officer, detailed VolunteerLieutenant Frederick Crocker to command the naval part of the expedition, consisting of the steamer " Clifton," the steamer "Sachem," Volunteer - Lieutenant Amos Johnson; steamer "Arizona," Acting-Master H. Tibbetts, and steamer " Granite City," Acting-Master C. W. Lamson. This force was considered quite sufficient for the purpose intended. It was concerted with General Franklin that the gun-boats should make the first attack alone, led by Lieutenant Crocker, assisted by 180 sharp-shooters divided amongst the vessels, and after driving the enemy from his defences and destroying or driving off the rams, the transports were to advance and land the troops. In all, these vessels carried twenty-seven guns, which one would suppose was enough to dispose of the few guns the enemy had ;

mounted.

The attack, which was to have been a surprise at early dawn, was not made until

OF THE CIVIL WAR. 3 P. M. on the 8th of September, 1863, twenty-eight hours after the expedition had appeared off the Sabine. A reconnaissance had been made in the morning by Generals Franklin and Weitzel and Lieutenant Crocker, when they decided on a plan of attack. Commodore

had sent two good pilots down in the '• Granite City." At 3 p. m. the transports were over the bar, the "Granite City" Bell

347

River and joined the other vessels at its mouth, at the same time running the risk of being mistaken for a Confederate ram and getting a broadside from her consorts. Farragut might have run past Port Hudson with his vessels in the night without

gun or receiving a shot, but he was doing more good where he was. Port Hudson was completely cut off from supplies via Red River, and the two gun -boats could firing a

leading them in, for the purpose of covering the landing of the troops

patrol

The '-Clifton," "Sachem" and "Arizona" engaged a battery of seven guns. A shot struck the boiler of the " Sachem " and she was soon enveloped in steam. The "Clifton" ran directly under the fort and for twenty minutes fired rapidly grape, canister and shell, receiving a heavy fire in return. She soon afterwards got on shore, and not being able to back off, hauled down her colors as did also the " Sachem." The " Arizona " stood down the channel and took her station ahead of the transports. She got ashore also; several of the transports were aground and the " Granite City " went to the support of the " Arizona," which it was necessary to do, for a Confederate steamer (probably one of the rams) was coming down the river. This steamer, whatever she was, got the "Clifton" and " Sachem " afloat and towed them up the

overland to the side of the river opposite Port Hudson. It was now simply a case of starving out

river.

The "Arizona," "Granite City

"

and trans

ports got over the bar and made the best of their way to South West Pass, the army having made no attempt to land. The

"Granite City" and "Arizona" do not appear to have received any injuries, but they made no attempt to rescue the two steamers that had surrendered. This was rather a melancholy expedition and badly managed It resulted in the loss of some twenty men killed and naany wounded on board the "Clifton" and " Sachem," and was somewhat injurious to the prestige of the Navy. It did not, however, reflect

any

discredit

upon the

officers of the

"Clifton" or "Sachem." as both of these

were gallantly fought. This affair, with some minor matters, ended the operations of the West Gulf blockading squadron on the coast up to September, 1863. The latter year had not been as successful as the one previous, yet the squadron did a great deal of hard work and its officers were engaged in scenes where they gained reputation, and the Union flag vessels

was

in

no ways dimmed.

After Farragut had passed Port Hudson with the "Hartford " and "Arizona," he was quite isolated from the rest of his squadron, but was finally re-enforced by the gunboat "Estrella," which worked its way up throusrh the Atchafalava into the Red

it perfectly fifty or more miles up, and prevent any supplies from being sent

the garrison, for there seemed no prospect of the place being taken by the Army, for as late as May 8th, 1863, General Banks marched a large portion of his army to Alexandria, La., at the very time he should have been closely besieging Port Hudson. For what purpose he marched no one could ever discern, for the gun-boats under Admiral Porter had arrived there before him, taken possession of and destroyed the defences along the river, and opened it so thoroughly that there was no danger of its being closed against the Federal vessels. While Farragut was away up the Mississippi, after the passage of Port Hudson, Commodore Morris was left in charge at New Orleans with directions to co-operate with the military commander at that place, and perform all the duties which would have devolved upon the Flag-officer had he been present in person. Some of the expeditions fitted out by Commodore Morris, and later by Commodore Bell, properly belong to this history, as showing the numerous duties performed by the Navy, and also that, notwithstanding Farragut was not at New Orleans himself to conduct matters, his orders were carried out, and there was the heartiest co-operation between the Armv and Navy. On the 28th of March the " Diana," Acting-Master Thos. L. Peterson, was sent into Grand Lake on a reconnaissance, with Lieutenant Allen, U. S. A., of General Weitzel's staff, and two companies of infantry on board. She was ordered to proceed down the Atchafalaya River as far as the mouth of the Teche and return by the lake.

Disobeying this order, Acting-Master Peterson attempted to return to Berwick Bay by the way of Atchafalaya. After passing the mouth of the Teche he was attacked from shore by field-pieces and sharp-shootThe men fought well, and the action ers. lasted two hours and three-quarters. The captain of the " Diana" was killed early in the action, and his executive officer, Acting-Master's Mate Thomas G. Hall, was moralso Master's Mate Geo. C. tallv wounded ;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

348

Dolliver and Engineer Jas. McNally, leaving only one officer (Master's Mate Charles P. Weston), who carried on the fight and behaved most admirably. The tiller-ropes were shot away and the engine disabled so that the " Diana " became unmanageable and drifted ashore, when it was impossible to longer defend her. As soon as the firing was heard at the bay, the " Calhoun," Acting-Master M. Jordan, was sent into the lake to ascertain the cause of it. She arrived at the mouth of the

Atchafalaya, where she grounded and remained until midnight. Several of the crew of the " Diana " had escaped, and they informed the commanding officer of the "Calhoun" that the " l3iana " had been captured near Peterson-

Acting Master Jordan threw overboard part of his ballast, his coal, provisions, and even ammunition, and finally but the reached the bay at 2 a. m. " Diana " was a prize to the enemy. Another of the United States vessels was lost a short time after, the " Barrataria," Acting-Ensign Jas. T. Perkins, at the moutli of the Amite River, on Lake Mariposa She was on a reconnaissance with some army officers in Lake Mariposa, ville.

;

intending to examine the moutli of the Amite River. The pilot stated that there was always five feet of water there, but the vessel struck on a sunken snag and stuck fast. Everything possible was being done to relieve the vessel and get her off, when they were attacked by a force of concealed riflemen and a brisk engagement took place, in which the " Barrataria" used her

guns and also musketry with good effect. There were on board the " Barrataria" Colonel Clarke, Captain Gordon, Lieutenant Ellis, and ten privates of the 6tli Michigan Volunteers; the latter did good service with their rifles. The engagement lasted over half an hour, when the enemy ceased firing.

Ettorts

were

still

made

to get the

"Bar-

but without avail. The bow gun was spiked and thrown overboard and the water blown out of the boilers the " Barrataria " still stuck fast. Fearing that the vessel might fall into the hands of tlie enemy. Acting Ensign Perkins got his crew and passengers into boats, and after spiking all the guns, shoved off under a fire of musketry from the concealed enemy. Mr. Gregory, Acting - Master's Mate, who was left behind to set fire to the vessel, then ignited the inflammable matter and shoved off in a small boat. The vessel was soon in flames and shortly afterwards blew up. After being assured of the vessel's destruction, the party made the best of its way back and arrived at South Pass in safety. In the case of the "Diana "there were rataria"

off,

;

and three wounded; in the case of "Barrataria" there was only one wounded. Affairs of this kind were very provoking and harassing to a Commanderin-chief, but the officers seem to have performed their duty faithfully. Some of them died at their posts there could be no fault found with them. The navigation through all these lakes, bayous and so-called rivers was full of snags and shoal places, and was of the most perplexing kind. Most of the officers in the above-mentioned vessels were volunteers, full of zeal and courage and anxious not to have it said of them that the case would have been better managed if a regular lineofficer had been present. Acting-Ensign Perkins may have lacked a little in judgment in pushing ahead, but when it came to the point about letting his vessel fall into the enemy's hands, there was nothing wanting, and he abandoned his command in open six killed

the

—

boats at the risk of the lives of his crew, conscious that the enemy could derive no benefit from anything left behind. short time afterwards an expedition was fitted out in Berwick Bay under Lieutenant-Commander A. P. Cooke, who, with the "Estrella" and other vessels, engaged the" Queen-of-tlie-West " (formerly captured from Colonel C. R. Ellet), and after a fight of twenty minutes destroyed her. He also, a short time after, destroyed two other steamers, the "Diana" and "Hart." Farragut was relieved by Acting-RearAdmiral Porter at the mouth of the Red River, May 7th. 1863, and crossing overland, joined his squadron below Port Hudson. He might have run by the batteries at night, but the old "Hartford" he thought had been subjected to enough of that kind of work, and it was scarcely worth while to expose her officers and crew to any more such trials, especially as it was expected that Port Hudson would soon be evacuated by the enemy. So Captain Palmer remained with the "Hartford at the mouth of Red River until after the fall of Port Hudson, it having been left discretionary with him to pass the batteries

A

or not.

Before Farragut's departure overland he

had sent an expedition up the Red River to co-operate with General Banks, who was expected at Alexandria with a large military force (he being under the impression that there were military stores at this point and that it was heavily fortified on the water side, or would be in a short time). There were also some other military movements under consideration to disconcert General Kirby Smith (Confederate), who had gone to Alexandria, so it was said, to provide troops with which to reinforce General Dick Taylor. Neither of these generals had any idea of operating below

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

Alexandria, which was their natural base for the gun-boats might get up that far very easily, but would find it a difficult matter to proceed further, as was proved in the ;

end.

The expedition sent by Farragut was composed of the wooden gun-boats "Albatross," " Estrella," Lieutenant-Commander A. P. Cooke, and "Arizona," VolunteerLieutenant-Commanding D. P. Upton, all under Lieutenant - Commander John E. Hart. It arrived off Fort de Russy on May 3d, and found the enemy in the act of abandoning the works and removing their guns. Two steamers were engaged in this duty, and two others were moored to the bank alongside the earthworks, with their bows down stream. Lieutenant-Commander Hart at once attacked them with

349

there was room for three vessels to get into action at one time, as this was the worst point on the river to manage a vessel in the current ran rapidly and tlie eddies were very annoying to the best pilots; besides, that class of vessel was not at all suited for

—

this

work.

The "Albatross" the pilot, Mr.

lost

B.

J.

two killed, one being Hamilton, and four

wounded — a small number, considering that her commander reported such a severe engagement. The Confederate steamers carried

off the guns, but left a large raft across the river to obstruct the passage. The Confederate commanders had already heard of the arrival at the mouth of the river of a large force of iron-clads, and of the advance of

Bank's Army, and their object

now was

to

get the guns to Shreveport. All idea of fortifying Alexandria was abandoned and two or three days afterwards the place surrendered to Rear-Admiral Porter without

any

resistance.

On

Farragut's arrival below Port Hudson he again commenced operations against that place, in conjunction with General Banks, who, as he reported, had the forts closely invested. of

Farragut furnished a breaching-battery four 9-inch guns, under Lieutenant

Terry, and the army mounted four 24pounders. These guns were kept firing day and night to harass the enemy, and also when tlie Confederates opened fire upon the Federal troops. The mortar schooners also kept up a continuous fire upon the interior of the works, to distress the enemy as much as possible.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER NOW CAPTAIN) AUGUSTUS COOKE,

U.

S.

P.

N.

It was expected that Port Hudson would hold out as long as Vicksburg did, for the officers of the fort declared that they would never surrender as long as that stronghold remained to them. In the meantime the enemy were assembling quite a large force from Texas, under a very clever leader (General Green).

been made by this they gunboats, and finally settled down in Brashear City to await the arrival of their main body Demonstrations

broadside guns and a regular battle commenced, the Confederate steamers returning the fire promptly, and it was kept up on both sides until a dense smoke enveloped the river. Lieutenant-Commander Hart states that the enemy had the most guns and fired shot and shell with great rapidity, and certainly with accuracy. The "Albatross " went into action alone, but the enemy had too many guns for her and she was considerably cut up, and finally obliged to retire, having got aground on' the very spot where the " Queen-of-the-West " had been disabled and captured. Hart claims that the other two vessels did not assist him but the probability is that the pilots did not think his

;

liad

party against Donaldsonville, but were driven off by the fire of the

of troops from Texas. The object of this raid was no doubt to raise the siege of Port Hudson, or draw off enough of General Banks' troops to enable the garrison to evacuate that place.

As soon these

as Admiral Farragut heard of

Confederate

movements he went

down

the river to attend to affairs personally, and placed the gun-boats where they would do the most good. Unfortunately, there was only one vessel (the "Princess

Royal," Commander M. B. Woolsey) stationed at Donaldsonville, the place the en-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

350

emy was marching to

attack, but this officer

was equal to the emergency. About noon on the 27th of June, hearing the long roll beaten in the fort where the Federal troops were assembled, he sent to inquire the cause, and was informed that General Green had written a letter to the

commander of the post to notify the women and children of the town to remove three miles outside of it, as it was his intention reply was sent back to attack the place. by the flag's truce notifying the Confederate general that the inhabitants would be duly Commander Woolsey got under warned. way early in the evening his vessel cleared for action ready to take any posiAt tion that might be required of him. midnight a red light was burned in the fort (the pre-arranged signal denoting that the enemy was in motion), and at a little past 1 A.M. tlie Confederates attacked the Federal post with musketry, whicli the latter returned with great guns. At the same moment the '• Princess Royal " opened on the enemy, in a wood to the right of the fort, with shells, and also fired shells over the fort up the bayou for the pui-pose of disturbing troops that were in the rear. Finding that the enemy was pressing upon the water-side of the fort for the purpose of assaulting it, the ''Princess Royal'" sheered close in to the levee and kept up a rapid fire of shrapnel and canister from all her guns until 2 a. m.. when the smoke became so dense tliat it was impossible to see Commander the ffirt from tlie steamer. Woolsey then stood up the river twu hundred yards and continued his fire upon the enemy, who were in a wood north of and at a distance of four hundred yards from the Federal fort. Their position was indicated bj^ their yelling, as the flashes of their guns could not be seen for the smoke. The " Princess Royal "then stood up river for an opening in the levee which her commander remembered, and when abreast of it, he poured in upon the enemy grape and canister at point-blank range and enfiladed

A

—

—

them.

The enemy then attacked the steamer with rifles and she turned down river and presented her other broadside. The enemj^ opened on her from tlie town, wlien Commander Woolsey fired one broadside up the main street and another one up the north He then stood up stream side of the bayou. again and took position to enfilade the north side of the fort. In fact this flying battery of heavy guns seemed to be everywhere at tlie same time, disconcerting all the plans of the Confederate general, who had evidently placed his men expecting to have an easy

victory.

This fire was kept up until 3.30 a. m., while the Confederate riflemen returned it

so steadily that the men of the " Princess Royal " had several times to lie flat on the deck until the line of fire was passed. At about 4 a. m., the yelling of the Confederates ceased and their fire slackened, and shortly afterwards cheers went up

from the Federal ramparts. At this moment the gun-boat "Winona," Lieutenant - Commander A. W. Weaver, joined in the engagement, and continued in

it

until the end.

At daylight the American flag floated gaily over the fort none of its stars dimmed. General Green and his army retreated and left Donaldsonville in peace. One hundred and twenty of the Confederates got inside of the fort, and were captured and distributed among the different

—

vessels for safe-keeping. Take it altogether, this

was a handsome There is no knowing what might have happened had it not been for the skill with which the naval steamer was handled and the bravery of her commander, officers and crew, who at times fought their guns lying on the deck, which they were affair.

.

obliged to do to escape the riflemen's unerring aim. What vessels remained of the mortar flotilla had been for three months in front of Port Hudson bombarding that place, and the vessels, with their commanders, officers and crews were spoken of by those who witnessed their work in the most enthusiXot only naval officers, but astic manner. officers of the Army who witnessed the practice, acknowledged the efficiency of the mortar-shells when managed by intelligent officers and men. And yet a high official, whose duty it was to perform a fair and impartial ])art towards ever}' officer and man in the Navy, attempted to depreciate the services of this gallant little flotilla that had more than once helped Army and

Navy on

to victi.irv.

Admiral Farragut on June 3d, 1863, recommended for promotion a young Ensign (Adams) wlio had commanded one of the mortar vessels (the "Orvieto'") at Port Hudson, at the same time calling the attention of tlie department to his heroism, endurance and obstinate determination to hold his ground until compelled by his commander to fall back, when his vessel was being cut to pieces.

The last affair of any importance that took place in the river before July 10th, 18(13, was the attack of some Confederate field batteries upon the U. S. steamer " New London," Lieutenant - Commander G. H. Perkins. The " New London " was on her way from Port Hudson, having on board a bearer of dispatches from General Banks, announcing the unconditional surrender of that place.

OF THE On

his arrival at Donaldsonville, Lieutendirected to proceed to New Orleans, the "Winona" to accompany him past some batteries at Whitehall Point. At 1 o'clock, A. M., as the " New London" was passing this point, the enemy opened The on her with artillery and musketry. third shell entered one of the boilers, and exploding, made seven holes in a line with the upward flues, scalding six persons Another perforated the steamseverely. drum, and the vessel was disabled and enveloped in steam. The Captain put the vessel's head toward the eastern shore, but the steam escaped so rapidly that the men could not stay at the wheel and the " New London " grounded under the battery. rocket was sent up to call the attention of the " Winona " that she might come to the assistance of her consort, but she was not The port battery was manned in sight.

ant-Commander Perkins was

A

and commenced playing on the opposite shore where the Confederates were posted. The Are of the enemy's batteries was very severe, and though it was night their range was improving all the time. Lieutenant-Commander Perkins lowered all his boats and got kedges out astern to haul his vessel off the bottom, which he succeeded in doing, and drifted down the river until out of range of the upper batterThe principal battery being below, ies.

Lieutenant-Commander Perkins towed the "

New London"

with his boats to the east

bank and made her

During this operfast ation, a continuous fire was kept up by the enemy's infantry upon the boats and also on the vessel. It was nearly daylight and

Union commander, expecting a renewed attack by the enemy, sent his men

the

on shore under cover of the levee to guard against it. Pickets were stationed up and down the river and messengers sent to Donaldsonville to state the condition of affairs,

and also down the river

to obtain the assist-

ance of the iron-clad "Essex" and steam" Monongahela. The messengers returned from Donaldsonville, stating that no assistance could be rendered, and the two couriers from below returned with the unsatisfactory news that the "Essex" and "Monongahela" could sloop

not be found. This was not the kind of an answer the Army would have received from the Navy if the general in command had made a requisition for gun-boats when attacked by the Confederates. It was not the kind of message Commander Woolsey sent from the "Princess Royal" when the post at Donaldsonville was attacked by General Green, who with his large force would have carried the works but for the tremendous enfilading fire of the Federal gun-boat.

CIVIL WAR.

351

But General Weitzel was in command at Donaldsonville and he did not seem to think a gun-boat of much importance, or perhaps did not think it prudent to weaken his garrison while there were Confederate field-pieces in the neighborhood. But Lieutenant - Commander Perkins, knowing that the Confederates would attack him at night with a force he could not resist, determined to go and convince General Weitzel of the necessity there was for sending troops to the assistance of his vessel, and succeeded in doing so; but on returning to the place where he had left the " New London," he found her gone. During his absence, which was only of two hours' duration, the "Essex" and "Mo-

nongahela" had come up the river and towed

New London " down The Confederates did not easily relinquish what no doubt they considered a certain prize. They contested the passage of the "Essex" and "Monongahela" with much determination, and the infantry even stood up for some time against the fire of the heavy guns of three vessels; but they were scattered by grape, canister and shrapnel, which proved too much for them. This affair was well managed by Lieu-

the "

!

- Commander Perkins, who did all that lay in his power to prevent his vessel falling into the eneiny's hands; displaying

tenant

judgment and bravery through all. officers under the circumstances might have abandoned the gun-boat in the night, and escaped in the boats after setting cool

Some

her; but Perkins preferred to use his boats to tow her out of range of the enemy's guns until he could obtain assistance, which by his perseverance he succeeded in doing. Farragut blamed him for leaving his ship to go after assistance himself. No doubt the j^rinciple that every commanding officer should be the last man to leave his vessel, is the right one, but here there was no danger of capture in his absence, as the enemy was on the opposite shore and could not reach his vessel in the short time that fire to

he was away from her.

The

last of the reports

from Admiral

Farragut to the Navy Department, published in the year 1863, conveyed the melancholy news of the death of Commander

Abner Reed of the "Monongahela." He was mortally wounded by a rifle-shell while passing the batteries, twelve miles below Donaldsonville, and Farragut says of him: "Commander Reed was one of the most enterprising

and gallant

officers

in

my

squadron, and the very mention of his name was a source of terror to the Confederates the country could well have spared a better man." No higher eulogium was ever passed upon any officer, and it should be recorded in history.

—

THE NAVAL HISTORY

362

Captain

T.

A. Jenkins,

who was on

board,

was severely wounded. Tliis

brings the narrative of events up to

July 28th,

1863.

The news of the surrender of Vicksburg had been received in New Orleans, and that of Port Hudson immediately followed. The Father of Waters flowed peacefully The to the sea. free and untrammelled. great chain of slavery was broken, never to be again united. The work of setting free the great artery of the North and South, so essential to our nationality, had been accomplished, and the foul blot of human slavery had disappeared forever from our escutcheon. The squadrons of the Upper and Lower Mississippi had shaken

since the events took place which are here narrated. Many of the men who figured in those scenes have been overtaken by age, and Time, the great destroyer, has somewhat impaired their faculties, but they are the same in spirit as in 1861, and still entitled to the gratitude of their country The men in civil life who read the stirring incidents of the war by their cosy firesides should not forget that they have reaped the benefits arising from the incessant toil of the Navy, and should therefore forbear to speak unkindly of a profession whose officers and men would to-

morrow — if war should again arise — exsame zeal, energy and courage as was shown by those who so well performed

hibit the

their parts in the late conflict. On the receipt of the news of the fall of Vicksburg and Fort Hudson at New Orleans, on the 10th of July, there was great rejoicing on the part of our Army and Navy. The commanding officers of both branches of the service ordered salutes of one hundred guns to be fired the sound of which carried joy to the hearts of those who sympathized with the Union cause, and dismay to the hearts of the Confederates. The latter element predominated very largely, yet on the whole the people of New Orleans were pleased with the hope of seeing the commerce of the North and West return to their once fiourishing city and again crowd its levees with the splendid steamers that formerly kept their storehouses supplied with the products of the Upper Mississippi. But war had made sad ravages in this class of vessels; hundreds of them had been sunk or burned in the Red, Yazoo, Arkansas and White Rivers, and the few that now came creeping out of the bayous and small streams where tliey had been laid away, were in so dilapidated a condition that on their appearance at the levee, the very sight of these vessels called to mind the decayed condition of this once fiourishing city and brought tears of sorrow to many an eye. These people were only repaid for their faithlessness to a form of government under which they had reaped so much prosperity and from which, even in their wildest enthusiasm for the Confederacy, they received protection. Few of Ihe seceders would believe that

—

,»i*

COMMANDER ABNEK REED

hanas in New Orleans, and the great highway between Cincinnati and the Queen City of the South was once more open to commerce with the North and with foreign countries. The power of the United States Government had been restored and its authority vindicated in more than half the territory claimed by the insurgents. be hoijed that the future millions Avill dwell along the banks of these

It is to

who

mighty waters, which were emancipated by tJie valor of the Army and Navy, will not withhold a due share of credit to the officers and men of the Navy, who performed their important part in those eventful times with such an unflinching devotion to the Union. A quarter of a century has passed away

Vicksburg and Port Hudson had surrendered, for they were so infatuated with the Confederacy that they could not but believe that it was the strongest government on the face of the earth, and that its resources were illimitable; forgetting that it onlv derived Its present strength from coming^into possession of the foi-ts. navy-yards and arsenals which had been taken from the true government by the very persons for whose protection they had been built.

OF THE

New

CIVIL

it had been conquered became a model city as and sanitary departments,

Orleans, after

by Farragut's regards

fleet,

its police for the first time in its history.

the world ever possessed a

mob — and

in

No

city in

more turbulent

no city were the municipal

—

laws less respected (before its capture) at the end of 1862 its streets were as well kept as those of the cleanest village at the North and the citizens had never enjoyed such safety as they did under the Butler regime, when General Shipley was the military governor of the city. With the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson the flying detachments of Confederates that lingered along the Mississippi and in the bayous and inland rivers drew back into the western part of Louisiana, or into Texas, where most of them came from. They were a fearless set of men (unlike the home-guards of Tenjiessee), who seem to have been drawn to the banks of the Mississippi for the purpose of aiding their besieged friends in Vicksburg and Port Hudson; and although they were sufficiently active in annoying gun-boats and transliorts going up or down the river, they did not resort to the vile measures of the Tennessee home-guards or commit depredations upon inoffensive citizens. They were soldiers in every sense of the word, and risked their lives fearlessly in making attacks on the

Union

fortifications; fighting in

what

they considered the defence of their own soil, until the last Confederate stronghold

on the Mississippi had fallen. The surrender of the two great

fortifica-

tions relieved a large force of the Army and Navy from close confinement around the enemy, and allowed them to be used all along the river and coast. This, too, in a measure helped to get rid of the artillery

and mounted rangers, who, though not numerous enough to make a stand against the Federal troops, had been very annoying. The Federals had frequently to acknowledge that the Texas and Louisiana troops were more than a match for them; and if they had not been so strongly backed by the naval force, it is doubtful whether Butler or

WAR.

Banks could have held

their positions for a

month. After the fall of Vicksburg, Rear-Admiral Porter descended the Mississippi as far as New Orleans, where the comiuand of the entire river and all its tributaries was turned over to him by Farragut, who could now give his whole attention to the coast and its inlets, which were still in the hands of the

enemy. Farragut

had calculated on capturing

some

of the enemy's strongholds on the coast as early as 1862, but the latter held out defiantly very much strengthened, doubly armed and trebly manned their commanders arrogantly flying the Confederate flag and bidding our wooden vessels to come to the sacrifice that awaited them. After Farragut had turned over his part of the command in the Mississippi, it belonged to his successor to see that the enemy built no more forts along the banks of the great river; to guarantee a safe passage to

—

army

—

and commercial steamers, no provisions or troops reached the Confederates from Arkansas,

and

transports

to see that

Louisiana or Texas.

These duties were faithfully performed. tin-clads and gun-boats, now amounting to about 112, were spread along the

The

wjiole length of the river (below Vicksburg) and at or near the mouth of all tributaries. The vessels were divided into squad-

rons under young and competent officers, who vied with each other in carrying out the orders that were issued from time to time "to keep open the free navigation of the rivers." It cannot be said that peace was actually established, but the transit from Cairo to New Orleans was not at all hazardous for the travelling community; the little towns began to exhibit a desire to trade, and the people on the plantations soon found that they received more protection from the gun-boats than they did from the halfstarved Confederates, who had been accustomed to make frequent raids upon the coast (as they called the river-banks) in search of food and plunder.

XXXII

CH A PTER

— —

Navy Department at the Breaking out of the Rebellion. Secretary Welles, his Character and Ability. Commodores Stringham and Paulding CONNECTED WITH THE NaVY DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST SeCRETA'RY WeLLES. PaULDING DRIVES THE SECESSIONISTS OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT. PRESIDENT LINCOLN SELECTS Mr. G. V. Fox AS Assistant to Secretary Welles. Preparations of the Confederate Leaders. Confederate Iron-clads. Policy of the United States Government in Building Ships and Mounting Guns. Slowness of the Government in TAKING IN the SITUATION. — APPARENT SUPINENESS OF THE NaVY DEPARTMENT. Department Overwhelmed with Plans and Contractors, but Rises to the Occasion AND Puts forth its Energy. Difficulties in the way of Adopting the Right kind of Iron-clad. — The Department at first doubtful of the Plans of Ericsson's " Monitor." Boards Appointed to Discuss the matter of Iron-clads. Mistake in not Cutting down some of our Heavy Steamships and Converting THEM into Iron-clads. — Mr. Fox bends all his Energies towards Introducing Iron-clads into the Navy. Mr. Lenthall Chief-Constructor. Mr. Isherwood Chief of Bureau of Engineering. Rear- Admiral Dahlgren and his Guns. Mr. Fox Introduces the 15-inch Gun into the Navy.— Ericsson's claim as an Inventor.— Congress wakes up in Regard to the Requirements of the Navy.— Citizens to whom Credit was Due. — Twenty Single and Four Double Turreted Monitors Contracted for. Preparations to attack Charleston.

Condition of the

—

—

—

——

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

WHEN

war broke out, Department, like every other branch of the government, was totally unprepared for the event. The right of secession had been openly declared in the Senate and House of Representatives, and Southern members were daily leaving their seats; yet the Administration held back, and, deluded by Confederate sympathizers, sat still and looked on with dismay at the dismemberment of the country without seeming to take any steps to prevent it. No department of the government seemed to rise to the occasion, and the Navy Department was no exception to the rule. The Secretar}^ of the Navy, Mr. Gideon Welles, was not a naval man in any sense of the word. His life had been passed amid civil pursuits, and the only connection he had ever had with the Navy was for a short time when he was Chief of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing a purely political the

the civil

Navy

—

appointment. He had spent many years of his life as editor of a newspaper, and during his administration of affairs in the Navy Department gave evidence of ability in the use of his pen. The numerous dispatches

and reports which he wrote during the war showed that as a literary man he had few superiors.

But Mr. Welles was far advanced in years when he took charge of the Navy, and had reached a period when men generallv desire to retire to the shades of private life, and follow pursuits more congenial to their tastes. He was not a rapid thinker— was

cautious by nature and extremely methodical all he did. Having been at the head of a bureau where he constantly came in contact with contractors, he naturally surrounded himself with guards of all kinds, and introduced so much red tape into the Department, that it must have been a bold

m

man who would have through

it

all

attempted to break with the hope of overreaching

the chief or his assistants.

THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE Some of the bureau officers were inoculated with secession sentiments, and their rooms were daily filled with officers who exchanged opinions hostile to the government, meanwhile leaving the Secretary to assume that they were loyal. The Secretary, as a matter of course, received no aid from these men; on the contrary, they held him back and delayed his doing what good he attempted. Mr. Welles began to find out gradually that he was not surrounded by the kind of men it was desirable to have about him under the circumstances, and he called to his aid in the department Commodore Stringham, the best dock-yard officer in the Navy and a thorough seaman, loyal to the last degree and of a most honorable character. But he possessed no administrative abilities, disliked an office life, and soon sought relief from it by applying for active duty afloat. He was therefore appointed to the command of a small squadron, to attempt the capture of the forts at Hatteras Inlet, which he succeeded in doing. To show how slowly secretaries or officers

had risen to the occasion, and how little all concerned could form any estimate of what was actually necessary to be done at the •

breaking out of the civil war (though the coming events cast their shadows plainly before them), the Hatteras expedition was looked upon as a great event, and it was thought that the success of it was likely to carry such terror into the hearts of the Confederates that it would break up any further attempt to fortify the Southern coast! Commodore Paulding relieved Commodore Stringham in the Navy Department. He was a faithful officer, who looked upon the flag of his country as the emblem of all

that

was great and

garded secession as the

He

glorious.

worm at the

re-

root of

the flower, sure to destroy it unless speedilyremoved, and he was in favor of exterminating every man in the Navy of whose loyalty there was even a doubt. He had served many years of his life in active duty at sea, but he now began to show the advance of age, and did not at once realize the gravity of the situation. Running in a groove, as he had done for so many years, he was not able to change his nature suddenly

and adopt new methods. He soon found that he did not suit the place, nor the place him, and as his ideas of naval discipline were so dissimilar to the system which governed a civil department" that he had at times to defer to the opinions of the chief clerk, and the associations were not pleasant, he soon tired of the position, especially when he found that he would have to bear responsibilities which he did not care to shoulder. In fact. Commodore Paulding

disliked

CIVIL WAR.

355

the atmosphere of the Navy Department as as Commodore Stringham had done, and soon obtained duty at the New York Navy Yard, where he thought he could be of more service to his country. But before he left the Department he not only rooted out the disloyal officers who were attached to the different bureaus, but forbade any man who uttered disloyal sentiments, or who hesitated to espouse the Union cause, from entering the building. It never struck these loyal old officers, when they heard that the Confederates were building iron-clads, that something might be done in that direction by the North. They had fought their battles on the open decks of ships and they thought that was a

much

good-enough way for any one

to

fight.

believe in men who would resort to a shelter of iron for protection against shot or shell, and rather had a contempt for any one who would suggest such a mode of fighting. Consequently, their thoughts did not run in the direction of

They did not

iron-clads. It was absolutely necessary that Mr. Welles should have an adviser in his department who could take charge of the practical part of naval affairs, and who by his

knowledge of the wants of the Navy could him to meet the difficulties which were daily accumulating, and almost overpowering him. It would not have been looked upon favorably had he selected a naval officer below the highest grades, no matter wliat his abilities were, for such a thing had never occurred in the Navy That was argument enough, without mentioning that it would have been a reflection upon the older offiassist

!

It was for this reason that Mr. G. V. Fox, late a lieutenant in the Navy, was selected by President Lincoln as naval adviser, and finally appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy. It was not until Mr. Fox was appointed that due attention was paid to the building of iron-clads and other vessels appropriate for coast and river service, and it was to Mr. Fox that we were indebted during the war for the life and energy that pervaded the naval administration, and his ready compliance with the requisitions of officers, which enabled them to carry on naval operations with vigor. Secretary Welles was not an eminent statesman, yet he had qualities of a high

cers.

He was

loyal to his government, intercourse with men of disloyal sentiments, and drove out of the service all those officers who wavered in order.

held

no

their allegiance. He was a man of good judgment in many matters relating to the

came before him, and he never showed more wisdom than when he acquiesced in the President's appointment of Mr. Fox as his naval adviser. business that

THE NAVAL HISTORY

356

The

civil

war had now assumed such large

proportions, and so rapidly, that even the wisest men were at fault as to what should be done to meet the style of warfare which the Confederates were inaugurating all over the South. With the assumed resources of the North, every step the Confederates made in military or naval warfare

carried on between the promoters of secession and officers of the Army and Navy up to the last moment; many of the latter may have entered into these discussions and given all the desired information without realizing that they were unfaithful to the trusts confided to them by their lawful gov-

ernment.

We

believe that all the iron-clads that

should have been more than met by a corresponding move on the Federal side; but It was known early in this was not done. the war that the Confederates were building iron-clads of a peculiar character, but

finally got afloat or weri: burned on the stocks were calculated for before the war, the places of building them decided upon,

no one seemed to know exactly what their

would have

character was.

There is no doubt of one thing, viz., that long before the prominent secession leaders had signified their intention of leaving their seats in Congress, every move had been determined. It was known exactly liow many small arms were wanted, and how many great guns and pieces of artillery; and it was known that for a beginning there were enough of these arms stowed away in the Government arsenals scattered through the Southern States, to say nothing of the great armament that had been supplied from time to time to the States for the use of their militia. It is thus seen that in respect to arms the Confederates had no right to complain of deficiencies. At the battle of Bull Run they were as well supplied with all the appliances of war as were the government troops, who were forced to retreat on that day before the fire of this first army of the insurgents. For some time all these matters had been considered by the southern leaders; and when the time came to act, eleven States rose as one man, and the government had not only to put down the State of South Carolina, with a small number of insurrectionists, but millions of people from Kentucky

Maryland, all armed and equipped and formed into battalions, as if they had been

to

the great reserve of the nation, ready to jump to their arms at the call of the genThis system of preparaeral government. tion extended to the Navy as well as to the Army. The Confederate leaders knew, two years before the war, what officers of the Navy would unite with them in humiliating the old flag, and though these officers made no pledges, and doubtless hoped that the event would never take place tliat would disturb their position under the United States Government, yet they had made up their minds what to do in case the struggle ensued. It is not likely that the Southern leaders lose any opportunity of gaining information from Southern officers that would enable them to carry out their plans, and it is free to presume, from what we now know, that a full discussion of all matters was

would

the

difficulties

the

Federal

Government

to contend with to get at them, the material required for their construction, the time required to build them, and the officers and artisans who were to be employed in the work selected. This may seem doubtful, but the Confederates could never, with all their energy and determination to win, have achieved such work as they performed in the building of an iron-clad navy without having had preconceived plans. It is a compliment to their energy and ingenuity to say that they could build anything at all at the South beyond their They had so long delight river-steamers.

pended upon the Northern machine-shops for all heavy work needed in the South, that they had no great factories of their own. Even the Tredegar Works at Richmond, which supplied a large number of the Brooke rifles for the Confederacy, owed its existence to the fact that it was sustained by the United States Government in the first instance, and by large contracts given it for naval ordnance up to 1861, some of which was on the lathe when Sumter fired the first gun. If the Southerners did not make their plans before the war actually broke out, they deserve unbounded credit for the energy display^ed in getting into existence such formidable vessels as they did before the North had done anything but build the little "Monitor,"' which was ready nearly on the same day that the " Merrimac " created such consternation at Hampton Roads. It is true, that through the enterprise and energy of a western man, Mr. James B. Eads. we got some iron-clads afloat on the Mississippi, but it was not until the 17th of June. 1861. that the Quartermaster-general of the Army issued proposals for building the vessels. Great progress was made upon these quasi iron-clads when the work was once under full headway; but with all the remarkable services they performed, what were they when compared with the "Virginia," the "Louisiana,"' the "Albemarle." "Atlanta," "Mobile," and three large vessels built or building at Yazoo City the "Mississippi," burnt at New Orleans the "Tennessee," that fought a whole squadron (including three iron-clads) in Mo-

— —

OF THE

Bay— and the " Arkansas," that passed through a fleet of vessels (carrying 150 guns), without receiving more serious in3ury than the wounding of some fifteen men

bile

and the slight derangement armor and machinery?

of part of her

Previous to the civil war it had been aim of the United States Government to excel all other nations in the quality and size of its vessels-of-war. If a steam-

the

was built in Europe of large size and heavily armed, the U. S. Government

frigate

once laid down the lines of a larger vessel carrying many more guns, and these guns of a calibre hitherto unknown in naval warfare. had, in fact, reached the point of excellence in our ships some years previous to the breaking out of the Rebellion, and the great steam - frigates which figured during the war in attacks on heavy earth-works were sample vessels of our Navy. They had all steamed to different parts of the world, and their appearance and power called forth the applause of all foreign officers who visited them.* There were no vessels in Europe of this class that at

We

could compare with them; yet, with all these triumphs over foreigners, we had only one vessel at the time of the " Merrimac's " appearance that was able to compete with her. The only vessels we had building were the "New Ironsides" (a splendid ship of her class) and the "Galena," a perfect failure as an iron-clad, as proved by her weakness on the James River, where she attacked the Confederate batteries. It required some time for the Department to take in the true situation of affairs, and it was not until after the battle between the "Monitor" and " Merrimac" that they saw how nearly the nation escaped a great calamity, which had been averted by the invention of John Ericsson, and the gallant officer who fought the Union iron -clad with so much skill and bravery. Then the Navy Department rose to the occasion, and putting forth all its energy, more than redeemed itself for the apparent supineness of the past. At first neither the constructors nor the

Navy Department had a fair conception of what was needed in the Navy to meet the new order of vessels that were being The Department was overwhelmed with a multiplicity of plans that were presented by outside parties, who were backed by strong political friends in Congress whom it was advisable the Secbuilt in the South.

retary should conciliate. Some of these plans were so wild and impracticable that they could not be considered for a moment. The attention required by these claimants and their political backers hampered the Department greatly; and they were not so much indebted to John Ericsson for drivina-

WAR.

CIVIL the

"Merrimac"

367

into port, as for getting

pack of inventors and advisers who had been hanging about the doors of the Secretary of the Navy, until none but a person of Mr. Welles' placid temper or Mr. Fox's inflexible will could have been able to stand the strain. The little " Monitor " settled all rid of the

these inventors at the same time that she settled the " Merrimac," and Ericsson not only rose at once in the estimation of the public, but his standing with the Government became assured. From that time forth the Navy Department may be said to have assumed new life and vigor, and the most hypercritical historian can scarcely find fault with it for want of energy displayed in building vessels of the new type, which, when finished, could bid defiance to the heaviest ships of any foreign navy. There was at one time in England a large number of British naval officers who would not listen to the idea of having an iron-clad navy. The French were trying to introduce iron-clads into their service, but on a small scale; and their want of success did not en-

courage Englishmen to copy their tradiThey still clung to their idols, the staunch old wooden three-deckers, seventy -fours and frigates, and scouted tional enemies.

the idea of laying aside these noble structures for a class of vessel that had never been tested at sea, and which, in the opinion of many, would go to the bottom in the first gale of wind they encountered. They had in some cases partially protected the wood-work abreast of the guns, but not to

any

extent.

There was no master-mind to take hold of the subject, and to evoke a system that would at once show up the weakness of the British navy, and convince the authoi'ities that the days of the wooden monarchs of the sea were numbered. The Federal Navy Department long before had its eyes on the great English navy that made no move in the direction of changing the character of its vessels a navy full of clever and scientific men, who should have been ever alive to any theory that makes one navy superior to another, but who now refused to listen to the talk about iron-clad ships and scouted the idea of adopting them. It would have been a bold man, indeed, who, as Secretary of the Navy, would have taken the responsibility of building any number of untried "Monitors" without something to justify him in doing so. The

—

Secretary of the Navy himself and those about him had no positive belief at first in the success of Ericsson's " Monitor." The plan was so contrary to all preconceived ideas of a fighting-ship that they could not believe it would do what Ericsson predicted for

it.

THE NA VAL HISTORY

35E

The chief constructor of the navy, Mr. John Lenthall, at first condemned the "Monitor" in toto, and he was at that time the ablest naval architect in any country, having built some of the most effective ships afloat. All these things were enough to have deterred Secretary Welles from embarking in the iron-clad business; but he did take hold of the Ericsson plan, and in view of the fact that it was necessary to have something with which to meet the "Merrimac," he made a contract with this inventor which As in the end led to much larger vessels. " soon as the invulnerability of the " Monitor was established by her encounter with the most powerful iron -clad afloat. Secre-

tary Welles

placed on one of our river craft; " or, if none will bear it, to construct a scow that will answer, to plate and shield the guns for river service on the Potomac; to be constructed or prepared at the Washington Navy Yard for immediate use " The Board did not say how this iron-clad warrior was to be propelled. When three of the most skillful officers of the Navy could give the Secretary no better information than this, it is no wonder that he was doubtful of his own ability to decide in such a case; but he did decide, and in favor of Ericsson, who proposed not only the most reasonable price for !

was no longer

in advocating this class of vessel.

backward

To show how little was known about iron-clads in the U. S. Navy and how lit

•

support the Department received from that direction: A Board, established by Act of Congress, "to consist of three skillful line officers of the Navy," was appointed to look into the subject of ironclads; and, if their report was favorable, the Secretary of the Navy was to be authorized to build one or more tie

armored or

iron - clad, or or steel-clad, steamships floating batteries, etc., etc. This law was passed in September, 1861. The Board of Officers appointed to decide

upon

this

matter approached

the subject very carefully, saying: "Distrustful of our own ability to discharge this duty, which the law requires should be performed by three skillful naval officers, we approach the subject with diffidence, having no experiJOHN LENTHALL, CHIEF OF BUREAU OF CONSTRUCTION. ence and but scanty knowledge in this branch of naval architecture." his vessels, but the unity of the design seemed to strike the Board as something This Board was governed very much in

their reports by the information and opinions which they could obtain from English They recommended three out authorities. of seventeen plans that had been submitted (one of them John Ericsson's), but with

reservations and a proviso (which was enough to frighten off any constructor) that the vessels must be a success in all respects, or else be thrown back on the hands of the contractors " !

The Board on their own account recommended that armor and heavy guns be

"New

Ironsides" The likely to succeed. was also contracted for with Cramp &: Sons in Philadelphia, and the " Galena," to be armored with three -inch iron, to be built by Bushnell Co., New Haven, Connecticut. These three vessels, it is said, were to represent the three types of the American idea of iron-clads though, with the exception of the " New Ironsides," very few persons had any faith in them. This was the first attempt at building an iron-clad navy for operations on the coast,

&

—

OF THE CIVIL WAR. and the " Monitor " was the only one of them that was ready to meet the enemy's greatest fighting-machine, "just in the nick of time." There was one thing- which the Navy Department lost sight of altogether, and that was that the "Merrimac" was simply a large frigate being metamorphosed into an iron-clad. had five vessels similar to the " Merrimac," and any two of them could have been cut down and armored much more effectively than the Merrimac " was. The work could have been done at our northern navy yards in half of the time it could be done by the Confederates,

We

'

'

and we would have had two heavy ironclads ready to meet the Confederate monster if ever she

should get out of Norfolk. matters it ? some will say. The "Monitor" drove the " Merrimac" back, and demonstrated the superiority of the American type of iron-clad over the most powerful war-ship ever until that time built in any navy, placed us on an equality with England and France, and gave our government a sure plan they could follow with

What

•

safety.

Yes, but we would have been saved the disgrace and disaster of seeing two of our finest frigates sunk or destroyed at Newport News, 250 gallant officers and men slain almost in cold blood, three frigates run on shore and at the mercy of the " Merrimac," and every ship at Hampton Roads thrown into a state of panic, which unfortunately was witnessed by a foreign man-of-war lying at anchor off Fortress Monroe. It would have saved the government a shock which it did not recover from for some time, and the Northern people from the mortification of knowing that our entire fieet at

Hampton Roads had been beaten by one Confederate vessel in the first naval encounter of the war. With all this, the lesson learned was a useful one. It opened the eyes of Congress to the necessity of making more liberal appropriations for the Navy, and made them listen at last to the appeals of the Secretary of the Navy to strengthen this branch of the service.

The Board above referred to recommended that the Department should ask Congress, at the next session, to appropriate $10,000 for experiments on iron plates of diffei'ent kinds As if the Department could Avait while the enemy was thundering at its doors! But it is due to the Navy Department to state that it was not at all influenced by such a procrastinating policy. Mr. Welles while Secretary of the Navy received his share of abuse, and on no point was he more severely criticised than on his selection of the "Monitor" as the type of American iron-clads, for the princi!

359

ple did not meet with favor among that class of officers who were expected to serve in them. Mr. Welles could not expect to be exempt from criticism, or be excused from the responsibility of any failure that might attend his experiments with the Navy. He was in the position of the commander of a fleet, being alone responsible for success or failure. Though his subordinates may do a great deal of the

work, and make a great many suggestions, yet the Commander-in-chief is entitled to all the honors in case of success, and must Such has also bear the blame of failure. been the history of war since wars began. This rule also applies to heads of departments. They may have the ablest subordinates and be relieved of many of the cares of office, yet they must shoulder all responsibility and take the odium of every case of failure.

In writing history, one must be careful not to let his predilections in favor of one man lead him to do injustice to another, especially if this other is the head of a department and the responsible party. No matter what the abilities of the subordinates are, or how much their services have conduced to the desired end, one must look only to the head of his department for reward, as a lieutenant does to his captain.

men receive in their of credit due for their work; it oftener happens that they receive more honor after death. In the course of years history will do them justice. The patient, plodding historian will come along, and taking no account of time, will delve into the mass of records which lie at his disposal, when every word is carefully scanned, and the truth is sure to be evolved. Then men are weighed according to their merits, and assigned to their rightful positions. All the sensational histories written during the war, or directly after it, have long since been consigned to that bourne from which sensational history never returns. He who now undertakes to write of the war must prepare himself for severe criticism if he tries to deprive any one of credit. Time is a great promoter of good feeling and softener-down of asperities, enabling a writer of the present day to view things in a different light from what he did twenty years ago. It would be better, nevertheless, that a century should pass before the history of a war is written, when all the particifor history can be pators in it are dead better told from the written or printed records of the day than from the recollections of any one who lived among the scenes he attempts to describe; but, if men will write, they must lay aside all personal feeling, and keeping the records before their It is

not always that

life-time the

amount

;

THE NA VAL HISTORY

360

eyes, do their duty " tho' the heavens should fall."

Thus, in this history, in speaking of the

work done by the Navy Department to bring to an end the terrible rebellion that was devastating the country, the writer can only recognize Mr. Welles, the Secretary of the Navy, as the one who controlled the great machine that was turning out ships, gun -boats, iron-clads, etc., with a rapidity that astonished the powers of Europe, who were looking on with amazement at the Federal Government while the latter was building a Navy capable of setting at defiance even France or England. While Mr. Fox, the Assistant Secretary, was bending all his energies to devise the class of vessels best suited for the purposes of our war, and to meet the necessities of the occasion, and Mr. Faxon, the chief clerk, was giving his undivided attention to the civil branch of the Department, Mr. Welles was presiding over all and giving to

each his moral support. Mr. Welles was the responsible head; it was his judgment that decided almost all matters;

it

was

his coolness

and

placidity

temper that controlled those around him and smoothed over the little asperities and jealousies which would spring up among his subordinates with a smooth word lie brought back to his proper position anyone who attempted to assume more than his of

—

—

rightful authority in this way making a unit of the department. Mr. Fox was the able assistant, in charge of the general naval duties that had in years gone by pertained to the Board of Naval Commissioners, while Mr. Faxon was the chief clerk in charge of the Civil Department and the records.

Secretary Welles was the judicial, finanand political head, under whose direction everything was done; all plans were submitted to him, and no movement was made without his consent, and he weighed every matter before coming to a conclusion. He knew everything that was going on in the Navy; and as a proof that he understood and appreciated all that was taking place, and that he was observing the proper steps to provide for the future, it is only necessary for one to read the numerous able reports he wrote from time to time on tlie condition of the Navy and its requirements, or his descriptions of the operations of tlie different squadrons. These documents will convince any one that Secretary Welles had abilities of no ordinary kind, and that, with few omissions, he did everything that could be done to put the Navy in cial,

a creditable condition. That he could have accomplished all he did without Mr. Fox's assistance no but he showed one pretends to claim ;

his judgment in listening to this gentleman's recommendations, and by placing confidence in one who had the best interests

Hereafter, then, of the service at heart. when speaking of the Navy Department, we shall regard Secretary Welles as the reall under him owed sponsible head to proper obedience and their best efforts to aid in the difficult task he had before him.

whom

In

all

of the

that regarded the general increase

Navy, the Department had made

good use of the means at its disposal. The Navy Yards and private establishments were full of work to overflowing. Mr. John Lenthall, a constructor of the highest order,

was always ready, with his practical skill and science, for any emergency. He had planned the great frigates. -'Colorado," " Wabash," "Minnesota," " Merrimac,"and ' Franklin," which had elicited the applause He planned the "90-day of the world. gun-boats " immediately after the breaking

war (a small class of vessel carrying one 11-inch gun forward and two light 32-pounders aft, drawing only eight or ten feet of water, and therefore able to enter any of the Southern ports). These vessels were of the greatest use during the war, and their value could not be ovei-out of the

estimated. On a requisition from Mr. Fox, Mr. Lenthall designed the double-enders, with their heavy batteries of 9 and 11-inch guns and ten feet draft of water, that could follow the "90-day gun-boats" through the most narrow and tortuous streams, where, not having room to turn, they could go out again stern foremost, like a New York ferry-boat going from slip to slip. And when Mr. Lenthall was notified that the Confederates were having built in England fast clippers armed with English guns,

manned by English seamen, and commanded by Confederate officers, he at once designed a score of swift and beautiful corvettes, that were able to overtake any of the Confederate cruisers and capture them when they got them under their guns. One of these did actually destroy the " Ala-

bama." Mr. Lenthall also designed those large ships-of-war of over 3,000 tons (on Mr. Fox's suggestion), the first of which made seventeen and one-half knots per hour for twentyfour consecutive hours, the greatest speed that had been attained at that time by any naval power. In this case the ability of Mr. Isherwood, chief of Bureau of Steam Engineering, was brought into play. He designed the engines and boilers of these ships, as he did the machinery of all others planned by Mr. Lenthall. Mr. Lenthall could not at first be made to admit that a vessel of the "Monitor's" build could be made efficacious for war pur-

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

poses, or live in a sea-way, and he did not hesitate to say, while she was building, that she would go down as soon as she was launched. It was not until after the battle of the " Monitor" and " Merrimac" that he had any confidence in the former. Then Mr. Lenthall's ideas underwent a radical change,

and while he sighed over what he knew would be the end of all his beautiful wooden vessels, with whose fine models he had

many

hours of his life, his practiat once grasped the subject, with new ideas engrafted on the first project, and in the end he produced vessels of the Monitor type that had not their equals at that time in any European navy. Whatever alterations may have been made in the Monitor system, the original idea was that of John Ericsson; any change spent so cal

mind

361

Ericsson first conceived of building a raft that could not sink; which could not be struck by shot below the water line; which could not be rammed; where the rudder and propeller were entirely secure from shot or ramming; and where raising the anchor and all other operations could be performed without a single person appearing on deck. If the "Monitor" was not as efficient a vessel as some of those that came after her, it is no reason why any of her arrangements should be condemned. She performed a more important part in the history of the war than any of her successors, and her name will go down in history when the names of other vessels of her class will have been forgotten. Had the original design been received by the government as it ought to have been, and money spent without stint to produce at the first such vessels as the " Miantonomah" and " Monadnock," either of them would have destroyed the "Merrimac " in twenty minutes. prided ourselves in those days on the character of our ordnance, which was the best of its kind in the world we refer to the 11-inch and 9-inch smooth-bore rifled cannon had not at that time made such an advance as to satisfy us that it would be the gun of the future. Admiral Dahlgren, who had brought our naval ordnance to a state of perfection, considered the 11-inch the most powerful gun in the world; and having accomplished what he considered the grandest feat of gun-making in modern times, he was contented to rest upon his

We

—

—

laurels.

B. P.

ISHEBWOOD,

U.

S.

NAVY, CHIEF OP BUREAU OP

STEAM-ENGINEERING.

or improvement that left the hull submerged, or nearly so, and retained the revolving turret, was his by right. The criticisms on his first invention led him to consider the importance of somewhatchanginghis plans, and out of this came the ''Miantonomah,"

"Monadnock,"

etc., double-turreted moniwhich, with their four 15-inch guns, were more than a match for any three-

tors,

decker.

Though there were some objections to the first Monitor, there was nothing to call for the bitter criticisms with which the vessel was assailed. Theoretically, the original plan had advantages over the later ideas: for instance, the armor projected over the sides, stern and bow on what was called ^hii

/-»T7-CiT»l-i

oi-i n^

TX7'l-n/->l-»

a »*-f*ii:irl

rviTf

+V»o

irl/iio

There was a diversity of opinion at that time between the ordnance authorities of the Army and Navy in regard to the kind of guns that were required, which engendered some ill-feeling between the heads of the two branches of the service, the result of which was that there was no interchange of ideas. The Naval Chief of Bureau was satisfied that he had found in the 11-inch gun all that was desirable for naval purposes, never considering the great change that might occur at any moment in the shape and character of war ships that would involve the necessity of using larger

The result was that the new era came and found us with only the 11-incli gun on hand in the Navy. guns.

It is

not certain that the original Moni-

would have carried two guns of larger size, but her dimensions and steam power might easily have been increased at small additional expense, and she could have been tor

provided with 15-inch guns.

The ordnance department of the Army had gone to work very quietly and cast some guns of that size, somewhat on the Dahlgren pattern. Whether the Naval Ord-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

3G2

gun we are not prepared to say, but it is certain neither Secretary Welles nor Mr. Fox knew anything about it until after the battle of the " Monitor "and " Merrimac. The account of the destruction of the " Cumberland " and "Congress" had been flashed over the wires to the Secretary of the Navj^ and Mr. Fox started at once for Hampton Roads to see if he could be of any service, and to report on the condition of this 15-inch

affairs.

Fox was on the dock at Fortress Monwhere he could witness the fight between the iron-clads. He noticed that the shot from the "Monitor's" guns glanced off from the sloping sides of the "MerriMr.

roe,

mac," while the

rifled shot of the "Merrihave no effect on the turret of the "Monitor." "I wonder," he said, mentally, why no one has ever thought of casting larger guns with heavier shot, that would knock in that fellow's sides at the

mac " seemed

to

'

'

broadside." As this idea struck him, he cast his eyes on a monster gun that was lying on the dock under the lifting-crane, and on examining it he found it to be a 1 0-inch gun, army pattern, intended to be mounted at Fortress Monroe. This was a revelation to the Assistant Secretary, and he returned to Washington with his ideas much enlarged, and said to the Secretary, " We must have Monitors that will carry first

enough for 15-inch guns;'' and Mr. Welles, on hearing his story, agreed with him in his conclusions. When an invention which has been doubted and decried shows its superiority over all its competitors, and its detractors are turrets large

naught, it immediately rises to the extreme of popularity; and so it was with the Monitor system, though some officers, who thought more of their personal comfort than they did of results to be achieved, greatly preferred the " New Ironsides," with her sixteen 11-inch guns, to a Monitor with two, or even four, 15-inch guns. The "New Ironsides" was without doubt a splendid vessel, and we ought to have built more of the same kind; but although set at

she was better suited for attacking fortificaunder certain conditions than the Monitors were (owing to the number of her guns and the consequent rapidity of her fire), she would have stood no chance in a contest with one of the single-turreted class much less with the "' Monadnock " or " Miantonomah." The "New Ironsides " did not represent an idea that could be carried out in all future naval ships; no vessels built on her plans have maintained their positions, while the Monitor system has been combined in all the grand fighting-ships of the line in England. The Monitor turret has even been used for land fortifications, and it will no tions

—

doubt in the future be extensively applied to the defence of bays and harbors. That Ericsson deserves the credit for the original idea of the Monitor system, no one will deny; but, next to Mr. Ericsson, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy did more than any one else to improve on this idea, and apply it to naval warfare. It was a matter which the Navy Department had to handle cautiously; for though the "Monitor" had demonstrated her superiority over the "Merrimac," yet the plan was not altogether acceptable to the majority of naval officers; their objections were taken up by members of Congress, particularly those belonging to the "opposition," who were averse to giving liberal appropriations to "oppress the Southern people;" and it was only when anxiety was felt lest we might be involved in a war with France or England that patriotic feelings got the upper hand of sectional tendencies, and Congress came forward and voted the necessary

money

many vessels of the Navy Department asked

to build as

Monitor type as the for.

To go further into an explanation of all the merits of the Monitor class of vessels would take the writer beyond the limits assigned to this history. The reader must judge of their merits from what has been done with them by intelligent

officers.

To the uninitiated the history

of the difficulties attending the introduction of this new type of vessel into the Navy will be very much less interesting than the battles in which they engaged and the hard service they performed on the Atlantic coast, in shelling forts and riding out heavy gales,

—

while anchored out at sea defying the elements in their most disastrous forms. It is not only in regard to the men who fought the battles of the war that the public should be interested, but they should also be glad to understand the work done by those in official positions at headquarters in overcoming tiresome details, in fighting against ignorance and prejudice, or in providing for the thousand wants of fleets and ships, which, without proper forethought on their part, might have been paralyzed, perhaps in a time of great danger to the nation.

When the United States was drawn into the dreadful contest, which brought sorrow and desolation to so many homes, the country was in no condition to go into a war of any kind. Had we become involved at that time with a fifth-rate naval power, we

should have been humiliated beyond anything one can conceive; our cities would have been bombarded and laid waste, our commerce would have been driven from the ocean to seek shelter under some neutral flag, and our Navy, instead of beine- in

OF THE CIVIL WAR. condition to take the sea against our enemies, would have been laid up to prevent its being captured. That is not exactly the kind of Navy a great country like this should possess, fit only to cruise in peaceful times and over summer seas. But such has been the policy of our statesmen from decade to decade, and the Navy has never received proper attention. Even the great civil war did not seem to stir up Congress to remedy the evils that had fallen upon it during the long peace. The cry was in the halls of Congress, " want no Navy," and the Secretaries of the Navy, up to 18G1, echoed the oft-told tale that we only wanted a " small but eflficient Navy!" As if a small Navy could

We

be at

all efficient,

when

it

363

began. Yet all this was provided for in less than a year. Though the Navy Department has been at times severely criticised by those in opposition to it, yet the naval officers, as a whole, can but acknowledge that, with the exception of not keeping i^ace in the early part of the war with the Confederates in tlie building of heavy iron-clads, there was a remarkable degree of efficiency in all the civil branches of the Navy as well as in the

Navy

afloat.

It would occupy a large space to enumerate all that was done by the Department: the difficulties overcome, the resources cre-

ated almost out of nothing, the opposition of partisans, the strife that had to be conciliated and the enemies that had to be op-

would have been

obliged to retire under the guns of our forts in case of a foreign war, or else be towed up some inaccessible river and stowed away until peace was restored. at times almost think that the rebellion was a blessing in disguise, if only to show how unprepared we were for hostili-

We

foe, by whom we would have been humiliated and no doubt have been mulcted in damages to an amount that would have crippled the country for years to come. Though we might incur great losses by a civil war, yet there would be no humiliation in it. What chagrin may have been felt on both sides, we could share it alike; and having set fire to our estates and burned up each other's houses, it would be our free fight and not the business of any one else. We could put our shoulders to the wheel after the fight was over, and with the energy possessed by no other people we could gather the fragments of our greatness together again, and become stronger than ever. There would be no humiliation to the nation in such a strife, and we would show the world at large how impossible it would be for any ties

with a foreign

to a certainty

foreign army to land on our shores without being exterminated. The naval officers who gained success in the war of the rebellion ought not to forget, amidst the honors

and rewards they won, how much they were indebted to the herculean efforts of those in the Navy Department for the support they received under the most trying circumstances how, after the first surprise of being forced into a great war, and the slow process of realizing the situation had been passed, ships and guns were furnished as if by magic; when at the beginning of the war, few officers counted on obtaining commands, and there was little prospect of our acquiring a class of vessels that would be impregnable against the heavy shot and shell which the enemy seemed to possess in abundance, even a year after the war

—

CAPTAIN H.

A. "WISE, U. S.

NAVY, CHIEF OF BURE.\U OF

ORDNANCE.

posed, out of all which grew up a Navy that at one time bade defiance to France and

England, who, in consequence, let us alone work out our own destiny. Among others who were in favor of building up an iron - clad navy were citizens whose names should ever be remembered. At the time when the greatest opposition was being manifested against Ericsson's to

invention, and the government would only authorize the construction of the first "Monitor" on a guarantee that she should prove a success in battle, John A. Griswold,

Bushnell and Winslow, and Erastus Corncame forward to the inventor's assistance, and it was mainly due to the capital furnished by these gentlemen that the

ing,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

364

"Monitor" was ready

in time to meet the " Merrimac." It is thus seen that, although there was a want of liberality in Congress, our private citizens were more generous,

and would not let an invention which common-sense told them was invaluable, be lost for want of money, even though they ran the risk of losing all that they ventured. Men frequently occupy subordinate positions where their lives are expended in carrying on important work which without

would

their services

such

result in failure.

To

men

great credit is due, although they generally receive but little. Captain Henry A. Wise, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance in the Navj^ Department, was one of those steady workers who labored from the beginning to the end of the

tary Welles did not feel himself authorized recommend to the President to send Captain Wise's name to the Senate. Paymaster Horatio Bridge, Chief of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, also made his mark in the Navy Department under the administration of Mr. Welles. He to

was Paymaster-General and CommissaryGeneral of the Navy, and had over six hundred vessels-of-war of all classes to keep This important duty he performed in a most satisfactory manner, and his exertions contributed much to the success of naval operations. Surgeon P. J. Horintz, Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, displayed marked ability in the Management of the Bureau over which he presided. Of the importance of the duties of Surgeon-General, particularly in time of war, it is not necessary to speak, and we can only say that Dr. Horintz did his duty in a most satisfactory manner. To Rear- Admiral Joseph Smith, Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, the country was largely indebted for the practical advice which he gave the Department, the fruit of his long and varied experience. Rear-Admiral Smith, with the other officers whom Mr. Secretary Welles had to assist him, formed a fine combination, and although the former was advanced in years at the breaking out of the war, and not very robust, yet he was ever punctual in the supplied.

performance of his duties. Such men as we have mentioned assisted

HOKATIO BRIDGE, PAY DIRECTOR,

U.

S.

NAVY, (CHIEF OF

BUBEAD OF PROVISIONS AND CLOTHING.)

war.

Of him

it

man was

may

be truly said that the

in the right place while he occupied his important post. Everything in Captain Wise's bureau moved like clockwork, and ships and squadrons lost no valuable time in waiting for guns and ammunition. The occasions were many in which commanding officers paid the highest eulogiums to Captain

right

Wise's energy and ability, and he was thoroughly appreciated by the head of the

Department and by Assistant Secretary Fox.

The Board of Admirals convened at the close of the civil war paid Captain Wise the high compliment of recommending his promotion to the grade of commodore, but owing to the wording of the law Mr. Secre-

greatly in lightening the labors of the venerable Secretary of the Navy, and enabled him to carry the Navy successfully through a great crisis. It was sometime in April, 1862, that the Department determined to build up an ironclad navy on the Ericsson idea, and by December of that year twenty single-turreted Monitors were contracted for, or under construction, all their plans having been made ready for the assembling of Congress. These vessels were to be of about 614 tons displacement, excepting a few of 844 tons. They were very much larger than the original •' Monitor"' and were designed to carry two 15-inch guns in a revolving turret. The idea of the first " Monitor" was carried out these vessels to a great extent, but with such modifications as experience warranted. The side-armor was five inches thick, fastened to a three -foot oak backing, and the turrets of eleven 1-inch plates, bolted together with all the skill and ingenuity

m

American mechanics were capable of. There were also contracted for, or under construction, four double-turreted Monitors, to be armed with four 15-inch guns, the object of the government in building these vessels being to provide a turreted oceancruiser. They were large vessels of 1,564

OF THE

tons displacement, 257 feet in length, and 56 feet in breadth, and drawing about 18 feet of water. The side-armor was equal to 11 inches of solid iron, not counting the wood backing; the turrets were 12 inches thick, of laminated plates. Weight of broadside 1,800 pounds, more than equalling the broadsides of the heaviest French or English frigate.

This was a wonderful step for the NavyDepartment to take after hesitating so long over the contract for the first "Monitor," but that little vessel had so effectually demonstrated her capability of coping with the great leviathan of the Confederacy that there was no longer, as regarded the Monitor system, a pin to hang a doubt on. It was evident that the principle could be carried out to any extent, and that vessels-ofwar of this construction could be built to cross the ocean and withstand the heaviest weather. Nine of the single-turreted Monitors were pushed to completion for the purpose of taking Charleston, and for such other work as could not be accomplished by wooden ships. From the time Rear- Admiral Dupont took command of the squadron, Charleston had been closely watched from outside the bar, and the whole southern coast blockaded to the satisfaction of the Department. This was good work to accomplish from November, 1861, to October, 1862, for it included, in addition to keeping up a vigorous blockade, a great many expeditions against the enemy in the numerous sounds and inlets; and these expeditions had often to be undertaken at the risk of neglecting the blockade for a day or two. The Navy Department had not yet been supplied with a sufficient number of vessels to comply with all the demands made upon it. There was a large amount of coast under blockade from the capes of Virginia to the Rio Grande in Texas, and every commander of a squadron was applying for more vessels to enable him to carry out his instructions.

The great desire

of Secretary Welles had to capture Charleston, the original seat of insurrection and disunion. Preparations were made for the occupation of the harbor and the reduction of the defences of this city. The completion of the iron-clad vessels was pushed with all the power of the Department, though it was found a difficult matter to urge the contractors to move faster than their limited means would pei-mit. It was

been for the

Navy

a new work on which they were engaged, and it was necessary to feel the way for fear of making mistakes; besides, in almost all cases, it was necessary to get up a new plant.

In order to enable Rear- Admiral

WAR.

CIVIL

Dupont

305

to carry out the wishes of the Department, his squadron was now re-inforced hx the

following

iron-clads

:

"New

Ironsides,"

"Weehawken," "Montauk." "Keokuk," "Patapsco," "Nahant," "Nantucket" and " Catskill." This was a powerful fleet, and the Secretary of the Navy depended upon it to close the port of Charleston so effectively that nothing in the shape of an enemy could get in or out; and finally, if opportunity offered, to make an attack on the batteries, remove the obstructions, and go on up to the city.

The "New Ironsides" carried sixteen 11inch guns and one heavy rifle; the Monitors each carried one 15-inch and one 11-inch gun (except one that carried a heavy rifle instead of the 11-inch). This was the force that would be called into play in case Dupont determined to attack the batteries, and with which he was expected to be victoi-ious. For after the fight of the "Monitor" with the "Merrimac," and her success, theturreted vessels had grown in favor with all classes of people, and many ran to the other extreme of supposing that the Monitors were invulnerable, that all they had to do was to haul up alongside the Confederate fortifications and drive the gunners away. Some of these vessels arrived at Charleston bar as early as January, 1863, and Dupont, who was a sagacious and prudent officer, considered it his duty, before commencing any important operations, to have tested to see what their turrets and would bear, and to ascertain whether anything could be done to improve their

them hull

defensive power.

The

had only been tried and then only against guns the largest of which were the 7-inch rifles in the bow and stern of the "Merrimac," turret principle

once in

battle,

neither of which, it is clear, ever struck the " Monitor" in hull or turret. To deter-

mine this point. Commander John L. Worden was sent down to Ossabaw Sound to operate up the Great Ogeechee River and capture, if he could, a fort at Genesee Point, under cover of which the steamer " Nashville " was lying, fltted out as a privateer, and onh^ waiting an opportunity to get to sea and prey upon Federal commerce. He

was

also instructed to destroy the railroad at that point, if successful in taking the fort

and destroying the " Nashville."

Commander Worden at

arrived off the bar

Ossabaw Sound on Januarj^

24th, 1863,

but a thick fog prevailed at the time, and the " Montauk " did not get under-way and stand up the river until the next morning. When just outside of the range of Fort McAllister's guns Worden again anchored, and was there joined by the gun-boats "Seneca," " Wissahickon," and "Dawn."

THE NAVAL HISTORF

366

The enemy had range- stakes or buoys planted in the river, and a boat expedition under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Davis was sent up to destroy them, and any obstructions or torpedoes that he might find in the way. At 7 A. M., on the 37th, Commander Worden got underway with the " Montauk" (the gun-boats following), moved up to 150 yards below the obstructions anchored and opened tire on the fort. The enemy returned the "Montauk's" fire very briskly at first, no doubt wondering what kind of a nondescript they were firing at. After about an hour's practice the " Montauk " had the enemy's range so well that his fire began to slacken. At 11.15, a. m., all the shells of the " Montauk " had been expended and solid shot had to be used in their stead but as they did not seem to have the same effect upon the enemy as the sliells, Commander Worden, considering that he was throwing away ammunition, got underway and stood down the river, accompanied by

—

his consorts.

The practice of the Confederates during this battle was very fine, striking the " Montauk " a number of times but doing no dam-

and towards the end only firing at intervals. The report does not say what weight of shot or shell the enemy fired, age,

whether smooth-bore or

rifle,

or

how many

what part of the vessel, the "Montauk" was struck; but we presume that Commander Worden was satisfied with the result of his experiment, and so reported to Rear- Admiral Dupont. Worden, whose experience in the lighter "Monitor" at Hampton Roads ought to have made him a good judge of the strength of the " Montauk " on this occasion, seemed to treat the matter lightly, and it is probable that he thought his vessel would give a good account of herself when she was times, or in

brought into action against the Charleston defenses. As no battle of the criticised as the one

war has been

so closely

between our iron-clads

and the forts at Charleston, we will give a separate chapter to the operations of RearAdmiral Dupont while he commanded at that point. In the next chapter we will also give an account of such events as occurred prior to this attack, which cannot help but be interesting to the reader.

CHAPTER XXXIII. Capture of the "Princess Royal."— Remarks on Blockading the Southern Ports, AND THE DIFFICULTY in PREVENTING BlOCKADE-RUNNERS GETTING IN AND OUT. — ATTACK ON Blockading Vessels before Charleston by Confederate Rams. — Surrender OF THE U. S. S. "MeRCEDITA." "KEYSTONE StATE " DISABLED BY THE RaMS, WHICH AFTERWARDS ATTACK THE " AUGUSTA," " QuAKER CiTY" AND " MEMPHIS."— RaMS escape chased by the " juniata." — confederates claim the blockade is raised. The Claim not admitted and the Blockade Strengthened. — Capture of the Gunboat "Isaac Smith." The Iron-clad "Montauk," Commander John L. Worden, ENGAGES the FoRTS AT OGEECHEE RiVER. — CONFEDERATE STEAMER " NaSHVILLE " DESTROYED BY THE "Montauk" and other Vessels. — Iron-clads "Passaic," "PaTAPSCO " AND NaH ANT " ATTACK FORT Mc ALLISTER. — SINKING VESSELS ON CHARLESTON Bar as Obstructions. — Expectations of the Navy Department from the Iron-clad Vessels. — Admiral Dupont attacks the Batteries in Charleston Harbor, April 7, Description of the Harbor of Charleston. — Order of Admiral Dupont 1863. PREVIOUS TO Attacking the Forts.—List of Iron-clads engaged in the Attack. Iron-clads Retire before the heavy Fire op the Batteries. — The " Keokuk" disabled AND afterwards SUNK. LiST OF DAMAGES TO THE IrON-CLADS. — COMPARISON BETWEEN THE GUNS ON ShORE AND THOSE AFLOAT. ViEW OF THE CaSE. REFLECTIONS ON Chief Engineer Stimer's Letter to the Navy Department.—-Difficulties encountered BY the Monitors. Misrepresentations of the Attack on Charleston. — General Ripley's Instructions for Repelling the Federal Attack on Charleston. Correspondence between President Lincoln and Admiral Dupont, and between Mr. Secretary Welles and Admiral Dupont. Admiral Dupont retires TO Port Royal. Combined Attack of Army and Navy on Buffington. — Capture OF Confederate Iron-clad "Atlanta" by the U. S. S. "Weehawken." Admiral Dupont Retires from Command of the South Atlantic Squadron and is Succeeded by Rear- Admiral Dahlgren. — Secretary Welles' Letter to RearAdmiral Dupont on his Giving up his Command. — List of Officers who served UNDER Admiral Dupont.

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'

—

—

—

—

—

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commenced in JanuOPERATIONS ary, 1863, by some of the vessels of Rear - Admiral Dupont's squadron capturing a large blockade-running steamer, which proved to be one of the most valuable prizes of the war. To show the nature of the blockading service, it may not be uninteresting to give an account of the capture of the abovementioned vessel. On the morning of the 29th of January a blue light was observed from the U. S. S. "Unadilla," Lieutenant-Commander S. P. Quackenbush, in an easterly direction, supposed to be from the U. S. S. " Blunt." The " Unadilla " slipped her cable and stood in

—

shore in a north-west direction, guided by a rocket thrown up apparently by the "Blunt," and indicating the course of a vessel attempting to run the blockade. After proceeding inshore a mile and a half, a steamer was observed from the " Unadilla " standing along close to the shore, and heading for Charleston. Two shots were fired at her by the "Unadilla," when the strange steamer changed her course and ran upon the beach, where she was immediately taken possession of. The prize proved to be the iron steam-propeller "Princess Royal," four days out from Bermuda one of the principal depots of the blockade-runners loaded with rifle-guns, small-arms, am-

—

—

THE NAVAL HISTORY

368

munitioii, steam-engines for iron-clads, etc., etc.

Thus was the Confederacy kept afloat by our cousins across the water, not so much from sympathy with the Southern people as from a desire to obtain cotton, which was so necessary for them to have to keep their mills going and prevent a revolt of the factory operatives. The English Government did nothing to prevent blockade-running, and doubtless considered it a fair business enterprise. If a vessel got safely in past the blockaders, her cargo sold at a large profit, and she loaded with cotton, worth three times as much as the ingoing There was great excitement as well cargo.

SUBEENDER OF THE

U. S.

STEAMER

"

blockade - running continued, the task of putting down the Rebellion was greatly increased, and it could only be prevented by the untiring energy and watchfulness of the Navy, incited somewhat by the hope of prize-money, which is a great incentive to extra exertions in time of war both to

Blockade-runners were officers and men. captured in large numbers, and the vessels and cargoes condemned by our Admiralty Courts, without protest from the British

Government. There was plenty of timber in the South, and the Southerners could build vessels as fast as Perry did on Lake Erie, but they could not build engines of the kind they required.

MERCEDITA " TO THE CONFEDERATE RAM, "PALMETTO STATE," OFF CHAKLESTON HARBOR. JAN.

as profit to the hardy Britons

who engaged

in this trade.

In some respects the Confederates had advantages superior to our own. The markets of Europe were glutted with rifled guns and engines, and almost all the blockade-runners carried rifled field-guns for the Confederates, while the conservative Army and Navy Departments of the North felt it due to the people that all the implements of war should be made at home. The result was that the Confederates at an early stage of the war had their forts partly armed with heavy rifled guns, while in our vessels-of-war a rifled gun was an exception. It was plainly to be seen that, as long as

31, 1863.

The

British

merchants who went into

blockade-running with such alacrity probably never dreamed of the facility with which the United States Government could equip a large number of vessels exactly calculated to run down and capture their own. There was another factor that these traders had not taken into account the watchfulness and energy of the American naval officers, who were ever on the alert, and would either run the blockade-runners off the coast or upon the beach, where they would fall into Federal hands, often with their cargoes in perfect order. This was the case with the "Princess Royal," which was floated off without sustaining the least injury, and

—

OF THE up by the Navy Department as a gun-boat, and performed good service, under Commander M. B. Woolsey, at the

CIVIL

WAR.

369

"was fitted

as soon as she appeared, for none but an en-

capture

emy would have approached so stealthily. He should have had steam up and chain ready to slip at a moment's notice. No one

of

the

forts

at

Donaldsonville,

La.

During January,

harbor of Charleston was not occupied by the Federal squadron, but the vessels lay outside the bar, keeping a bright look-out. Towards the end of the month two of the heaviest ships, the "Powhatan" and " Canandaigua," had to proceed to Port Royal for coal, leaving some lighter vessels to continue the blockade. The Confederates had two ironclad rams, the "Chicora" and "Palmetto State," under Commodore D. N. Ingraham, in Charleston Harbor, and on the 31st of January, about 4 a. m., they succeeded in crossing the bar unperceived in the darkness and attacked the " Mercedita," Captain H. S. Stellwagen, which had just returned from the chase of a strange vessel. The captain was below, and LieutenantCommander Abbott in charge of the deck, when the faint appearance of a vessel showing black smoke was seen through the gloom. All the Federal vessels burned anthracite, while the Confederates and blockade-runners burned bituminous coal, the smoke from which can be seen even in the darkness of night. 1863,

the

All hands were called to quarters, the captain appeared on deck, and saw what, for all he knew, might be a tug belonging to the squadron. The guns were trained on the approaching stranger, who was then hailed and ordered to heave-to. The answer to the first hail from the Mercedita " was Hello !" The other replies were purposely indistinct, and the stranger crashed into the Federal vessels, with the reply, " This is the Confederate States' steam-ram, 'Palmetto State.'" The order was given to fire, but no gun could be brought to bear on the enemy as she approached. At the moment of striking, the "Palmetto State" fired a rifle-shell diagonally through the Federal steamer, which penetrated the condenser, the steam-drum of the port-boiler, and exploded against the port-side of the vessel, making a hole four or five feet square in its exit. The " Mercedita" was instantly enveloped in vapor, while '

'

'

cries

came from below:

'

"Shot through

—gunner and one man killed and a number fatally scalded water over fire-room floor —vessel sinking the boiler! Fires put out

fast

!

The ram has cut us through at and line, and the shell has burst

below water at the water

line on the other side !" This was appalling information, and it must be a well-trained crew that would not feel nervous at such intelligence. Captain Stellwagen could do nothing, for the

enemy's ram was under his counter. He had made a mistake in not firing on the stranger

expected that the enemy's rams would dare cross the bar, but the same love of adventure existed in the Confederate navy as in the Federal, and this affair was another illustration of the importance of never underrating a

foe.

After the "Palmetto State" struck the "Mercedita" she swung round under the latter's counter, and the Confederate com-

mander called out, "Surrender,

or I will sink

Captain Stellwagen replied, "I can make no resistance, my boiler is destroyed." "Then, do you surrender?" inquired the you!"

"I do," replied Stellwagen. The Confederate commander hailed

other.

several times for a boat to be sent him, threatening to fire in case of further delay. Lieu-

tenant-Commander Abbott then proceeded on board the ram, where the parole of the officers and crew of the " Mercedita " was demanded; after receiving which, the ram started in the direction of the "Keystone State," which vessel and three other blockaders Captain Stellwagen had tried to alarm by burning signal-lights. Soon after the ram left the "Mercedita " the people on board that vessel saw a shell from the " Keystone State " explode against her armor, and several shells from the ram hit the "Keystone State," followed by smoke and vapor, which poured from the latter. The firing then receded to the north and east and finally died away, and it was supposed the ram had engaged all the block-

ading vessels in turn.

The commanding officer of the " Mercenow set to work to save his vessel, about which nothing had been said on board the ram. The enemy supposed the vessel was sinking, and probably thought dita "

those on board could take care of themselves. In two hours repairs were made, and with the assistance of the " Stettin " and " Flag " the "Mercedita" reached Port Royal. When the "Keystone State" was attacked. Commander Le Roy gallantly returned the enemy's fire, but the ram lodged a shell in the fore-hold of his vessel, which set the " Keystone State " on fire and obliged her to shear off till it could be extinguished. By this time the ram "Chicora," Commander John R. Tucker, had attacked the "Keystone State" and Le Roy turned upon the enemy, and putting on full steam ran right for one of the rams at the rate of twelve knots an hour, when a shell from the enemy penetrating both steam-chests rendered the "Keystone State" powerless. Two rifleshells burst on the quarter-deck, but most of them struck the hull, and there were two feet of water in the hold; but some of the

THE NAVAL HISTORY

370

other vessels of the blockading squadron now came to the assistance of the Keystone State" and took her in tow. These vessels were the " Augusta," Commander E. G. Parrott, the "Quaker City," Commander J. M. Frailey, and the "Memphis," Acting-Lieutenant P. G. Watmough. All these steamers kept up a brisk fire on the enemy's rams while the "Keystone State" was towed out of their reach. The "Augusta "and "Quaker City "were both struck in their hulls, but the "Memphis" only in her rigging. As daylight approached, the rams hauled off to the north-west, chased by the U. S. S. " Juniata," and anchored inside the shoals of the swash-channel, their commanders doubtless thinking they had done enough for one night and that they must reserve their strength for a future occasion. On board the "Mercedita" there were '

'

twenty

killed

gether and hold the positions they occupied, yet, strange to say, the foreign consuls at Charleston, and an officer commanding one of Her Britannic Majesty's ships-of-war, united in a statement that the blockade of

Charleston had been raised

!

The "New Ironsides," "Powhatan," and " Canandaigua " were immediately added to the force off Charleston, which, without further argument, settled the question. The

port of Charleston remained blockaded more closely than ever, and it was generally accepted by the world that the gentlemen who had put their names to a paper stating the blockade had been raised had prostituted their offices, by giving currency to a statement which could not have been forced

upon

their conviction as truth.

and as many wounded, a

number being scalded to death, among whom was Assistant Surgeon Jacob H. Gotwold and his steward. It was a heavy list of killed and wounded for so short an engagement, but the Confederates wasted very few shots, and the striking of the boilers of two of the Federal vessels was no doubt a matter of calculation and not mere accident.

The attack of the Confederate rams on the Union squadron was a gallant affair, and the one that encountered the "Mercedita" might have sunk that vessel while the commanding officer was hesitating to answer the hails. After disabling the Mercedita " and encountering four other vessels, finding doubtless that the Federal ships were too numerous to be agreeable, the rams moved off uninjured and sought the safety of well-known channels. Admiral Dupont was much chagrined when he received the news of this engagement; but a nation cannot expect to carry on a war with a skillful and energetic enemy without mishaps, especially under circumstances like the above, where the Confederates could slip out in the darkness, make a dash at the blockading vessels and retire when necessary to do so. The Confederate authorities endeavored to make great capital out of this affair, '

'

and General Beauregard, who commanded the defences, proclaimed officially that the blockade had been raised, as the United States Navy was powerless to maintain However, next morning, the blockading it. vessels were at their posts as usual, ready to prevent the ingress or egress of any vessel.

The claim of the Confederates that the blockade had been raised by the raid of their two rams was, of course, absurd. To raise a blockade, it would be necessary to drive away the blockading vessels alto-

CAPTAIN PEKCrVAL DRAYTON,

U.

S.

N.

On the 1st of February Admiral Dupont received notice of the capture of a gunboat. It seems that the " Isaac Smith," Acting-Lieuteuant-Commanding F. S. Conover, was sent up Stone River to make a reconnaissance. No enemy was seen; but when the vessel was on her way back three concealed batteries opened a concentrated fire on her from heavy rifle-guns. The gun-boat " McDonough," Lieutenant-Com-

mander Bacon, was

at anchor down the and on hearing the firing got underway, and went to the assistance of the "Isaac Smith;" but owing to the number, position and weight of the enemy's guns could render no aid without the certainty of losing his own vessel. The " Isaac Smith " was aground and enveloped in a cloud of vapor, and the "McDonousrh" was soon river,

OF THE fire.

The commanding officer of the " Isaac Smith" endeavored to get out of the trap in which he found himself by dropping below the batteries; but for upwards of a mile, on account of a bend in the river, the vessel

was subjected to a raking fire of 30 guns, and was only able now and then to answer with her pivot-gun. To add to the difficulty, a large number of concealed riflemen were firing upon the vessel. Eight of the gunboat's crew were killed and 17 wounded. But for the latter, the commanding officer would have set fire to his vessel and escaped with his officers and men; but to escape with the vessel was impossible, and she was therefore surrendered. It may have been observed by the reader that

many

371

The vessel frequently came near the

driven off by the superior range of the

enemy's

WAR.

CIVIL

forts,

watching an opportunity to run out and perform the part of the "Alabama" or "Florida." The "Nashville" was armed with a heavy pivot-gun, and, being fast, would no doubt have rivalled the other Confederate cruisers that had done so much injury to our commerce. For this reason she was closely watched, and it was as great a triumph to dispose of such a craft as it would have been to win a considerable victory.

On

the 27th of

February,

Commander

Worden, on making a reconnaissance, observed that the " Nashville " had grounded in that portion of the river known as "Seven Mile Reach," and on the 28th at daylight the

cases occurred during the civil

war where vessels were entrapped as the "Isaac Smith" was; but, as a rule, the defence of these vessels was characterized by great, courage. In such cases it was not possible to ascertain the loss of the enemy, and we abstain from unreliable conjectures.

was impossible

to circumvent the enwithout running such risks as were encountered by the " Isaac Smith." " Nothing venture, nothing have," is a maxim which all should profit by who go to war. Though now and then the Federals met with losses of vessels, yet the experience gained was beneficial and stimulated the younger officers to deeds of daring, while teaching them at the same time the necessity of prudence. It

emy

On the 1st of February the "Montauk," Commander John L. Worden, was ordered engage the forts at Ogeechee River, a duty which was well performed; but the Confederates shifted their guns from point to point, as the range of the "Montauk" improved, and finally the vessel withdrew from action after expending a large amount of ammunition and being struck thirty -nine times without apparent injury. The Confederate steamer "Nashville" had been closely watched for eight months by the blockading steamers "Wissahickon," to

Lieutenant-Commander John L. Davis, the "Dawn," Lieutenant John S. Barnes, and the "Seneca," Lieutenant-Commander William Gibson. The "Nashville" lay under Fort McAllister loaded with cotton, and although a swift and well-appointed steamer, After several months she withdrew up the Ogeechee River and returned in the guise of a privateer, presenting a formidable appearance. Fort McAllister was strengthened and the river lined with torpedoes to prevent the ascent of vessels to attack the "Nash-

never ventured to run out.

ville."

COMMANDER (NOW EEAE-ADMIKAL) DAHIEL AMMEN.

" Seneca " and " Dawn " moved Worden was able to approach within twelve hundred yards of the " Nashville," though under a heavy fire from the The "Montauk" opened on the privafort. teer, while the gun-boats enfiladed the fort at long range. In a short time Commander Worden had the satisfaction of seeing the " Nashville " in flames from the shells exploding in different parts of her. The Nashville's" pivotgun was soon exploded by the heat, and in a short time the vessel blew up with a terThe fort continued a brisk fire rific crash. on the "Montauk," but only struck her five times, and inflicted on her no damage whatever, which indicated that she was impervious to shot and shell. toroedo exnloded "

Montauk

up the

'"

river.

'

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A

THE NAVAL HISTORY

372

near the vessel as she dropped down the river out of range of the enemy's guns, but did no harm, and that night Commander

Worden had

the satisfaction of reporting Dupont the destruction of a vessel that might have proved as troublesome as the " Alabama." It was deemed advisable to try the ironclads of the squadron in action with some fort, so as to be certain of their impenetrability, and fully test the working of the Captain Percival Drayton, comturrets. manding the "Passaic," was directed to proceed with the "Patapsco," Commander Daniel Ammen, and the "Nahant," Commander John Downes, up the Ogeechee River, and make an attack on Fort McAlto Rear- Admiral

lister.

The fort had been subjected to three previous attacks from the "Montauk;" but damages to earth-works are easily repaired, and the work made stronger than ever, unless the guns have been dismounted, as during a bombardment the weak points are discovered and strengthened. Fort McAllister was 20 feet above the river, solidly built, with high traverses between the guns, protecting them from anything but a direct fire. It contained one 10inch columbiad, a 100-pounder rifle, four 32pounders, and one Whitworth rifle, throwing bolts.

The three vessels anchored 1,200 yards below the fort, at 8 a. m., March 3, 1863, opened fire, and, as Captain Drayton reported, the parapets were much cut up and large holes made by the bursting shell, but no damage was done that could not be repaired in a few hours. Captain Drayton did not consider the fort nearly as great an obstacle to his advance as the piles which w ere driven in the channel of the river, and which rendered it

they could be removed. were subjected to the fire of Fort McAllister for eight hours without receiving any serious injury, but the same impassable

The

tiling

till

iron-clads

was true

of the fort.

Captain Drayton expressed some mortification at what he called his want of success in this attack; but experience has proved that iron-clads, although so valuable against ships, or fortifications built of masonry, are not so serviceable againsb earth-works as vessels carrying a greater number of lighter guns. The power of the 15-inch gun as a breaching force against masonry is considerable, but against a work constructed of sand-bags it has not the value of a 11-inch gun, and nothing like the power of a 100-pounder rifle for boring through the sand. Tlie 15inch gun in a turret is slow firing, not being able to discharge oftener than once in five minutes, while the breech-loading rifie can

be pointed and fired once a minute, which in an hour would give 60 shots from the rified-gun to 12 from the 15-inch. While the iron-clads were turning their turrets, the enemy would wait until the port-holes appeared, would fire, knowing the exact range, hide in their bomb-proofs until the iron-clads had fired, then stand to their guns again, until the port-holes once more came round. In attacking forts, in conjunction with other vessels carrying many guns, iron-clads are valuable for distances not exceeding 600 yards; but the initial velocity of the 15-inch shot is only about 1,500 feet per second, which is much reduced even at the distance of 1,200 yards. At 800 yards a 15-inch shot would not, with the charges assigned to the gun, penetrate a 4-inch iron plate. More was expected from our iron-clads during the war than they had power to accomplish. Any one of them armed with 15inch guns could have destroyed a vessel like the " Merrimac" in half an hour, but against earth works, sand especially, none of the monitor class were equal to the "New Ironsides," with her quick-firing batteries of 11inch guns. All these matters were fully discussed during the siege of Charleston. Admiral Dupont had a great responsibility on his shoulders, as he was the first officer to whom these iron-clads

was determined

had been assigned. He nothing undone to

to leave

give these vessels a full trial to determine their capabilities. It cannot be doubted that the experience to which the iron-clads had been subjected in the attack on Fort

McAllister afforded valuable information in relation to their qualities, and several imperfections were detected which could be remedied in other vessels of their class. The capture of Fort McAllister, in itself, was of no special importance, except, perhaps, to prevent its protecting some other

privateer or blockade-runner. Captain Drayton's opinion was that the fire of the iron-clads was not effective, and that the fort fired more rapidly towards the end than it did at the beginning of the action. In the demonstration against Fort McAllister it was discovered that the fuses for the shells were not good, and the shells exploded at irregular intervals— a very important matter to ascertain before the grand engagement with the forts at Charleston took place. The "Patapsco" carried one 15-inch gun, and one 150-pounder rifle. She fired fourteen 15-inch shells and 46 shells from the one 150-pounder rifle over three to one in favor of the rifle. The "Nahant" was not struck by the shells from Fort McAllister, the enemyseeming to concentrate his fire on the " Pas-

—

saic.

OF THE Up

March was a busy and time with the blockaders of Two large Admiral Dupont's squadron. steamers, the "Queen-of-the-Wave " and the "Georgian," loaded with munitions of war to the 10th of

successful

for the Confederates, were destroyed, which served to indicate that the blockade was still

effective.

As Charleston had taken movement for a division of

the lead in the the Union, the government naturally desired that the laws should be vindicated there at as early a date as practicable, and the Navy Department

wished to have the'honor of bringing about

an end. Therefore, Assistant Secretary Fox, with the approbation of the Secretary of the Navy, directed all his energies towards getting as large a number of iron-clads as possible to Charleston to so desirable

CIVIL WAR.

373

Confederate stronghold were proposed, but none were thought advisable, and in the absence of a large land force it seemed that the duty must devolve entirely upon the

Navy. This was a most serious task for the Navy undertake without any support from the Army; but even at that stage of the war the Government had not learned the importance of using large land and naval forces in conjunction when attacking heavily fortified places attacks which, when conducted with good judgment, seldom or ever failed. The Navy Department was, doubtless, very willing to have the co-operation of the Army, but they were frequently unable to obtain it, and the War Department did not attach the same importance to the capture of Charleston as did the Navy. Much was expected of the iron vessels by the Navy Department, and their hopes were confirmed by the attacks on Fort McAllister, where none of the vessels were to

—

and none of their crew The Department had been abused

seriously injured, killed.

for expending so much money on these vessels, which their detractors affirmed would perform no effective service, and would founder, as the •' Monitor" had done not taking into consideration the fact that they were superior to the original Monitor," and that the defects of the latter had been eliminated in these later structures. The Department naturally wanted to show that it had made no mistakes in this instance and they push ed on the work of preparation regardless of the criticism of those who were in favor of a different class of vessel carrying more guns. Someof these detractors were persons whose plans had been rejected, and who thought there was no other mode but their own of bringing the contumacious city under subjection. ;

' •

,

COMMANDEK

("NOW EEAE-ADMIBAL)

WILLIAM

E.

LE KOY.

enable Admiral Dupont to force his way up to the city. The harbor of Charleston had been closely guarded and many blockade-runners captured, but the Confederates calculated to strengthen their fortifications and add new ones, so as to hold the hot-bed of secession against all the forces that could be brought to bear.

Besides establishing a close blockade, an attempt had been made by the Federals to obstruct the passage across the bar with sunken vessels, which proved unsuccessful, as the vessels soon disappeared in the quicksands, or the currents washed out new channels. So the blockade-runners, though closely watched, continued to run into Charleston and supply the Confederacy with munitions of war. Several plans for the reduction of the

On the other hand, the Department had rather too much faith in these vessels, and was inclined to expect from them more than they could perform, and was. therefore, disinclined to listen to the advice of offiby their standing and length were entitled to consideration. Almost everybody admitted the value of the cers who, of service,

turret-vessels as harbor defences, but many doubted their efficiency against the earthworks of Charleston.

Admiral Dup.ont was pressed by the Navy Department to attack the batteries, and on the 7th of April, 1863, he determined to attempt what he was far from certain would be a success, in order to carry out the wishes of the government, and meet, if possible, the public expectations. To understand the harbor of Charleston, with its intricate shoals and channels, requires the study of a chart. In some respects

THE NAVAL HISTORY

374

resembles the harbor of New York, alThe it is on a much smaller scale. city of Charleston stands on a neck of land, bounded by two rivers, and projecting into a narrow bay. The bay was protected by Fort Pinkney, Fort Ripley, Fort Moultrie, Fort Beauregard. Fort Sumter, Battery Bee, Battery Gregg, Battery Wagner, etc. These defences were so placed that a vessel attempting to pass Sumter would be under a cross-fire from them all. every fort being armed with the heaviest and most destructive ordnance then known. After crossing the bar. there were several channels leading into Charleston harbor the "Main-Ship Channel," "North Channel" and "Swash Channel." In taking either of these, a vessel would be under a raking and cross fire. Should she get by Sumter, she would still be subjected to a raking fire from that work and the works on the upper part of Sullivan's Island from Battery Gregg, Fort Johnson, Fort Ripley and Castle Pinkney, and some smaller batit

though

side the bar, near to the entrance buoy, consisting of the following vessels: " Canandaigua," "Housatonic," "Huron, " Unadilla," " Wissahickon," and will be held in readiness to support the iron-clads when they attack the batteries on Morris Island. S. F.

When

he took with

Commander C.

R. P. Rodgers, Fleet CapLieutenant S. W. Preston, Flag Lieutenant; Lieutenant A. S. Mackenzie, Ordnance Officer; Ensign M. L. Johnson, Aide and Signal Officer. All these gentlemen are mentioned with that warmth of feeling tain;

which distinguished Dupont in cases where officers under him performed their duty faithfully.

The vessels, on signal being made, will form in the prescribed order ahead at intervals of one cable's length.

up the Main Ship Chan-

nel without returning the fire of the batteries on Morris Island, unless signal should be made to com-

mence action. The ships will open fire on Fort Sumter when within easy range, and will take up a position to the northward and westward of that fortification, engaging its left or north-west face at a distance of from 600 to 800 yards, firing low, and aiming at the centre embrasure.

The commanding officers will instruct their ofBcers and men to carefully avoid wasting a shot, and will enjoin upon them the necessity of precisicm rather than rapidity of fire. Bach ship will be ready to render assistance to any vessel that may require it. The special code of signals jjrepared for the ironclads will be used in action. After the reduction of Fort Sumter, it is probable that the next point of attack will be the batteries on Morris Island. The line of battle will be in line ahead, as follows :

Montauk,"

lioisted his flag

New Ironsides,"

him his personal staff, who remained with him during the operations at Charleston. To the officers of the staff he pays the highest encomiums for the assistance they rendered him in the battle and otherwise. They were as follows:

the buoys.

"

Admiral Dupont

on board the "

The commanding officers will, pi-evious to crossing, make themselves acquainted with the value of

"Passaic,"

Dupont,

Rear-Admiral commanding South-Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

of the fleet.

2.

"Keokuk,"

squadron of vessels, of which Captain J. F. Green will be the senior officer, will be formed out-

United States Coast Survey, t'ommanding the "Bibb," by Acting-Ensign Piatt, and by the pilots

3.

Commander G. W. Rodgers. Commander D. M Fairfax. Commander John Downes. Commander A. C. Rhind.

Ironsides," "Catskill,"

A

The bar -will be buoyed by the " Keokuk," Commander Rhind, assisted by C. O. Boutelle, Assistant

Captain John Rodgers. Captain Percival Drayton. Captain John L. Worden.

"Nantucket," "Nahant,"

9.

tenant-Colonel Von Slieliha. Before proceeding to attack the defences of Charleston, Rear- Admiral Dupont issued the following order:

"Weehawken,"

Captain T. Turner.

8.

To run past these defences, if there were no obstructions in the channel, would be much easier with a small squadron than to stop and give the forts battle with ironclads. This fact was established during the civil war, and the subject has been ably treated in a work published in 1868 by Lieu-

1.

Commander Daniel Ammen.

"New

7.

teries.

will pass

" Patapsco,"

5. 6.

—

The squadron

4.

On the 7th of April the vessels moved to the attack, the " Weehawken " leading with a torpedo raft in front. On the waj' up the Main Ship Channel, the leading vessel passed a number of buoys indicating torpedoes, one of which exploded near the "Weehawken," without, however, doing any harm. At 2 p. M. the squadron approached the ,

obstructions extending across the harbor from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. These were indicated by several lines of casks, be-

which piles were seen extending "from James Island to the Middle Ground." At 2.50 p. M., the guns of Fort Moultrie opened upon the "Weehawken," followed shortly after by Fort Sumter, and all the batteries on Sullivan's Island. Being unable to pass the obstructions, the iron-clads were obliged to turn, which threw the line into confusion. The flagship became entangled with the Monitors, and could not bring her batteries to bear on the enemy without danger of firing into 3'-ond

them. The " New Ironsides " was compelled to anchor twice to prevent going ashore, on one of these occasions the Monitors and the "Keokuk " were able to get within easy range of Fort Sumter— at distances varying from 550 to 800 yards— in which position they were subjected to a fire from the batteries on Sullivan's Island, Morris Island and Sumter. The effect of tlie concentrated firp r.f the

—

OF THE on the Monitors would have been bewildering to officers and men whose nerves were not of the strongest kind. The enemy had been anxiously looking forward to the time when they could get the Federal iron-clads in just such a position, and their only apprehension was that the opportunity would not be offered them. The Confederate engineers felt that it would be impossible for any force of vessels such as the Federals possessed to pass the forts and obstructions to Charleston. Owing to repeated practice at targets, the Confederate officers felt certain of planting two out of three of their heaviest shots on the Monitors' turrets at the rate of sixty shots a minute. The trial of the Monitors before Fort McAllister afforded no real test of their endurance, for there could be no comparison between such a work as McAllister and the defences of Charleston. The fire on the ironclads was such as an equal number of the heaviest European ships-of-war could not have withstood many minutes. The severity of the fire was shown by the effect on the Monitors and the sinking of one of their number, and yet the vessels retired from the conflict without confusion. That attack will always stand the severest criticism from those disposed to be hypercritical; and those capable of judging will admit that it was conducted with skill and judgment. It was very well in those who could sit in their cosy arm-chairs and direct great naval and military movements, who seldom reflect that while undertaking to direct battles from a distance they are meddling with that which properly should be managed by the professional leader, and uselessly sacrificing the lives of officers and forts

men. Admiral Dupont found it impossible, owing to currents and an unmanageable ship, to place the " New Ironsides " where he desired, although he was within one thousand yards of Fort Sumter; night was coming on, and the squadron in some disarray.

He

therefore signalled the vessels to withaction, intending to renew the

draw from

engagement. That evening the commanding

officers of

the iron-clads visited the flag-ship to report the condition of affairs on board their respective vessels, which caused Admiral Dupont to change his mind about renewing the attack next morning, for he was now satisfied that it was impossible to take Charleston with the force under his command. And here arises the question Was it wise to undertake so great a task as the capture of Charleston at one blow ? It would have been a good beginning to have taken Fort Wagner. To have attacked that place eight hundred yards to the southward would have -nlacftd the snuadron two and a half miles

—

CIVIL WAR.

375

from the forts on Sullivan's Island and a mile and three-quarters from Sumter. Of the iron-clads could not reduce would be useless to attempt to go up to the city. There was a great desire, on the part of the Northern people, that Charleston should be taken, and the officer who could at that moment have captured the place would have won unbounded popularity. It was certainly the hardest task undertaken by the Navy during the war. In fact, without the co-operation of an army, the taking of Charleston was an imcourse,

if

Wagner,

it

possibility.

Charleston was approached by tortuous channels filled with obstructions, that even without the fortifications would have been formidable to the squadron that went to at-

COMMANDER (NOW EEAR-ADMIEAl)

A. C.

EHIND.

tack it. It is difficult to manoeuvre a squadron in a narrow space with strong currents running; how much more difficult must it be, then, when crooked channels are filled with obstructions ? In such a case a Commander-in-chief is entitled to use his own discretion, and not undertake a movement against a place unless he is confident the obstructions are not of a character to impede the progress of his fleet. Had Dupont persevered and entangled his vessels in the contrivances placed in the channels for that purpose, those who urged him on would have put the blame of the necessary failure upon his shoulders. He discontinued the attack in good time, and let us see the result: No shins had been exnosed to the sevprAst.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

37(3

the enemy more than fortj' minutes, yet in that brief period five iron-clads were wholly or partially disabled. Commander Rhind, in the " Keokuk," had been able to fire only three times during the period he was exposed to the guns of the enemy, when he was obliged to withdraw from action to prevent his vessel from sinking, which event did happen on the following morning. The '• Nahant," Commander Downes, was seriously damaged, her turret so jammed as to prevent its turning, many of the bolts of both turret and pilot house broken, and the latter rendered nearly untenable by flying bolts and nuts. Captain Drayton, in the " Passaic," after the fourth fire from her 11-inch gun, found himself unable to use it again during the action. His fire of

turret, also,

became jammed, although he

of two miles. Only one hundred and thirty shot and shell were fired by the iron-clads during the action, while many hundred were fired by the enemy, the character of which is well described by a contemporary

writer,

who remarks

In order to more

:

understand the terrible severity of the fire to which these vessels were to be exposed, it is necessary to consider some statements in the circular of the Confederate General Kipley. He mentions tliree circles of fire which had been prepared for the reception of the fleet. He meant that there were three points beyond each other in passing up the harbor upon which circles the batfully

teries on shore would concentrate their fire as upon a focus, and to these points the range of the guns had been actually adjusted by experimental firing, and the points were marked by guides, buoys and obstructions, so that no shot could miss its mark. The first focus of flre into wliich the fleet would

come was formed between Sumter and Moultrie. Three obstructions of various kinds were placed and across the channel, through which it was thought the fleet could not pass, and where the leading vessels being stopped the line would be thrown into confusion, and the Monitors would be huddled together and could be crushed by the concentrating in

fire of

the circle of forts and batteries.

According to the Confederate accounts seventysix guns bore on this single point, while our own officers placed the number at a hundred. If now it is considered that bearing on this spot were 7inch, 8-inoh, Brooke and Blakely rifies, 10-inch columbiads, for which had been prepared squarehead bolts, with chilled ends, much heavier than the ordinary shot, and guns for hot shot and shells containing moulten iron, an idea may be formed of what these iron-clads were to meet. The enemy's guns, moreover, had been so tried that there could be no random shooting. The Confederate plan of defence lacked nothing which skill, experience and science could suggest.

So far the writer whom we quote pictures glowing terms the difficulties with which the Monitors would have to contend in an attack on Charleston; but after stating the damages received by the Federal vessels, and quoting the opinions of all the principal officers that a continuation of the attack would have resulted in the destruction of the squadron, the chronicler suddenlv changes his course, as if impressed by a new idea, and attempts to show that a prolongation of the struggle would have led to a Union victory, and that the opinions of ten brave and experienced officers were of no account whatever There was no officer in the Navv whose reputation stood higher than that of Dupout. He had gallantly won the first naval battle of any importance in the war, and had shown so much abilitv at Port Royal as to entitle him to the full confidence of the Government, and his opinions should have been preferred in all matters relating to his command to those of anv other person. The belief was general^at the time that Dupont was not well treated by the Navy Department— a belief which prevails in the Navy to this day. in

COMMANDER (NOW REAR-ADMIRAL)

D. Mc. N.

FAIRFAX.

was

finally enabled to get it in motion again. of the "Patapsco," lost the use of his rifled-gun after the fifth fire, owing to the carrying away of the bolts of the forward cap-square. Commander Fairfax, of the "Nantucket," reports that after the third shot from the 15-incli gun,

Commander Ammen,

the port-stopper became jammed, several shot striking near the port, driving in the plates and preventing the further use of the gun during the action. The other iron-clads, although struck many times, were still able to use their guns, but it seems probable that in a short time they would have been placed hors-decombat. The position of the squadron was simply that of being in a trap, and having to bear the cross-fire of all the forts within a circle

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OF THE

CIVIL

ing small Monitor - shaped vessels with great rapidity, the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Navy were unjustly assailed from various quarters for adopting the Monitor system in preference to all

WAR.

377

opinion which was generally acquiesced in by those cognizant of the facts of the case.

It is now an axiom that, no matter how strong you may build an iron-clad, guns can be made that will knock her to pieces in a others. given space of time. In the case of the In this matter, Mr. Secretary Welles and Monitors, the enemy had in forty minutes Mr. Pox showed good judgment, for the weakened some of them, and an hour longer "Keokuk," which was not a Monitor-built would perhaps have made it necessary for vessel, was shattered so by the enemy's fire them to go to the machine-shop. at Charleston that in a few minutes she We do not consider the official report of withdrew from action to avoid sinking, and Chief Engineer A. C. Stimers to the Navy did sink some hours afterwards from the Department as carrying any weight with it, effects of the enemy's shot. particularly in view of the terrible mistakes Having prepared these Monitors, the made by that officer in tlie building of a Navy Department were naturally anxious number of light-draft Monitors which were consigned to the scrap-heap as worthless. to prove to their detractors that this was the right form of vessel to carry out the In his communication to the Navy Departideas of the government; but the Department Mr. Stimers says: " In consideration of ment did not take into consideration that the vast importance to our country that this seven Monitors, each with two slow-firing strongholdof the rebellion should be reduced, guns, were no match for seventy-six pieces I take the liberty to express to the Departof ordnance of the heaviest calibre then in ment my firm opinion that the obstructions use. could be readily passed with the means alIf we further consider that half of the guns in the Monitors were 11-inch, there ready provided, and our entire fleet of ironremained but seven 15-inch guns with which clads pass up successfully to the wharves at to breach the masonry of Fort Sumter and Charleston, and that the Monitors will retain sufficient enduring power to enable them to the thick earth- works of the numerous other fortifications. pass all the forts and batteries which may The Confederate accounts disagree in the reasonably be expected." Mr. Stimers also exjjressed great confinumber of their guns, but it is probable that in the aggregate they fell not much short of dence in the efficiency of the torpedo rafts designed by Mr. Ericsson, for tlie purpose a hundred. of removing torpedoes and blowing up In their anxiety to triumph over those who had attacked them so unjustly, the obstructions, which the historian of the Navy Department required of Dupont more Navy says "naval officers were unwilling than could be accomplished with his small to use " Mr. Stimers or any other person in like force, and did not pay that deference to circumstances could express what opinion his opinion to which his reputation and On Dupont alone he pleased, as he had no responsibility in position entitled him. would have rested the responsibility of de- the matter and was not likely to have any. The intelligent reader will doubtless attach feat had he entangled his vessels in the meshes prepared to receive them, and ren- more importance to the opinion of the Comdered them targets for the enemj^ to destroy mander-in-chief and his well-tried officers, at their leisure. In that event there would who always did their duty faithfully in have been such an outcry at the North whatever situation they were placed. To show that the commanding officers of against the Monitor system that the Navy Department could not have withstood it. the Monitors did not lose their coolness, and that they were not deficient in courage durAll the blame would have been thrown upon Dupont in the same way that the ing the time they were under the fire of so blame of failing to continue his attack was many guns, it is only necessary to state the accuracy of the fire of those vessels. One ascribed to him. But the Navy did not look upon the ac- hundred and twenty-four shots were fired at Sumter, and during the engagement the tion of the 7th of April as a defeat, by any means. It was a prudent withdrawal from Monitors had to be kept in position to preengagement with a force more than six serve their range under the storm of shot that was showered upon them. times its superior. It must not be forgotThe Confederate accounts state that fiftyten that the Monitors had to take position and get their range under a most terri- five of the Monitors' shot struck the walls of Sumter, and others struck inside the works, fic fire; and although none were so disabled which was excellent practice considering that they could not have resumed the acthe situation. The firing also showed that tion next day, they were enough so to be the 15-inch shot had a breaking force against obliged to retire temporarily. The difficulty lay in having too few ves- masonry that it did not possess against an earth-works. sels to accomnlish so great a work

— —

—

THE NAVAL HISTORY

378

The distance at which the vessels were from the fort is differently stated by the Federal and Confederate officers, the former placing it at 600, the latter at 1,000, yards. As both were liable to error, we will take the mean of the two, or 800 yards, as correct, at which distance both the 15-inch and the 11-inch guns must have great breachOnly two of the 15-inch shot ing power. passed through the walls of Fort Sumter and exploded one in a casemate, the other Other 15-inch shells in the parade-ground. exploded against the walls, making deep craters, but not essentially injuring the fort; " embrasures were destroyed, and one shot cracked the masonry for twenty-four feet in length;" "one large shell went over the parapet, demolished the officers' quar-

—

and damaged several walls." "Other and shot and fragments of shells were picked up in and about the fort." These facts we glean from the Conters,

15-inch shells

was an apprehension that they would burst in firing, and consequently were used with a caution which in the light of subsequent The experience appears like timidity. charge of powder was limited to thirty-five They have since been fired repounds. peatedly and safely with double that amount with seventy pounds of powder, or one hundred of mammoth powder, which

—

equal to seventy or seventy-five of compowder. From the results that were actually reached with only thirty-five pounds of powder, it is rendered certain that, if the charges had been suitably increased, every shot and shell striking fairly would have gone through the walls and the fort would have been destroyed, or, at the very least, it would have been so shattered that none would have doubted the propriety of a second attack, for it could be seen that it could easily be destroyed by a second is

mon

attack."

federate official account. quote the historian of the Navy, who is anxious to show that Admiral Dupont and his officers had no idea of the damage they were doing to the fort, otherwise they would have continued the attack. The fact is, if the Monitors had been filled with shot and shell and every one had struck Fort Sumter, they would not materially have injured its powers of resistance unless they could have disabled the guns. The naval historian says: " That nothing

We

was more

certain,

in

view of what was

actually done, than that Sumter could not long have resisted even such a fire as the Monitors delivered that day. The result would, have been not such a gradual crumbling of the walls as took place under the long-range firing of the heavy rifles afterwards from the land batteries, but they

would have come down with a crash, and the whole interior of the fort would have been torn in pieces by the enormous shells." In giving such opinions,

Naval

it is

whom we

historian, seen a fort after a

very plain the had never

quote,

bombardment, where the ground was strewn with shells and debris, yet remaining in fair fighting condition. He seems not to consider that while the fort is

getting battered the iron-clads are at the

same time receiving a severe hammering, and that, when the bombardment is continued for a length of time, the iron turrets will be likely to yield to repeated blows, on the same principle that the trunnions of a heavy gun can be broken off by I'epeated strokes from an ordinary hammer. There was another argument urged in favor of the Monitors maintaining the fight " That, in judging of with Sumter, viz. the actual power of these large guns, one very important point must be considered. These guns were novel weapons, and there :

CAPTAIN (.VFTERWARDS KEAB-ADIIIR.AL) THOMAS TUENER.

This kind of "argument" will not stand against the statement of the facts. Its purpose was to throw on Dupont the odium of failure in the attack on Charleston. All the talk of increasing the charges of the guns to obtain more breaching power was sheer folly, for the charges for the guns were established by the Bureau of Ordnance in the Navy Department, and no officer could take the responsibility of doubling the charges of the guns during an action, for should they burst and kill his own men he would be held blamable. The Naval historian labors in all this to show that there was wanting the energy in the attack on Sumter which characterized subsequent proceedings; but it must be i-emembered that Rear -Admiral Dahlgren, who relieved Dupont, with the light of the latter's experience to guide him,

OF THE

CIVIL

accomplished no more than his predecessor. In fact, the historian admits as much, and acknowledges that nothing was effected until Fort Wagner, the key to the situation, was attacked by the Army and Navy at the same time, when, to use his words: "The Monitors and New Ironsides played a most conspicuous part." In fact, he says, "it does not appear how Wagner could have been taken without their assistance." The north end of the island was in possession of the '

'

Confederates, and, of course, in communication with Charleston and the other forts, and Wagner could at any time be re-inforced, and it would have been just as easy for the Confederates to have advanced by sap towards Gilmore's batteries as for him to approach them, had it not been for the presence of the iron-clads; but the latter

WAR.

379

compared in strength to Fort Sumter, which it was expected six Monitors would knock down; the Commander-in-chief of the squadron, indeed, being blamed for not settling it in the first attack; and when we consider all the events at Charleston, from Dupont's

attack until the evacuation on the advance of General Sherman's army, we are confirmed in our idea that Rear- Admiral Dupont was right in saying that "the place can only be taken by a combined attack of the Army and Navy; and attacking the forts with the Monitors and iron-clads alone would never end in any favorable results." first

of the place

It was not until after the fall of Morris Island, when General Gilmore could erect batteries armed with heavy rifled-guns, that Fort Sumter began to crumble, day by day, until it became a mere heap of rubbish to outward seeming, although still powerful, even in its crippled condition, and protecting the obstructions from the Monitors and "New Ironsides," so that no one could tell any more of their character than was known to Dupont when he relinquished his

command. To show the Confederate determination to hold Charleston at all hazards, we here insert the circular of General Ripley. It shows that the Confederates were alive to everything necessary to circumvent an enemy. [circular.]

Headquarters First Military District, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

)

Charleston, December 26, 1863. \ the proposed attack on this harbor is )

In case beforehand, special directions will be given for the service of the different batteries. As, however, it may happen that a surprise may be attempted, or that the intervening time between the knowledge of the intention and the event maybe too short, the instructions hereinafter contained will be carefully attended to. Each commanding ofBcer of a fort or battery will give his attention immediately to the strengthening of his carriages and the complete preparation of his material. Besides making the proper requisitions on the staff departments, let him endeavor to do as much as possible from his own resources. While staff departments are to a great extent crippled for want of material and workmen, much can be accomplished by ready expedients without their aid Every carriage must be kept carefully screwed up and, if any defects, made at least temporarily effi-

known

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER (NOW BEAE-ADMIRAL)

S,

B.

LUCE.

effectually prevented any operations outside the walls of the fort, nor were the enemy even able to make a sortie to check the working-parties of Gilmore, nor use their batteries with effect upon the position, for the men could not stand to their guns under the fire of the Monitors or "New Ironsides." Day by day, and even by night, it was the business of the Monitors to go up and attack the forts, gradually weakening their defence till, on the day when Gilmore expected to make the final assault, Rear-Admiral Dahlgren, the successor of Dupont, reported that he had knocked the fort into sand-heaps under the fire of the land and naval batteries; it was no longer tenable,

and that night Morris Island was evacuated. 'N'a

nriA

w;^ill

T>rfitfinrl

that TTort "Wa.o-riAr

cient. All the elevating screws, eccentric wheels, and traversing gear must be put in order and kept so, and especial care must be taken to see that a full supply of small implements is constantly on hand.

Ammunition should be examined, and immedi-

ately apportioned to the several guns, reference behad to the orders heretofore given on that sub-

mg

but where the quantity is not sufficient, the greater portion should be given to the heavier guns as on them principally the success of the defence ject;

must depend. Officers and men of each command must be kept on the alert, and instructions given to go to each battery at once, upon an alarm; and especial care must be taken that each battery is in readiness for

instant action as the

men

arrive at their suns.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

380

are habitually attended to but, as constant vigilance is our only security, they cannot be too forcibly ;

insisted upon.

Upon observing a disposition to attack on the part of the enemy, the nearest fort or battery will give the alarm. By day a shotted gun and dipping the flag will communicate the danger to the other fortifications and head-quarters. All commands will go at once to battery, and the circumstances of the alarm communicated to the head-quarters by telegraph or signal. By night a shotted gun and a rocket will give the In whatever way the attack is made emy, he is to be engaged as soon as ijossible, to do so eflfectually, with a few long-range guns from every fort that will bear. The number of guns must be left to the discretion of the commanding offi-

by the en-

who must

see that the fire

is

as accurate as pos-

They must not engage too great a number,

and be careful not unduly to excite their men, or strain their guns and carriages. While the longrange fire is valuable, if accurate, to annoy the enemy and force him to develop his attack, it is not to Vie depended on for more. Other things being equal, it will be well that the guns to leeward are first engaged. The remaining guns of the batteries will be trained by battery on different points where the enemy must pass, care being taken to have the fire of

each battery concentrated.

As the enemy approaches, let the distance he will be in passing be accurately estimated by the distance-buoys, and the elevation made to correspond, making it too little rather than too great for direct fire. If the vessels are passing rapidly the guns should be discharged by battery, just as the prows of the vessels come across the line of sight. In the case of wooden vessels, the object will be to hit them near the water line, just abaft the smoke-stack. In the case of iron-clad vessels, to hit the deck or turrets at the intersection with the deck, and especially to let all the shots strike at

on the

vessels

Should any vessel succeed in passing the second circle of fire, the third will be formed and put into action by the guns of White Point Battery and Battery Glover, with such guns of Forts Johnston and Ripley and Castle Pinckney as will bear. Concentration on the leading vessels will be the object, as before.

During the action care will be taken, as far as possible, to prevent the chances of shot from the batteries taking the direction of our own works. The best way of doing this will be to let none miss the enemy, and when he is between the works most especial accuracy will be striven for. The vessels of the Confederate navy will engage during the action, and they may often pass our batteries. In this case officers and gunners cannot be too careful to avoid hitting them. The fire by battery, as a general thing, will be discontinued at those vessels of the enemy which our ships engage closely; but, if occasion offers, endeavors will be made to hit the ports of the revolving turrets on the enemy's vessels when turned from our ships, to disarrange and throw out of gear the machinery for closing the ports. Accurate fire by single guns will be concentrated on the enemy's vessels, if two or more attack one of ours and should the distance admit, then it will be advisable to pour upon one of them a heavy fire by ;

battery.

The plunging

once.

The

;

distance, the fire will concentrate

nearest them.

intelligence.

cer, sible.

about midway between Forts Sumter and Ripley, and to the southward of the middle-ground shoal. It will be formed by the heavy guns of Fort Johnston, Fort Ripley, Castle Pinckney, Battery Bee, the north-western and western faces of Fort Sumter. The guns of Forts Johnston and Ripley and Castle Pinckney will open on the leading vessels as they come within easy range, care being taken that every shot finds its mark. Those of Fort Sumter and Battery Bee will continue upon the leading vessels as Jong as they are close but, if they elongate their

be concentrated upon the leading vessels, and will be continued upon them as long as the guns by battery will bear well, and especially if they become entangled in obstructions, even if certain vessels engage to draw off the attention of the outermost batteries and remain behind. Should some of the vessels succeed in passing, the action must then pass into the hands of commanding officers of batteries. They will pour in their fire as far as practicable by battery, and as fast as it can be done with accuracy, on whatever vessels of the enemy may be nearest them. The guns of Beauregard Battery, Fort Moultrie, Battery Bee, and the eastern, north-eastern, and north-western faces of Fort Sumter, will be used to form the first circle of fire to which the enemy must besubjected, the centrebeinga little to the eastward of a line between the forts and midway. Every effort must be made to crush his vessels and repel his attack within this circle, and especially while he is first fire will

entangled in the obstructions. All the mortars of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie will be trained on the centre above indicated. The fuses will be of the full length, and the shells have large bursting charges, it being better to have the fuses fail than the shells to burst in the air, and the full effect of the explosions being desirable if successful. The mortar batteries will be fired by battery when the enemy's vessels are about two ships' length from the point on which they are trained. If the fleet is large, the mortars will be kept trained fired by battery as rapidly as possible while the fleet is passing. If small, and a portion has passed the first circle of fire, the mortars of Fort Sumter will be trained to operate on the second circle, the centre of which will be at a point

on the same point and

fire

from Fort Sumter

is

expected

to be particularly effective, and when single-rifled guns are fired from the barbettes of that fort, it will be well to hit the grated roofs of the turrets with

square-headed bolts, followed by shells filled with molten iron. The square-headed bolts for the 10-inch columbiads and the heavier guns will be fired by battery when the enemy is within close range. Solid shot and bolts will be used generally against iron-clads during the action. The furnaces for melting iron and heating shot will be kept in heat, and heated projectiles will be used whenever occasion offers advantage. Should it happen that any of the enemy's vessels become disabled and endeavor to get out of fire, the outermost batteries must pay particular attention to prevent them; and in case other of the enemy's

come to the assistance of the disabled, let every gun and mortar which will bear be turned ships

upon them by battery. The great object of the enemy will probably be to run by, and every effort umst be made to crush him in each successive circle of fire which he encounters.

Hog Island Channel will be obstructed, and the obstructions must be guarded by the long-range guns of Fort Sumter and the columbiads of Battery Bee nearest it. It is doubtful whether the enemy will attempt to pass by Folly Channel. If he does, a circle of fire will be formed by the guns of Fort Ripley, Castle Pinckney and White Point Battery. The position of torpedoes will be communicated to commanding officers, and the effort made to drive the enemy's vessels upon them if he is takingother courses. The obstructions will also be designated, and

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

under no circumstances will the enemy be permitted to reconnoitre them. The headquarters of the undersig:ned will be at Port Sumter, and directions will be sent by telegraph and signal to different posts, should anything require special directions. Batteries Marshall and Wagner will be worked to the extent of their capacity for injuring the enemy,

by

their commanding officers, without unduly exposing their commands. The directions given above relate, generally, to the defeat of an attack by the enemy's fleet alone Should a combined attaclt be made by land and water, other orders can be issued, as nothing of that kind can be done by surprise. The present circular will be studied and reflected upon by all officers who will be engaged in this honorable duty of the coming defence. With careful attention, coolness and skillful gunnery, success is far

more than

possible.

:

Wm.

F.

Nanee, Acting

and he could have had any command he desired, but Dupont was a proud man and would not listen to terms from those whom he thought had censured him for doing his duty and forced him fi-om his command at Charleston. To accept another command, Dupont thought, would imply that he concurred in the views of the Department. The following letters will explain in a measure the reasons for the misunderstanding between the Secretary of the Navy and Rear -Admiral Dupont. The Secretary's letter is an implied order for Dupont to succeed at all hazards, while the Admiral's undertakes to show the Department how little prospect there was of meeting its expectations:

R. S. RiPLBT,

Brigadier- General Co m manding. Official

381

Secretary Welles to Rear-Admiral Dupont. Navy Department, )

-

Assistant Adjutant-

General.

April 11, 1863. j Sir It has been suggested to the Department by the President, in view of operations elsewhere, and especially by the Army of the Potomac, that you should retain a strong force off Charleston, even should you find it impossible to carry the place. You will continue to menace the rebels, keeping them in apprehension of a renewed attack, in order that they may be occupied; and not come North or go West to the aid of the rebels, with whom our forces will soon be in conflict. Should you be successful, as we trust and believe you will be, it is expected that General Hunter will continue to keep the rebels employed and in constant apprehension, so that they shall not leave the vicinity of Charleston. This detention of the ironclads, should it be necessary, in consequence of a repulse, can be but for a few days. I trust your success will be such that the iron-clads can be, or will have been, dispatched to the Gulf when this reaches you. There is intense anxiety in regard to your operations. This day is the anniversary of the assault on Sumter, and God grant that its recurrence may witness the destruction of that fortress by our naval forces

—

under your command. I

am very

respectfully. servant,

Tour obedient

Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.

Rear-Admiral

S. F. Dupont, B. A.B. Squadron,

Commanding

COMMANDER (NOW BEAR ADMIRAL) JOHN

We

H.

UPSHUR.

Port Royal, S.

C.

President Lincoln was greatly disturbed at the want of success at Charleston, and sent the following communications to Admiral Dupont: Executive Mansion, Washington, April 13, 1863. (Telegram.) Hold your position inside the bar near Charleston or, if you shall have left it, return to it and hold it /

we have

established tliat Admiral Dupont vs^as right in the conclusions which he submitted to the Navy Department immediately after the engagement of the 7th of April. The public, knowing that he retired from his command directly after this affair, might suppose that some blame

think

was attached to him. Dupont was too popular an officer to be treated with injustice, and in the course of a month it was seen by the Secretary of the Navy that his views were correct, and that the siege of Charleston by the Navy still continued with no better results than before. Overtures were then made to the Admiral

)

;

further orders. not allow the enemy to erect new batteries or defences on Morris Island. If he has begun it, drive him out. 1 do not herein order you to renew the general attack. That is to depend upon your own discretion or a further order. A. Lincoln. till

Do

Admiral Dupont.

Executive Mansion, Washington, April 14, 1863. f intended to clear up an apparent incon]

This

is

sistency between the recent order to continue operations before Charleston, and the former one to remove to another point in a certain contingency. No

THE NAVAL HISTORY

382

censure upon you or either of you is intended we still hope that by cordial and judiciousoo-operation you can take the batteries on Morris Island and Sullivan's Island and Fort Sumter. But whether you can or not, we wish the demonstration kept up for a time for a collateral and very important object we wish the attempt to be a real one (though not a desperate one if it affords any considerable chance of success. But if prosecuted as a demonstration only, this must not become public, or the whole effect will be lost. Once again before Charlesof ton, do not leave till further orders from here course, this is not intended to force you to leave unduly exposed Hilton Head, or other near points in ;

;

,

;

your charge.

Yours

truly,

A.

General P. S.

copy

Hunter and

— Whoever receives this

to the other

Lincoln.

Admiral Dupont.

Immediately.

first,

please send a A. L.

opinion and that of their commanders, they would have been in great peril of being lost on Morris Island Beach. Their ground-tackling has been found to be insufficient, and from time to time they have dragged even in close harbors. I have since been doing all in my power to push forward their repairs in order to send them to the Gulf as directed: but I presume that your dispatch of the 11th instant, and the telegraphic message from the President, revoke your previous order. 1 shall spare no exertions in repairing, as soon as possible, the serious injuries sustained by the Monitors in the late attack, and shall get them inside Charleston bar with all dispatch, in accordance with the order of the President. I think it my duty, however, to state to the Department that this will be attended with great risk to these vessels from the gales which prevail at this season, and from the continuous fire of the enemy's batteries, which they can neither silence nor prevent the

new ones. The "New Ironsides " can only cross the bar with

erection of

COMMANDER (NOW BEAR-ADMiaAL) CHAELES STEEDMAN, COMMANDING PLANKING

DIVISION,

BATTLE OF POET KOYAL.

kear-admiral dupont to secrbtary welles Flag-ship "Wabash,' Port Royal Harbor, S. C, April 16, 1863

—

Sir I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt this morning, by the "Freeborn," of your communication of the 11th instant, directing tlie maintaining of a large force off Charleston to menace the rebels and keep them in apprehension of a renewed attack in the event of our repulse. I have also to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of a telegraphic desjjatch of the 13th instant, from the President of the United States, sent from Fortress Monroe.

The Department

will

probably have known, on

the 12th instant, the result of the attack. In my dispatch of the 11th instant, dated oflf Charleston, the department was made aware of my withdrawal, with the iron-clads, from the very insecure anchorage inside the bar, and just in time to save the Monitors from an easterly gale, in which, in mv

certainty at spring-tides, which are twice a month. She is more vulnerable than the Monitors, and at the distance she must necessarily anchor could not elevate her guns sufficiently to reach any batteries of the enemy, while at the same time she would be liable to injury, particularly in her wooden ends, from a fire which she could not return. If this vessel is withdrawn from the blockade and placed inside, the blockade may be raised by the rebel rams coming out of Charleston harbor at night by Maffit's Channel, in which case she could give no assistance to the fleet outside. But for the "New Ironsides," the raid of the 31st of January would have been repeated with more serious effect. The lower and greater part of Morris Island exhibits a ridge or row of sand-hills, affording to the enemy a natural parapet against the fire of shipping and facilities for erecting batteries in very strong position. The upper part of the island is crossed by Fort Wagner, a work of great strength, and covered by the guns of Fort Sumter. The island is ui full communication with Charleston, and can, in spite of us, draw fresh re-inforcements as rapidly as they may be required. Shoals extend from the island, which prevent the near approach of the Monitors, and our experience at Fort McAllister does not encourage me to expect that they wiU reduce well-defended sand batteries, where the damage inflicted by day is readily repaired by the unstinted labor of the night. The ships, therefore.can neither cover the landing nor afterwards protect the advance of the small force of the army available for operations in this quarter, which will meet fresh troops at every sand-hill, and may look also for a reverse fire from the batteries on James Island. As it is considered necessary to menace Charleston

by a demonstration of land and naval

forces.

North

Edisto will afford a better point from which to threaten an advance, and a concentration of troops and ships in that quarter would accomplish the purpose of the Government mentioned in your dispatch of the 11th instant, as it is a military point from which Charleston could be attacked now, James Island bemg fully occupied by the enemy's batteries. I have deemed it proper and due to myself to make these statements, but I trust I need not add that I will obey all orders with the utmost fldelitv even when my judgment is entirely at variance with them.suchas the order to re-occupy theunsafe anchorage for the ironclads off Morris Island, and an intimation that the renewal of the attack on Charleston may be ordered, which, in my judgment, would be attended with disastrous results, involving the

loss of this coast.

For eighteen months in these waters I have given whatever of professional knowledge, energy and zeal 1

possess to the discharge of

my duties,

and to the

OF THE CIVIL WAR. study of our military and naval position in the tenure of the sea-coasts within the limits of my command, and I claim to know what best pertains to the disposition of my fleet in carrying out the instructions of the Department. I know not yet whether the confidence of the Department so often expressed to me has been shaken by the want of success in a single measure which I never advised, though intensely desirous to carry out the Department's orders and justify expectations in which I could not share. I am, however, painfully struck by the tenor and tone of the President's order, which seems to Imply a censure, and I have to request that the Department will not hesitate to relieve me by an officer, who, in its opinion, ismore able to execute that service in which I have had the misfortune to fail the capture of Charleston. No consideration for an individual officer, whatever his loyalty and length of service, should weigh an instant if the cause of his country can be advanced by his removal. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

close

—

S. P.

DUPONT,

Rear- Admiral, Commanding S. A. B. Squadron. Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

CAPTAIN (NOW BEAB-ADMIRAL) WM. EOGEES TAYLOR.

After the attack on Charleston, Rear- Admiral Dupont returned to Fort Royal and the blockade continued as before with the wooden gun-boats. In the latter part of April, Major-General Hunter applied for a gun-boat to assist a land force in an expedition against Buffington, on May River, which town had been the head-quarters of Confederate marauders

some time. The army force numbering one thousand men, under Colonel Barton, embarked on board the gun-boat "Mayflower" and a transport, and were landed near Buffington under cover of the guns of the " Commodore McDonough," and took possession of the town from which the Confederates had refor

treated.

By

order of Colonel Barton the

383

town was destroyed by fire, the church alone being spared. The enemy returned and made several charges on the Federal troops, but were driven back by the shells of the "McDonough," which burst in their ranks.

The burning of the town seems to have been an unnecessary act of severity, but such is the tendencj^ of civil war. The inhabitants of a town are held responsible for the acts of lawless guerillas, and punished for aiding and abetting the enemy, when perhaps they may not have been to blame. While the blockade of Charleston still continued, the Confederates, with the persistent

energy by which they were

guished, were

distin-

constructing iron-clads at

Savannah. They had been for some time past engaged in altering the blockade-runner "Fingal" into a casemated vessel of the same type as the "Merrimac" and others so popular in the South. The fancy for this description of ironclad arose doubtless more from necessity than from anything else. The Confederates had few machine-shops, and it was hardly practicable to roll out a sufficiency of wide plates, but they had a plenty of railroad iron, and of this they made liberal use. The Southern iron-clads were very formidable vessels when brought into conflict with wooden ships-of-war of the old type. It is only necessary to recall to the reader's memory the two small iron-clads which slipped out of Charleston and did such damage to the Federal gun-boats, not to mention other instances, to show the value of the Confederate war machines. The slanting roof was the Southern idea pitted against the Monitor plan, which was that of the North. These represented the two most powerful types of fighting-ships in existence, and, if the "Merrimac" had destroyed the " Monitor," the former would no doubt have been the type of Vessel used for coast and harbor defence the world over.

The Confederates never conceded the Northern claim that the "Monitor" drove the " Merrimac " back to Norfolk. The Confederate naval authorities knew how the Federal Navy Department was abused and criticised throughout the North for adopting the Ericsson principle instead of some of the numerous other devices that were offered, and the South took the view of the question which coincided with their own preconceived ideas. They believed in their plan of vessel with rifled guns, and rather derided the Monitors with their slow-moving turrets and short-range guns. The want of success of the Monitors at Charleston also lowered their prestige, though this was unjust to the vessels, for

384

THE NA VAL HISTORY

they certainly showed their endurance at that place sufficiently to prove that they could stand the attack of the "Atlanta."' The "Atlanta," then called the " Fingal," had succeeded in running the blockade and getting into Savannah soon after the capShe had since been ture of Port Royal. closely watched, and finding it would be almost impossible to get out of port again as a blockaderrunner, she was sold to the Confederate Government and converted into an iron-clad, supposed to be one of the best that had been built in the South. The "Weehawken," Captain John Rodgers, and the "Nahant," Commander John Downes, were employed blockading the "Atlanta" at the mouth of Wilmington River.

Early in the morning of June 17th,

1863,

the " Nahant. " At this time the " Atlanta lav across the channel waiting the attack of Commander William A. the Monitors. Webb, her commanding officer, showed more courage than judgment, as he was not called upon to await the attack of two vessels which together were superior in force.

The "Weehawken" approached withm enemy and at

three hundred yards of the 5.15 A. M.

opened

In fifteen minutes

fire.

the " Atlanta's " colors were hauled

down

The "Weehoisted. hawken" fired but five shots altogether, but that number was quite sufficient. and a white

flag

was

As soon as the Confederate steamer struck her colors, Captain Rodgers steamed close to her and ordered a boat to be sent on Lieutenant board the "Weehawken."

lEON-CLAD 'ATLANTA." CAPTUKED VA

WAESAW SOUND^JUNE

17, 18C3.

CONFEDERATE IRONCLAD "ATLANTA," C.\.PTUEED IN WAESAW SOUND.

was reported to Captain Rodgers that a Confederate iron-clad was coming down The "Weehawken" was imthe river. mediately cleared for action, the cable slipped, and the Monitor steamed slowly towards the northeast end of Warsaw Island, then turned and stood up the Sound, heading for the enemy, who came on with confidence, as if sure of victory. Two steamers followed the Confederate iron - clad, filled with people who had come down to see the Union vessels captured or driven away. The " Nahant," having no pilot, followed in the wake of the " Weehawken." When the "Atlanta" was about a mile and a half from the "Weehawken" she fired a rifled shot which passed across the stern of the later vessel and struck near it

Alexander, of the Confederate Navy, went on board to surrender the " Atlanta," which he informed Captain Rodgers was aground on a sand-spit. Soon after. Com-

mander Webb

of the

"Atlanta" repaired

on board the " Weehawken " to deliver up his sword, and a prize crew, under Lieu-

tenant-Commander D.

B.

Harmony, was

sent to take charge of the prize. The " Weehawken" received no damage from the " Atlanta's " shot, the only injury she received was from her consort running foul of her. The "Nahant" took no part in the battle, which was ended before she could obtain a position to use her guns. The " Atlanta " was struck four times by the " Weehawken's" shot, first on the inclined side by a 15-inch cored shot, which

OF THE CIVIL WAR. "broke through the armor and wood-backing, strewing the deck with splinters, prostrating about forty men by the force of tlie concussion, and wounding several by splinters and fragments of armor. The second shot 11inch solid struck the "knuckle" or edge of the overhang, and did no damage except breaking a couple of plates. The third shot 15-inch struck the top of the " Atlanta's " pilot-house, knocking it off, wounding the

—

—

—

—

and stunning the man at the wheel. The fourth shot 11-inch struck a portstopper in the centre, breaking it in two and driving the fragments through the

pilots

—

—

port.

of

The " Atlanta " had sixteen wounded, one whom died from the effects of his

385

we have

before stated, viz., that the 15-inch shot could not penetrate four inches of iron with the ordinary backing at a distance of 800 yards. The "Atlanta" was considered by the Confederates the best iron-clad they had built, and in the capture was verified the statement we have made, that either of the Monitor-built vessels, armed with 15-inch " guns, could have destroyed the "Merrimac in half an hour. The "Weehawken" " defeated a better ship than the "Merrimac in half the time mentioned. It was probably the intention of the commanding officer of the " Atlanta " to get out where he could have plenty of searoom and choose his distance which the

—

CAPTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE BAM "ATLANTA" BY THE MONITOR "WEEHAWKEN.'

wounds, but there

is

no mention

of

any one

being killed outright.

The armament of the Confederate vessel was two 6-inch rifles in broadside, and two 7-inch rifles working on pivots, either as broadside or bow and stern guns. The " Atlanta " had a complement of 145 officers and men, including marines. The fact that the vessel was aground

when she struck her

colors does not account for the feeble defence she made after

running down so defiantly and engaging two Monitors, whose strength must have been well known to the Confederates. Only two of the shots which struck the ''Atlanta" did any great damage, and the armor and backing, though much shattered, were not penetrated. This confirms what 26

great speed of the " Atlanta" would have enabled him to do and attack the Monitors at long range, which would only have ended in the expenditure of a large amount of ammunition without any result, except that the " Atlanta " might have escaped to do harm elsewhere. It seemed to be the fate of all the Confederate iron-clads to be either captured, or destroyed by their officers to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Federals, and the "Merrimac" was about the only one of them which effected much previous to her destruction. The " Atlanta " had a speed of ten knots, and her officers had confidently counted on capturing both the Monitors. From the nautical instruments on board the Conf ed-

—

THE NA VAL HISTORY

38G

erate vessel, her commanding officer evidently intended to go to sea or cruise along the coast, and her excellent engines and

The English, even of the turret system. after the news reached them, commenced building armed ships with plated sides like

equipments and good model would have The 15-inch shot justified such an attempt. which struck the "Atlanta" dispelled all these illusions and demoralized the crew, and, although the vessel fired some shots, they all went wide of the mark. When it was determined to fit the "Atlanta " as an iron-clad, she was cut down so as to have the deck two feet above the water. Upon this deck was built a casemate with inclined sides similar to the"Merrimac," with ports in which to mount four heavy rifle-guns of the Brooke pattern. Her

judging from the efon the " Merrimac," that they could build vessels with teak or oak backing and four inches of iron that would resist the most powerful American gun. But here was a new and more powerful gun, of which they had taken no account, and which, exceeding in size anything in the ordnance line heretofore manufactured, might smash in the sides of the " Warrior " class, even if the shot did not pass clear through them. This fight with the "Atlanta," therefore, set Europe to thinking, and convinced the Navy Department it had taken a step in the

armor was four inches thick, composed of two layers of plates seven inches wide placed horizontally and vertically to each other.

The

vessel

was two hundred and four feet

the

"Warrior"

class,

fect of the " Monitor's " shot

right direction. If their little floating batteries could not demolish the heaviest fortifications, they could break up and send to the bottom the heaviest ships. The battle between the "Weehawken" and the "Atlanta" satisfied the United

States Government that it could safely intimate to the governments of Europe that we would submit to no interference in our domestic concerns so long as we complied with the law of nations. There was established a more hopeful feeling for the speedy suppression of the rebellion, now that we had demonstrated that we could build vessels that were more than a match for the war-ships of Europe.

The news of this engagement was received Europe with great interest. It was a contest between English and American ideas. The American idea was the Monitor-

in

built vessel with the 15-inch gun; the English idea was the "Atlanta " with her plated sides and rifled guns. No persons were

more

CAPTAIN (NOW HEAE-ADMIEAL)

J. F.

GEEEN.

long, forty-one feet breadth of beam, and about sixteen feet draft of water. The bow terminated in an iron beak for ramming, and the vessel carried a torpedo apparatus

on the bow,

to be

used

when

offered. The "Atlanta" was, improved "Merrimac."

This

opportunity in fact,

an

a general description of a vessel from which so much was expected and so is

little realized,

and which instead

of captur-

ing two Monitors, was captured by one of them in fifteen minutes. There was a good deal of ingenuity displayed in the construction of the "Atlanta," but the question of the superiority of the Monitor type over the flat or angular type of vessel may be considered set at rest by her capture. Notwithstanding the battle of the original "Monitor" with the "Merrimac," many people declined to believe in the superiority

interested in the result of the conflict than the Lords of the British Admiralty, ever alive to what might exercise an influence upon their navy. They had commenced the plating system and seemed to cling to the idea, but the success of the " Weehawken " shattered their faith. The Monitor system remained master of the field and has so continued to this day.

On this Navy was

occasion the Secretary of the eloquent in his praise of Captain Rodgers, recognizing in the handsomest manner his services not only on the present occasion, but also on the Mississippi at the commencement of the war and at Drury's Bluff on the James, where Rodgers attacked the enemy's fortifications in the socalled iron-clad " Galena." The Secretary also dwelt on the moral courage exhibited by Captain Rodgers in putting to sea in the face of a violent storm to test the sea-going qualities of the " Weehawken "—one of a class of vessels so unjustly decried by many persons.

OF THE For his important services, the Secretary informed Captain Rodgers that he had presented his name to Congress for a vote of thanks, and certainly the distinction was well deserved, for John Rodgers was one of the most gallant officers in the Navy. He had that cool courage which would flinch from no danger, and his capacious mind was ever ready to meet emergencies which might have unnerved many clever officers. All of Rodgers' friends and associates in the Navy felt that his honors were fairly earned, and they were worn with the modesty which distinguished him. The capture of the "Atlanta" was the last important event that occurred while the South Atlantic squadron was under the command of Dupont, and he was well pleased to terminate his official communications to the Navy Department with such gratifying intelligence; and on the 4th of July, 1863, at his lieved from the

own request, he was recommand of the squad-

ron by Rear-Admiral John A. Dahlgren. In the later communications which passed between Rear- Admiral Dupont and the Secretary of the Navy, some asperity may be observed on both sides; but the capture of the " Atlanta " seemed to have

away, and Admiral Duhoped on his arrival in Washington he would be appointed to some important command where he could give the country the benefit of his talents and experience. On his retirement from the command of the squadron, Mr. Secretary Welles smoothed

all this

pont's friends

CIVIL

WAR.

387

wrote the Admiral the following

June

Sir

R.

p.

and Commander John Downes

of the affair. take occasion to express the Department's appreciation of your prompt measures to prepare for the expected appearance of the rebel iron-clad by sending off Savannah two of our own ably commanded ships, and congratulate you on the acquisition of so powerful a vessel, which promises to be of important service on the station. To your ceaseless vigilance and that of the officers under your command were we indebted some months since for the destruction of the steamer "Nashville," which the enemy had armed and fruitlessly endeavored to send out to destroy our commerce, and now to your timely measures and to the effloient means provided do we owe the capture of one of the most powerful iron-clads afloat, a vessel prepared after several months of toil and great expenditure of money, and sent forth with confidence to disperse our blockading fleet and overcome our I

Monitors. well regard this, and we may with pleasit, as a brilliant termination of a command gallantly commenced and conducted for nearly two years with industry, energy and ability. The Department desires you to recommend to it an officer of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron to command the "Atlanta." Very respectfully,

You may

ure look upon

Gideon Wellbs, Secretary of theNavy.

Rear-Admiral

Commanding

iS.

8. F.

Dupont,

A. B. Squadron, Port Royal,

;

Preston, Flag-Lieutenant; Lieutenants, Lloyd Phenix, John H. Rowland and James P. Robertson; Fleet Surgeon, George Clymer; Assistant Surgeons, Henry F. McSherry and Theoron Woolverton; Paymaster, John S. Cunningham; Chaplain, George W. Dorrance Acting-Master, Townsend Stiles Marine Officers: Captain, James Lewis First-Lieutenant, H. B. Lowry; Ensigns, James Wallace, M. L. Johnson, Philip W. Lowry, La Rue P. Adams and Frederick Pearson; Acting- Master's Mates, Wm. A. Duer, W. F. Horton and Joel R. Hinman; En-

W.

;

;

gineers: Chief, Robert W. McCleery, Acting-SecondAssistant, J. B. Hathaway; Third-Assistants, J. S.

Green,

Thomas Crummey;

Acting-Third-Assistants, Place and J. T. Dennett; Boat-

Gunner, Thomas swain, Zachariah Whitmarsh Stewart; Carpenter, Charles Bordman; Sailmaker, G. T. Lozier ;

IRONCIiAD STEAMER Captain,

"NEW

S. C.

1863.

Samuel

F.

Dupont.

rodgers, CAPTAIN OF THE FLEET.

STEAM-FRiaATB " WABASH," FLAG-SHIP. LieutenantCommander, Thomas G. Corbin Commander, John Irwin; Lieutenant Alexander S. Mackenzie, Ordnance-Officer; Lieutenant Samuel

J. L. Marshall, J. B.

j

received your several dispatches announcing the capture of the rebel ironclad steamer " Fingal," alias "Atlanta," and enclosing the detailed reports of Captain John Rodgers

List of Vessels and Officers under Rear-Admiral C.

2G, 1863.

—The Department has

SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, JANUARY, CAPTAIN

letter,

which would seem to indicate that if he had ever had any feeling against Dupont he had outgrown it: Navy Department, \

IRONSIDES."

Thomas Turner; Lieutenant-Command-

Surgeon, MariusDuvall; Assistant Surgeons, W. T. Plant and Edward Kershner; Paymaster, Alex. W. Russell; Marine Officers First-Lieutenant, H. A. Bartlett Second-Lieutenant. J. B. Young Acting-Masters, G. W. Domett, J. M. Skillings and J. M. Butler Acting-Master's Mates, C. W. Howard, G. H. Bradley, S. S. Hand, T. E. Harvey, B. F. Morris and Robert Shepherd; Engineers Chief, Harmon Newell; First-Assistant, N. B. Littig; Second-Assistants, O. H. Lackey, R. L. Harris ThirdAssistants, Edward Battelle, H. C. Beckwith and Boatswain, Wells; Thomas Bennett; Gunners, W. S. Charles Stuart and R. J. Hill; Carpenter, Theodore Bishop; Sailmaker, J. B. Birdsall. :

;

;

;

:

;

IRON-CLAD STEAMER "NANTUCKET." [jAN. 1864.] Lieutenant-Commander, 8. B. Luce; Lieutenant, H. L. Howison; Assistant Surgeon, A. B. Judson Acting- Assistant Paymaster^ L. L. Brigham; ;

Acting-Master, W. H. Males; Acting-Ensigns, J. T. Otis, C. C. Starr and John Meyers; Engineers: Second-Assistants, Geo. H. White, Isaac McNary; Third-Assistants, W. W. Buckhout, J. K. Smedley and Acting - Third - Assistant A. L. Grow. [Commander Donald McN. Fairfax commanded the

THE NAVAL HISTORY

388

IBON-CLAD STBAMEB " CATSKILL." [JAN. 1864] Lieutenant-Commander, F. M. Bunce; AssistantSurgeon, Robert Willard; Acting-Assistant Paymas-

G. F. Barker; Acting-Master, G. W. Parker; Acting-Ensigns, C. P. Walters and George M. Prindle Engineers Second-Assistant, G. D. Emmons; Tliird -Assistant, J. F. Booth; Acting-Tliird- Assistants, Frank Marsh and James Plunkett; ActingMaster s Mate, Peter Trescott. [Commander George " Catskill " at Charles"W. Rodgers commanded the

ter,

:

;

ton.]

STEAM-SLOOP "POWHATAN." Captain, S. W. Godon; Lieutenant-Commander, E. P. Williams; Lieutenants, A. R. McNair and F. J. Higginson; Surgeon, Henry O. Mayo; Assistant Surgeon, Edw. D. Payne; Paymaster, L. J. Brown; First-Lieutenant of Marines, P. C. Pope; ActingMasters, Jas. Ogilvie, Lothrop Baker, C. R. WilkinsandE. L. Haines; Acting-Ensign, C. P. Walters; Acting-Masters' Mates, W. S. Curtis, Wm. Frost and C. H. Howland; Engineers Chief, John A. Grier First Assistant, H. B. Nones; Second-Assistant. Henry Brown; Third- Assistants, W. H. Glading, R. A. Wright, G. W. Carrick, John Franklin :

;

and M. Cuthbert

;

Boatswain,

Wm.

Long; Gunner,

W. Omensetter; Carpenter, Amos Chick; maker, W. S. L. Brayton. IRON-CLAD STEAMER " PASSAIC." G.

Sail-

Simon Rockefellow, ger;

;

;

;

STEAMER "SOUTH CAROLINA." Acting -Assistant J. Almy

Commander, John

;

;

STEAMER "flag." Commander, James H. Strong; Acting-Assistant

W. Sartori; Acting-Assistant PaymasLynford Lardner Acting - Master, Wm. H. Latham; Acting- Master's Mates, E. G. Welles, G. W. VeacockandC. 8. Lawrence: Engineers: ActingFirst- Assistant, L. H.Flowry; Acting-Second-Assistants, John Harris, W. W. Tunis and M. Dandreau; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. S. Johnson and Edw. ;

Aljn; Acting-Gunner, B. F. Ritter.

Commander, James M. Frailey; Lieutenant-Com-

Captain, Joseph F. Green; Lieutenant-CommandCornwell; Lieutenant, H. De H. Manley; Surgeon, James Suddards; Paymaster, C. H. Eldredge; Acting-Master, Samuel Hall; Ensign, Benjamin H. Porter; Acting-Ensign, John L. Gifford; Acting-Master's Mates, A. 8. Eldridge, J. N. Pease, W. T. Vincent and C. S. McCarty; Engineers: Chief, Wm. 8. Stamm; First-Assistant, H. C. Victor; SecThird-Assistants, ond-Assistant, G. W. Rogers Albert Jackson, Alfred Hedrick, Philip Miller and GunE. S. Philllppi Boatswain, Thomas Smith Carpenter, S. N. Whitehouse ner, John Gaskins Sailmaker, David Bruce. er, J. J.

;

;

;

;

;

IBON-CLAD STEAMER "WEEHAWKEN." Captain, John Rodgers; Lieutenant-Commander, H. Newman; Assistant Surgeon, E. M. Stein, Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Pynchon; Acting-Master, B. W. Loring Acting-Ensigns, J. C. Cox and Stephen Balles; Engineers: Second -Assistants, J. H. Bailey and David Hardie; Third-AssistL.

;

W. Merian and Augustus

Mitchell.

STBAM-SLOOP "HOUSATONIC."

Wm. Rogers Taylor; Lieutenants, M. S. Stuyvesant and E. T. Brower; Surgeon, 8. F. Coues; Assistant Paymaster, J. S. Woolson, Acting-MasActing Enters, J. W. Congdon and J. K. Crosby sign, Weston Gregory, Acting-Master's Mates, C. D. Captain,

;

B. A. JButler, G. A.

Harriman and B.

F.

Jacobs; Engineers: Chief, John S. Albert; SecondThird-Assistants, I. R. Assistant, P. A. Rearick McNary, F. L. Cooper, G. W. Geddesand J. H. Harmany; Boatswain, H. P. Grace; Gunner, Benjamin Roberts. ;

STEAMER "MBRCEDITA." Stellwagen Lieutenant-Commander, Trevot Abbott: Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Acting- Assist ant Paymaster, T. C. C. H. Mason Stellwagen; Acting- Masters, C. B. Wilder, F. J. ;

;

Gover and T. J. Dwyer; Master's Mates, Edward Rogers and G. A. Steins Engineers Acting-First;

;

Surgeon, G. A. Bright; Assistant Paymaster, A. S. Kenny; Acting Masters, J. W. Magune, G. A. Crabb, W. H. Garfield and F. W. Baury ActingActing - Master's Mates, Ensign, C. T. Taylor Eliphalet Hoi brook, Wm. C. Nye, A. S. Hitch and S. 8. Withington; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistants, B. B. Carney, B. D. Mulligan and J. H. Rowe; Acting Third-Assistants, Henry Gormley and James Jamison.

STEAMER "QUAKER CITY."

STEAM SLOOP "CANANDAI&UA."

8.

Hun-

geon, J. H. Hazleton; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. A. Berry; Acting-Master's Mates, C. V. Kelly, Jeremiah Potts and Charles Weidenbine; Engineers: First-Assistant, Alexander Greer; Second-Assistant, James Sheriden; Third- Assistants, J. H. Chassmar, W. H. G. West and E. D. Weems; Acting-Gunner, O. B. Holden.

Dripps and Joseph Hoops.

Captain, Henry

J. A.

STEAM GUN-BOAT ' PAUL JONES." Commander, Charles Steedman, Lieutenant, Edward A. Walker; Acting-Masters, Wm. Buckholdt C. H. Boutelle and J. O. Ormond Assistant Sur-

ter,

Percival Drayton; Lieutenant - Commander, Joseph N. Miller; Assistant Surgeon, Edgar Holden; Assistant Paymaster, J. P. Woodbury; Acting-Ensigns, H. B. Baker and L. G. Emerson Engineers: First-Assistant, G. S. Bright; SecondThird-Assistants, W. A. Assistant. H. W. Robie

Bordman,

and

Surgeon, C.

Captain,

ants, H.

E. F. Martin

Gunner, Jacob Amee.

:

Assistant. Alexander Doig; Acting-Third- Assistants,

Livingston Breese; Acting-Assistant S. Surgeon, J. J. Brownlee; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, H. J. BuUay: Acting Master, H. 8. Blanchard Acting-Ensigns, T. F. DeLuce, A. Delano, Jr., and J. H. Bennett; Acting-Master's Mates, E. H. Dewey and E. W. Hale; Engineers; Acting-First-Assistant, G. W. Farrer Acting - Third - Assistants, James Barnes, E. F. McGinniss, Henry Wauklin, J. F. King and John Proshero Gunner, Daniel Dunsmore.

mander,

;

;

STORE-SHIP "TERMONT." Commander, William Reynolds; Surgeon, Charles I. H. Hazleton; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. 8. Isaacs; Second-Lieutenant Marines, Alfred Devereaux; Acting-Masters,

Eversfield; Assistant-Surgeon,

Howard Tibbatts and

C. C.

Kingsbury; Acting En-

and R. T. Westcott; Acting-Master's Mates, W. Van Wyck, O. F. Wixen, J. G. Rose, Sidney Gray, Arthur Taffe and J. 8. Griscom; signs, C. A. Pettit

Boatswain, William Winchester Acting-Gunners, G. W. Allen and J. G. Bills; Carpenter, C. W. Ba'obitt; Sailmaker, John Joins. STEAMER "keystone STATE." Commander, Wm. E. Le Roy; Lieutenant Commander, T. H. Eastman, Assistant Surgeon, J. H. Gotwold; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. 8. 8timson; Acting-Masters, C. H. Corser, Curtis Redman and L. E. Degn; Acting-Ensign, C. M. Bird; ActingMaster's Mates, J. C. Murphy, J. E. Jones and J. T. Ridgeway Engineers: Acting- First- Assistant, A. K. Eddowes Acting-Seeond-Assistant, James Doran; Acting-Third-Assistants, Wm. F. Warburton, John Smith and Pearson L. Fry; Acting-Gun;

;

;

ner,

David

L. Briggs.

STEAMEB "CIMMEBONE." Commandei- Maxwell WoodhuU LieutenantCommander, B. B. Taylor; Acting-Masters, G. E. Thurston, Edwai-d D. March and Samuel A. Waterbury; Assistant Surgeon, Eugene 8. Olcott; Acting;

Assistant Paymaster, D. W. Hale; Acting-Master's Mates, John F. Miller. Peter .1. Marp.oe. Wni. H.

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

Herring and Augustus Lippitt; Engineers: FirstAssistant, B. A. C. Du Plaine; Second- Assistant, Reynold Driver; Third Assistants, G. J. Burnap, George W. Beard and David Jones; Gunner, John Caulk. STEA.MEB "BIENVILLE.'' of officers not given in the

NoTB. — List

Navy

Register.

IRON-CIiAD STEAMBB " MONTAUK."

Brayton Acting - Assistant Paymaster, S. T. Browne; Acting - Master, Pierre Giraud; ActingEnsigns, I. J. McKinley and Geo. A. Almy Engineers Second- Assistants, Robert Potts and T. A. Stephens Third-Assistants,D. P. McCartney and ;

;

:

;

Geo. M. Greene.

STEAM GUN-BOAT CONEMAUOH." Commander, Reed Werden, Lieutenant, B. J. Cromwell: Assistant Surgeon, J. J. Allingham; Paymaster, George Lawrence Acting-Masters, J. W. Stapleford and J. L. Lee Acting-Ensigns, W. F. Reading and G. F. Morse; Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Wainwright, A. R. Bashford, John Brown and G. H. French; Engineers: Second-Assistant, '

;

;

L. J. Allen; Third- Assistants, C. P. Gardner, P. H.

Hendrickson, John Lloyd and

J.

W. Boynton.

SIEAMEE "JAMES ADGEB." Commander, Thomas H. Patterson Acting-Assistant Surgeon, R. N, Atwood; Acting-Assistant ;

W. W.

Green way; Acting - Master, Patterson; Acting-Ensigns, C. F. Keith and

Paymaster,

T.

Chadwell; Acting-Master's Mates, W.W. Reed, George Couch and Wm. B. Dyer, Jr.; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, E. A. Whipple; Acting-Sec-

J. T.

John Carren; Acting-Third-AssistAndrew McTurk, Wm. Moranand W. R. Nutz;

ond-Assistant, ants,

STEAM GUN-BOAT "SEBAGO. .John C. Beaumont; Lieutenant, H. M. Blue; Assistant Surgeon, John P. Quinn; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, S. G. Thorn ActingMasters, Thomas M. Gardner, Wm. C. Mallard and J. F. Anderson; Acting-Ensign, C. B. Dorrance Engineers: Acting-Master's Mate, E. D. Martin Third-Assistants, First-Assistant, S. F. Savage G. E. Tower, W. H. De Hart, O. W. Alhson and

Commander,

;

;

;

Commander, John L. Worden; Lieutenant-Commander, C. H. Cushman; Assistant Surgeon, 8. N.

R. O.

389

Acting-Gunner, J. H. Pennington. IBON-OLAD STEAMER "PATAPSOO." Commander, Daniel Ammen; Lieutenant, Henry Erben, Jr.; Assistant Surgeon, W. L. Wheeler; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Daniel Leach, Jr. ActingMaster, William Hamilton; Acting- Ensigns, J. T. Ross and Henry Kloeppel Engineers: First- Assistant, B. B. H. Wharton; Second-Assistant, John B. Carpenter; Third- Assistants, J. W. Huxley and G. C. Cook. STEAM-SLOOP PAWNEE. Commander, G. B. Baloh Lieutenant, P. M. Bunce; Surgeon, W. T. Hord; Assistant-Paymaster, ;

;

'

'

;

F. R. Curtis; Acting-Masters, J. C. Champion and J. P. Lindsay; Acting-Ensign, Thomas Moore; ActingMaster's Mates, C. J. Rogers, J. G. Bache and A. A. Engineers Second - Assistant, Alfred Franzen Adamson; Third-Assistants, H. D. Sellman, Benjamin Bunce, W. J. Clark, jr., John G. Brosnahan and Arthur Price; Boatswain, James Brown. :

;

lEON-CLAD STEAMEB "NAHANT." Commander, John Downes Lieutenant - Commander, D. B. Harmony; Assistant Surgeon, C. E. Stedman Assistant Paymaster, Edwin Putnam; ;

;

Wm.

W. Carter; Acting-Ensigns, C. C. RiokerandC. E. Clark; Engineers: First-Assistant, F. J. Lovering; Second- Assistant, T. H. Bordley Third-Assistants, Abram Michener and W. S. Acting-Master,

;

J. A. Bullard.

STEAMEB "MOHAWK." Lieutenant-Commander, Aaron K. Hughes; As-

W. Woods;

sistant Surgeon, Geo.

Acting-Assistant

Paymaster, G. H. Andrews; Acting-Masters, G. R. Durand, Anthony Smally and Alex. TiUinghast Acting-Master's Mates, T. Holland and T. J. Speights; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, Alfred Lapoint; Aeting-Third-Assistants, William King, Geo. E. Whitney and R. K.Morrison. STEAM OUN-BOAT " HURON." Lieutenant-Commander, Geo. A. Stevens; Assistant Surgeon, C. H. White; Acting -Assistant Paymaster, Charles Stewart; Acting Masters, J. W. Gill, W. H. Baldwin and Wm. A. Mills; Acting-Master's Mates, Peter O'Conner, Sam'l Delano, J. M. Blake and Wm. Henderson Engineers Acting - FirstAssistant, Wm. Craig Third-Assistants, Sylvanus Mclntyre, J. P. Kelley, John Lowe and F. C. :

;

;

Russell.

STEAM GUN-BOAT "UNADILLA." Lieutenant-Commander, S. P. Quackenbush; Assistant Surgeon, C. T. Hubbard; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Geo. B. Tripp; Acting-Masters, Edw.

Van

Sice, W. L. Tuttle and P. N. Cruse; ActingEnsign, R. M. Cornell; Acting-Master's Mates, Geo. E. Thomas, C. N. Hall and Wm. Field; Engineers: Second-Assistant, R. S. Talbot Third- Assistants, R. H. Thurston, Fred'k Bull, Jr., and M. N. Knowl;

ton.

STEAMER "FLAMBEAU." Lieutenant-Commander, John H. Upshur; Lieutenant, Fred'k R. Smith; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, J. R. Lay ton; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. V. D. Horton; Acting-Masters,

W.

B. Sheldon, A.

Megathlinand Wm. L. Kempton; Acting-Ensign, Gardner Cottrell; Acting-Master's Mate, J. F. BurC.

rows; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, A. G. Pemble Acting-Second- Assistant Alex. Gillanders Acting-Third-Assistaut, Wilham Richardson. ;

;

;

STEAM GUN-BOAT "OTTAWA." Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. D. Whiting; Lieutenant, Geo. B.White; Assistant Surgeon, C. O. Carpenter; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Noyes; Acting-Master, Samuel Hanes; Acting-Ensigns, J. L. Gamble and B. Mitchell; Acting-Master's Mates, E. M. Dimon, A. W. Tripp and David McKewan; Engineers: Second-Assistant, J. P. Sprague; ThirdAssistants, E. W. Koehl, F. C. Prmdle and R. B. Hine.

STEAM GUN-BOAT "SENECA." Lieutenant -Commander, William Gibson; Lieutenant, Thomas G. Bowen; Assistant Surgeon, J H. Macomber; Assistant Paymaster, G. W. Beaman; Acting- Masters, J. H. Rodgers, Henry Vaughanand

W. Ewen; Acting-Master's Mates, E. W. Fiske, W. Paine and C. E. Culver; Engineers: SecondAssistant, J. W. De Kraflft; Third-Assistants, H. H. Burritt, Thomas Lynch and R. T. Bennett. G.

J.

Neal.

STEAMEB "NOBWICH."

Commander, James M. Duncan; Ensign, McCormick Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. ;

A. H. E. Mc-

Pherson; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. C. Boardman; Acting-Masters, C. F. Mitchell and R. B. Arrants; Acting-Master's Mates, Peter Mookler, A. J. L. Baker and G. M. Smith; Engineers: ActingActing-ThirdSecond- Assistant, Nicholas Coyle Assistants, A. A. Odell, Benjamin Cobb, Jr., and W. ;

STEAM GUN-BOAT " WISSAHICKON." Lieutenant-Commander, John L. Davis; Lieutenant, Silas Casey; Assistant Surgeon, Henry Ackley; Acting-Assistant Paj'master, A. W. Kelsey; ActingMasters, Geo. W. Parker and T. S. Steel; Acting-

Ensign, J. W. Hathorn; Acting-Master's Mates, R. B. Crapo, G. E^Senter and A. L. Pendleton; Engi-

THE NA VAL HISTORY

390

Third-Assistants, J. J. Newton, C. A. Stuart H. J. Tarr.

STEAM GUNBOAT

"

and

'

R

W.

James Long

L. Niooll,

STEAMEE "WATER WITCH." Commander, Austin Pendergrast

Lieutenant

-

Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Pierson; ActingAssistant Paymaster, L. G. Billings; Acting-Masters. C. W. Buck and H. S. Kimball; Acting-Ensign, J. M. Forsyth; Acting-Masters' Mates, J. J. Bigley and E. D. Parsons Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant Samuel Genther; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. P. Cooper, John Hawkins and John Overn. ;

STEAMEB "COMMODOEE M'DONOUGH." Lieutenant-Commander, George Bacon; ActingAssistant Surgeon, J. W. Gibson; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. F. Quintard; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. Knapp and J. A. Buxton; Acting-Master's Mates, J. K. Winn, J. W. Goodwin and D. B. Hallett; Engineers Acting-Third-Assistants, T. O. Reynolds, J. T. Booth and S. 8. Hetrick. STEAMER "ISAAC SMITH." :

Acting-Master, C. J. Van Alstine; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. S. Cohen; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, E. P. Heberton; Acting-Master, G. P. Lee; Acting-Ensigns, G. R. Bailey and Joseph Frost; Acting-Master's Mates, G. E. Short, Marcus Baird and G. N. Ryder; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, J. B. Edwards; Acting-Third- Assistants, P. B. Robinson, Thomas Slater and S. B. Cornell.

BARK

"EESTLE.SS."

Acting-Master, Wm. R. Brown; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. B. Calkins; Acting-Assistant PaymasCushman; Acting - Masters, Maurice 8. ter, W. Digard and J. B. Rogers; Acting-Ensigns, Henry Eason, J. J. Russell and C. N. Hicks; Acting-Master's Mates, J. W. Mackie and Henry Oakley. STEAMER MADGIE. Acting-Master, F. B. Meriam; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Louis Michel; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, B. Huscull; Acting-Ensign, W. C. UnderhillActing-Master's Mates, E. H. Vail, E. P. Blague and Jason Ryan Engineers Acting-Second-Assistant, G. L. Palmer; Acting-Third-Assistants, A. F. Rock'

'

:

;

Maurice McCarty and C. M. Goodwin. BARK "MIDNIGHT." Acting-Master, Nicholas Kirby; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. G.Bacon; Acting-Assistant Paymaster,

feller,

Acting-Lieutenant, F. S. Conover Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. H. Marvin; Acting- AssistantPaymaster, F. C. Hills; Acting-Masters, J.W. Dicks

F. Miller; Acting-Masters, S.

and Robert Tarr; Acting-Ensigns, Whitman Chase, F. J. Brentonand H. S. Borden; Engineers: ActingFirst-Assistant, Jacob Tucker Acting-Seeond-Assistant, J. S. Turner Acting-Third-Assistants, Wm. Ross and Erastus Barry. STEAMER "DAWN." Acting-Lieutenant, John S. Barnes Acting-Assistant Surgeon, A. R. Holmes Acting-Assistant Paymaster, R. C. Pierce; Acting-Masters, James Brown and J. W. Saunders; Acting-Master's Mates, A. Hartshorn, P. W. Morgan and Charles Myers; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, N.D. Bates; Act-

Hollins.

;

;

;

;

;

ing-Third-Assistants, Sam'l Tomlinson, Darling find W. P. Ayres.

M. V. B.

STEAMER "WHITEHEAD." Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Chas. A. French; Acting-Ensigns, J. M. Holmes and J. R. Dickinson; Acting-Master's Mates, T. E. Quayle and T. M. NelEngineers son Acting-Second-Assistant, Moses Petersen; Acting-Third- Assistants, R. H. Ryan and McDermoft. B. G. BARK " GEM-OF-THE-SEA." Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. B. Baxter; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, B. (i. Walton; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, H. A. Strong; Acting-Masters, P. F. Coffin and H. B. Carter; Acting - Ensign, :

;

Samuel

Bliss.

STEAMER "POTOMSKA." Acting-Volunteer-Lie utenant, William Budd; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, S. G. Smith; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, F. H. Swan; Acting-Masters, R. P. Walter, B. W. Leary and Abni-r West; ActingMaster's Mates, J. D. Wells and Woodward Cai'ter; Engineers: Acting-Seeond-Assistant, G. H. Guyer; Acting - Third - Assistants, C. A. Marline, Edwin

Vaughan and W.

L.

McKay.

STEAMER MEMPHIS. Acting-Lieutenant, P. G. Watmough; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, S. H. Brown; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. E. Foster Acting-Master, C. A. Curtis; Acting-Ensigns, B. A. Magone and J. B. Acting-Master's Mates, N. P. Dickinson, Childs Silas Owens and J. M. Moore; Engineers: ActingFirst- Assistant, J. L. Peake; Acting-Secoud-Assist"

;

;

L.

'

:

Fisher; Third-Assistants, and H. W. Bulkley.

MoCarty; Acting-Third-Assistants, H. Hardwick and J. H. VaUe. STEAMER STETTIN.

Churchill, Chas.

MAKBLEHEAD."

Lieutenant-Coininander, R. W. Scott; Lieutenant, Geo. C. Remey; Assistant Surgeon, R. H. Kidder; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Mulford; ActingMasters, Greo. Martin and B. Allen; Acting-Master's Winslow and Mates, D. S. Gross, B. O. Low, (J. Harry West Engineers Second-Assistant, Clark ;

ant, C. H.

D. Joy and

Edwin

ZeraL. Tanner; Acting-MasMates, A. K. Noyes, Nicholas Pratt and Thos.

Coffin; Acting-Ensign, ter's

SHIP "VALPARAISO." Acting-Master, A. S. Gardner; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, A. B. C Sawyer; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Tracy Coit; Acting-Masters, J. W. Godfrey and Wm. Haffords Acting-Master's Mates, John Blitz and Charles Cooke. STEAMER "UNCAS. Acting-Master, William Watson; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. H. Van Deusen; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. E. Taylor; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. L.Pavy; Engineers Acting-Master's Mate, Geo. Newlin ActingActing-Second- Assistant, C. Dandreau ;

'

;

;

Third -Assistant, Paul Dandreau.

STEAMER "WAMSUTTA." Acting-Master, S. C. Gray; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, S. F. Quimbv; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Sam. Jorden; Acting-Master's Mates, G. F. Goodrich, Chas. Cravton and Thomas Kennedy; Engineers Acting-Third -Assistants, Wm. A. Andress, :

John Seaman and W.

J.

Carman.

SHIP "COURIER." Acting-Master, W.K.Cressy; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. R. Bonsall, Acting-Assistant Paymaster, M. W. Blake; Acting-Master, W. B. Stoddard; Acting-Ensigns. W. P. O'Bi-ien and Acting-Master's Mates, C. J. Hill

BAKK

"

Wm.

and

McDermott; E. H. Shee.

PEBNANDIKA."

Acting-Master, Edward Moses; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, 8. P. Boyer; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, T. N. Murray; Acting-Masters, R. B. Hines and C. C. Childs; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. H. Thomas; ActingMaster's JIntes, J. B. Henderson, W. C. Gibson and

Alonzo Townsend.

BARK "KINGFISHER." Acting-Master, J. C. Dutch; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Westcott; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, A. N. Blakeman; Acting-Ensigns, 8. W. Rhodes and T. E. Chapin; Acting-Master's Mates, Tom. Nelson, H. G. Seaman and Frank Jordan.

BARK "BEAZILIERA." Acting-Master,

W.

T. Gillespie; Acting-Assistant

OF THE CIVIL WAR. Surgeon, S. N. Fisk; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Longstreet; Acting-Masters, J. J. N. Webber

and Jeremiah Chadwick; Acting-Master's Mates, W. N. Smith, J. B. P. Smith and W. H. Roberts. STEAMEB " COLITMBINE."

Acting-Master, J. S. Dennis; Acting-Ensign, C. S. Flood; Acting-Master's Mates, Edwin Daly and F. "W. Sanborn; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, W. H. Ogden Acting-Third-Assistants, E. H. Lawrence and S. C. Clark. ;

TOG "DAPPODIIi." Acting-Master, E. M. Baldwin; Acting-Master's Mates, Francis Such and S. C. Bishop ActingSecond-Assistant Engineer, J. P. Rossman; ActingThird-Assistant Engineer, Geo. Cunningham. TUG " DANDELION " Acting-Master, A. S. Gardner; Acting-Master's Mate, John Brittingham; Engineers Acting-SecondAssistant, J. M. Case; Acting-Third-Assistant, E. F. ;

Mates, J. B. Williamson,

SOHOONBE Acting-Ensign, G.

•

NOEPOLK PACKET."

W. Wood

;

Assistant-Surgeon,

A. B. Judson Acting-Assistant Paymaster, T. Merritt; Acting - Master's Mates, Leaken Barnes, Jackson Kingsley and Tim. Ryan. SCHOONER "HOPE." Acting- Master, J. E. Rockwell Acting-Master's ;

;

Sanborn and Jacob

SCHOONEB "PAEA." Acting-Master, E. C. Furber; Acting- Master's Mates, Edward Ryan, John MoDonough and W. H. Morse.

YAOHT "AMERICA." Acting-Master, Jonathan Baker; Acting-Master's Mates, G. H. Wood, August Adler and W. H.

Thompson. SCHOONER

''G.

W.

BLUNT

"

Acting - Master, J. R. Beers; Acting - Master's Mates, B. D. Reed, A. H. Comstock and G. W. Cleaves.

STEAMER "RESCUE." Acting-Ensign, C. A. Blanchard; Acting- Master's Mate, E. D. Smith; Engineers: Acting-Third- AssistM. C. Heath and G. W. Howe. TUG " O. M. PETTIT." Acting-Ensign, T. E. Baldwin; Engineers: Acting-

ants,

Hedden.

gett.

J. C.

Cochrane.

:

SOHOONEB "C. p. WILLIAMS." Acting-Master, S. N. Freeman; Acting- Master's Mates, F. W. Towne, John Gunn and F. E. Dag-

391

Second-Assistant, Reuben McClenahan Third-Assistant, Augustus Wandell.

;

Acting-

IRON-CLAD "KEOKUK." Lieutenant-Commander, A. C. Rhind; Lieutenant, Moreau Forrest; Acting-Master, James Taylor; Acting-Ensigns, W. H. Bullis, IraT. Halstead and Alex Mcintosh; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Geo. D. Slocum; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, John Read First;

Assistant Engineer, Wm. H. King; Second-Assistant Engineer, J. H. Hunt; Third-Assistant Engineers, J. M. Emanuel and H. A. Smith.

LETTERS RELATING TO THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL AND OCCUPATION OF THE CONFEDERATE FORTS. FROM FLAG

- OFFICER DUPONT, COMMANDER STEEDMAN, AND LIEUTENANTS - COMMANDING RODGERS. AMMEN, STEVENS AND WATMOUGH— MAJOR JOHN G. REYNOLDS, U. S. M. C. —COMMENDATORY LETTERS OP SECRETARY WELLES— GENERAL ORDERS, ETC

C. R. P.

report of flag-officer dupont: Flag-ship "Wabash," off Hiltom Head,

\

Port Royal Harbor, Nov. 8, 1861. \ Sir I have the honor to inform you that yester day I attacked the enemy's batteries on Bay Point and Hilton Head (.Forts Beauregard and Walker), and succeeded in silencing them after an engage-

—

ment

of four hours' duration,

and driving away the

squadron of rebel steamers under Commodore Tat-

The reeonnoissance

of yesterday made us acquainted with the superiority of Fort Walker, and to that I directed especial efforts, engaging it at a distance of, first, eight, and afterwards six, nall.

my

hundred yards. But the plan of attack brought the squadron sufficiently near Fort Beauregard to receive its fire, and the ships were frequently fighting the batteries on both sides at the same time. The action was begun on my part at twenty-six minutes after 9, and at half-past 3 the American ensign was lioisted on the flag-staff of Fort Walker, and this morning at sunrise on that of Fort Beauregard. The defeat of the enemy terminated in utter rout and confusion. Their quarters and encam[)ments were abandoned without an attempt to carry away either public or private property. The ground over which they fled was strewn with the arms of private soldiers, and officers retired in too much haste to submit to the encumbrance of their swords. Landing my marines and a company of seamen, I took possession of the deserted ground, and held the forts on Hilton Head till the arrival of General Sherman, to whom I had the honor to transfer its

We have captured forty -three pieces of cannon, most of them of the heaviest calibre and of the most improved description. The bearer of these dispatches will have the honor to carry with him the captured flags and two small brass field pieces, lately belonging to the State of South Carolina, which are sent home as suitable trophies of the day. I enclose herewith a copy of the general order, which is to be read in the fleet to-morrow morning at muster. A detailed account of this battle will be submitted hereafter. I have the honor to be, very respectfully. Your most obedient servant, 8. F. DuPojTT, Mag-Offieer,

Commanding

South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy,

Washington, D. C. of dispatches will also carry with him the first American ensign raised upon the soil of South Carolina suice the rebellion broke out. S. F. D. P. S.

—Bearer

general order

no.

2.

Flag-ship "Wabash," Hilton Head, { Port Royal Bay, Nov. 8, 1861. \ It is the grateful duty of the Commander-in-chief to malie a public acknowledgment of his entire commendation of the coolness, discipline, skill and gallantry displayed by the officers and men under his

command in the Head and Bay

Hilton

capture of the batteries on an action of four

Point, after

THE NA VAL HISTORY

392

The flag-oflicer fully sympathizes with the officers and men of the squadron in the satisfaction they must feel at seeing the ensign of the Union flying once more in the State of South Carolina, which has been the chief promoter of the wicked and unprovoked rebellion they have been called upon to suppress.

8. P.

Flag-Officer,

DuPont, Commanding

South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

report of flag-officbb dupont. United States Flag-ship "Wabash," Port Royal Harbor, 8. C, Nov. 11, 1861. Sir

— I have the

) )

honor to submit the following detailed account of the action of the 7th of November From the reconnoissance of the 5th we were led to believe that the forts on Bay Point and Hilton Head were armed with more than twenty guns each, of the heaviest calibre and longest range, and were well constructed and well manned, but that the one on Hilton Head was the strongest. The distance between them is two and two-tenths nautical miles — too great to admit of their being advantageously engaged at the same time, except at long shot. I resolved, therefore, to undertake the reduc:

tion of Hilton

Head

hereafter call it. Fort Walker) first, and afterwards to turn my attention to Port Beauregard the fort on Bay Point. The greater part of the guns of Port Walker were presented upon two water-fronts, and the flanks were but slightly guarded, especially on the north, on which side the approach of an enemy had not been (or,

as

I shall

—

looked

for.

—

A fleet

of the enemy consisting of seven steamarmed, but to what extent I was not informed further than that they carried rifle-guns occupied the northern i^ortion of the harbor, and stretched along from the mouth of Beaufort River to Scull ers,

—

Creek. It was high water on the 7th instant at llh. 35m. A. M. by the tables of the Coast Survey. These circumstances the superiority of Port Walker and its weakness on the northern flank, the presence of the rebel fleet, and the flood-tide of the morning— decided the plan of attack and the order of battle. The order of battle comprised a main squadron ranged in line ahead, and a flanking squadron,

—

which was to be thrown off on the northern section of the harbor, to engage the enemy's flotilla and prevent them taking the rear ships of the main Dne when it turned to the southward, or cutting off

a disabled vessel. The main squadron consisted of the frigate " Wabash," Commander C. R. P. Rodgers, the leading ship; the frigate "Susquehanna," Captain J. L. Lardner the sloop "Mohican," Commander 8. W. Godon; the sloop "Seminole," Commander J. P. Gilhs the sloop "Pawnee," Lieutenant-Commanding R. H. Wyman; the gun-boat " UnadUla," Lieutenant-Commanding N. Collins the gun-boat ;

;

;

"Ottawa," Lieutenant-Commanding T. H. Stevens; the gun-boat "Pembina," Lieutenant-Commanding J. P.

Bankhead and the

Commander

sailing sloop " Vandalia,' P. S. Haggerty, towed by the "Isaac ;

Smith," Lieutenant-Commanding

J.

W.

A. Nichol-

son.

The flanking squadron consisted of the gun-boat "Bienville," Commander Charles Steedman, the leading ship; the gun-boat "Seneca," Lieutenant-

Commanding Daniel Ammen the gun-boat "CurCommanding P. G. Watmough the gun-boat "Penguin," Lieutenant Commanding T. A. Budd and the gun-boat "Augusta," Commander E. G. Parrott, the closing ship of that line. The plan of attack was to pass up mid-way ;

lew," Lieutenant

;

;

between Ports Walker and Beauregard (receiving and returning the fire of both) to a certain distance, about two and a half miles north of the latter. At

that point the line was to turn to the south arountf. by the west, and close in with Port Walker, encountering it on its weakest flank, and at the same time enfilading, in nearly a direct line, its two waterfaces. While standing to the southward the vessels were head to tide, which kept them under command,, whilst the rate of going was diminished. When abreast of the fort, the engine was to be' slowed and the movement reduced to only as much as would be just sufficient to overcome the tide, topreserve the order of battle by passing the batteries in slow succession, and to avoid becoming a fixed mark for the enemy's fire. On reaching the extremity of Hilton Head and the shoal ground making off from it, the line was to turn to the north by the east, and, passing to the northward, to engage Fort Walker with the port battery nearer than when first on the same course. These evolutions were to be repeated. The accompanying plan will explain the preceding description. The captains of the ships had been called on board and instructed as to the general formation of the lines and their own respective places. At 8 o'clock the signal was made to get under way. At 8h. 10m. the ship, riding to the flood, tripped her anchor and at 8h. 30m. the ship turned, and was headed in for the forts. At 9 the signal was made for close order. At 9h. 26m. the action was commenced by a gun from Fort Walker, immediately followed by another from Fort Beauregard. This was answered at once from this ship, ;

and immediately after from the "Susquehanna," At 10 o'clock the leading ship of the line turned to the southward, and made signal to the "Vandalia" (which ship, in tow of the "Isaac Smith," was dropping astern, and was exposed, without support, to the fire of Port Beauregard) to join company. At lOh. 15m. the signal was made for closer action, the "Wabash" slowly passing Port Walker at a. distance, when abreast, of eight hundred yards. At 11 the signal was made to get into and preserve

and at llh. I5m. to follow the motions of the Commander-in-chief. Standing to the northward, nearly In the line shown in the diagram, the ship's head was again turned to the southward, and she passed the guns of Port Walker at a distance less than six hundred yards (the sights were adjusted to five hundred and fifty yards). At llh. 30m. the enemy's flag was shot away. The second fire with the starboard guns of the " Wabash," and Captain Lardner, in the " Susquehanna," my second in command, who always kept so near as to give me the entire support of his formidable battery, seems at this short distance to have discomforted the enemy. Its effect was increased by the shells thrown from the smaller vessels at the enfilading point. It was evident that the enemy's fire was becoming much less frequent, and finally it was kept up at such long stations,

intervals

and with

so

few guns as to be of

httle

consequence. After the "Wabash" and "Susquehanna" had passed to the northward, and given the fort the fire of their port battery the third time, the enemy had entirely ceased to reply and the battle was ended. At Ih. 15m. the "Ottawa" signalled that the works at Hilton Head were abandoned. This information was, a few minutes later, repeated by the "Pembina." As soon as the starboard guns of this ship and the " Susquehanna" had been brought to bear a third time on Port Walker, I sent Comuiander John Rodgers on shore with a flag of truce. The hasty flight of the enemy was visible, and was reported from the tops. At twenty minutes after two Captain Rodgers hoisted the flag of the Union over the deserted post. At forty-five minutes after two I anchored and sent Commander C. R. P. Rodgers on shore with the marines and a nartv of

OF THE CIVIL WAR. seamen to take possession and prevent,

if

necessary,

the destruction of public property. Tlie transports now got underway, and came rapidly up, and by nightfall Brigadier -General "Wright's brigade had landed and entered upon the occupation of the ground. I have said, in the beginning of this report, that theplan of attack designed making the reduction of roxt Walker the business of the day. In passing to the northward, however, we had improved every opportunity of firing at long range on Fort Beauregard. As soon as the fate of Port Walker was decided, I dispatched a small squadron to Fort Beauregard to reconnoitre and ascertain its condition, and to prevent the rebel steamers returning to carry away either persons or property. Near sunset it was discovered that the flag upon this fort was hauled down, and that the fort was apparently abandoned. At sunrise the next day the American ensign was hoisted on the flag-staff at Fort Beauregard by

Lieutenant-Commanding Ammen.

The "Pocahontas," Commander Percival Drayhad suffered from the gale of Friday night so

ton,

badly as not to be able to enter Port Royal until the morning of the 7th. He reached the scene of action about 12 o'clock, and rendered gallant service by engaging the batteries on both sides in succession.

Lieutenant-Commanding H. L. Newcomb, of the "R. B. Forbes,'' which vessel had been employed in towing in the "Great Republic," arrived in time to take good part in the action. And, finally, the tug "Mercury," Acting-Master Martin commanding, employed his single Parrott gun with skill and effect. After congratulating you upon the success thus far of our expedition, which had its origin in the counsels of the Department, and which the Depart-

ment has fostered and labored to render efficient, the gratifying duty remains to be performed of according to each and all their due share of praise for good conduct in their encounter with the enemy. This duty, though most welcome, is still delicate.

am well aware

that each one did his part in his discriminate it is in cases that necessarily fell under my own immediate observation. I have no doubt that all would have embraced and improved the same opportunities of distinction and in noticing those who were made prominent \>y their stations, or who were near me during the action, I am showing no invidious prefI

place,

and when

I

;

erence.

The General Order No. 2, already forwarded to the Department, expressed in general terms my commendation of the gallantry and skill of the and men. The reports of the commanding

officers

officers of the several ships, herewith enclosed, do justice to those under them while the results speak for the commanding officers themselves. The names of the latter are mentioned in the beginning of this dispatch. I refer with pleasure to them again. They did their duty to m'y satisfaction, and 1 am most happy to bear testimony to their zeal and ability. The officers of this ship, to whom 1 am deeply indebted, will be mentioned by her commander, C. R. P. Rodgers, in his special report. It affords me the highest gratification to speak of the manner in which this ship was handled during the engagement, owing, in a great nieasui-e, to the professional skill, the calm and rapid judgment and the excellent management of Commander C. R. P. Rodgers. His attention was divided between this duty and the effective service of the guns, which involved the estimation of distances, the regulation of fuses and the general supervision of the divisions. His conduct and judicious control of everything ;

393:

was to be expected from

his established reputation,

impressed me with a higher estimation than ever of his attainments and character. I had also an opportunity to remark the admirable coolness and discrimination of the first-lieutenant, T. G. Corbin. The good order, discipline and efficiency, in every respect, of this ship are, to a great extent, the results of his labors as executive officer, and they were conspicuous on this occasion. ActingMaster Stiles, acting as pilot, was devoted and intelligent in the performance of his duties and the third-assistant engineer, Missieveer, who attended the bell, was prompt and always correct. Acting-Master S. W. Preston, acting as my flaglieutenant, displayed throughout the day an undisturbed intelligence and a quick and general observation, which proved very useful. His duties as signal -officer were performed without mistake. ;

—

This gentleman and the young officers Mr. R. H. Lamson, Mr. J. P. Robertson and Mr. J. H. Rowland, who were also under my eye, in immediate command of the pivot -guns and spar-deck divisions sustained the reputation and exhibited the benefits of the Naval Academy, the training of which only could make such valuable officers of such young men. Commander John Rodgers, a passenger in this ship, going to take command of the steamer "Flag," volunteered to act upon my staff. It would be difficult for me to enumerate the duties he performed, they were so numerous and varied, and he brought to them all an invincible energy and the highest order of professional knowledge and merit. I was glad to show my appreciation of his great services by allowing him the honor to hoist the first American flag on the rebellious soil of South CaroUna. My secretary, Mr. Alexander McKinley, was by my side throughout the engagement, making memoranda under my direction. He evinced the same cool bravery which he once before had an opportunity of showing under fire in a foreign land. It gives me pleasure to mention him here as a gentleman of intelligence, of great worth, and of heartfelt devotion to his country. I have yet to speak of the chief of my staff and In fieet-captain. Commander Charles H. Davis. the organization of our large fleet before sailing, and in the preparation and systematic arrangement of the duties of our contemplated work in short, in all the duties pertaining to the flag-officer have received his most valuable assistance. He possesses the rare quality of being a man of science and a practical officer, keeping the love of science subordinate to the regular duties of his profession. During the action he watched over the movements of the fleet, kept the official minutes, and evinced that calmness in danger, which, to my knowledge, for thirty years has been a conspicuous trait in his

—

—

—

character.

have the honor to be, sir, respectfully. Your most obedient servant,

I

S.

F.

DuPoNT,

Flag- Office i\ Commanding Sotith Atlantio Blockading Squadron.

Hon. Gibbon Welles, Secretary of the Navy^

Washington.

EEPOBT OP LIBUTBNABrT -COMMANDING C. B. P. RODGERS. United States Steamer "Wabash," Port Royal, Nov. 10, 1861. S Sir Although I know that the conduct of the officers and crew of the "Wabash" are warmly oommended by you in the action of the 7th instant, yet, in obedience to your demand for a special report, I respectfully submit the following )

—

ju

4-1,^;,,

^.,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

394

calmness, precision and resolute They fought their guns with energy, and pointed them with admirable coolness. The three gun -deck divisions of 9 inch guns, under Lieutenants Luce, Upshur and Barnes, were commanded by those officers in a manner which illustrated the highest power of both men and guns, and exhibited the greatest effect of manhood and training. I beg leave to commend these officers in terms of "the warmest praise, both for skill and conduct and also Lieutenant Irwin, who, in command of the powder division, did everything that a brave and earnest man could do to make his ship

with

seamen,

earnestness.

;

efficient.

Acting-Masters Lamson, Rowland and Robertcommand of the spar-deck guns, followed the example of their seniors on the gun-deck, and did honor to the Naval School, which had, at their early age, trained them to do such efficient service

son, in

in Isattle.

W

H. West, Rockwell, Gregory Acting-Masters and Palmer, stationed at the various divisions, evinced patriotic zeal and courage. Mr. Coghlan, the boatswain, not only did his duty in the sixth division, but also skillfully served the rifled boat-guns, with which he did good service. The gunner, Mr. Stewart, in the magazine, and the carpenter, Mr. Boardman, with his shot-plugs, did their duty manfully. The engine and steam, during the whole action, were managed with consummate skill, which did great credit to Chief Rngineer King and his assistThird-Assistant Engineer Missieveer, who ants. stood upon the bridge by my side during the action, impressed me very favorably by his cool intelligence and promptness. All the other officers, in their various departm.ents, did their whole duty faithfully. Acting-Master Stiles rendered most valuable service by his careful attention to the steerage and soundings of the vessel, and by his skill and vigilance in keeping the ship clear of the shoals. I desire to

commend him

especially to

your

notice. aide, and

My clerk, Mr. Blydenburgh, acted as my did prompt and good service. The two oldest seamen in the ship, John Dennis and Henry L. Coons, both quartermasters the one at the wheel and the other at the signals well represented the gallantry of their class and generation. The marines were used as a reserve, and, whenever called upon, rendered prompt assistance at the guns, with the good conduct that has always characterized their corps. It only remains for me to speak of the executive officer. Lieutenant Corbin, who has filled that post since the "Wabash" was commissioned. The admirable training of the crew may, in a high degree, be attributed to his professional merit and his gallant bearing and conspicuous conduct throughout the whole action were good illustrations of the best type of a sea-officer. At the close of the action the "Wabash'' was engaged with Fort Walker at a distance of six hundred yards or less, and her officers and men may well feel sa,tisfied with the precision of their aim and the overwhelming power of their rapid Are. Eight hundred and eighty shells were fired from Some grape her guns, chiefly with 5-second fuses was flred witli good effect from the 10-inch gun, hi the latter i)art of the action. I have to thanic that most brave and distinguished officer. Captain C. H, Davis, the captain of the fleet, for the aid he gave me when not engrossed by the important duties of his sp(>cial station and I desire to pay the same tribute to Coinmander John Rodgers, who, being a passenger on board, had volunteered to serve on your staff, and never failed to give me most valuable assistance. Nor must I fail to bear witness to the gallant bearing and striking coolness of your young flag-lieutenant, Mr.

—

—

;

;

I thank you, and men of your

Preston. officers

sir,

in the

name

flag-ship, for the

of the

example

you gave us. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, C. R. P. Rodgers, Lieutenant-Commanding U. S. Steamer "Wabash.'' Flag-Officer S. P. DuPoat, Commanding South Atla ntic Blockading Squadron.

report of commander charles steedmax. United States Steamer " Bienville," Port Royal Harbor, Nov. 8, 1861. Sir— I have the honor to report that in the ac/

(

tion of yesterday with the forts this vessel was struoli several times, one shot passing through and through her, another striking bulwarks, forward, unfortunately mortally wounding two men, Patrick McGuigan and Alexander Chambers since dead), and slightly wounding three others, Peter Murphy, Alexander Finey and WiUiam Gilchrist, whUe gallantly fighting at their guns. The other shots did but little damage. It affords me the utmost gratification to bring to your notice the excellent conduct of the officers and men. It would be impossible to particularize the bearing of any one officer or man, such was their gallant conduct. During the engagement, we fired from this vessel eighty-four 33 solid shots, thirty -nine 33 pound shell, and sixty-two rifle-shell. I aai, sir, very respectfully, yourobedient servant, i

Charles Steedman, Commander. Flag-Officer S. F.

DuPont,

Commander-in-Chief of Naval

Force.t, etc., etc.

report of Lieutenant-commanding daniel ammen. United States Gun-boat "Seneca," Port Royal, S. C, Nov. 15, 1861. Sir— In obedience to your order of this date, I nave the honor to make the following report On Monday, the 4th, this vessel entered Port } \

Royal, and sounded the channel until within three miles of Bay Point, when we were signalled from the "Ottawa" to return and anchor, which we did at 4 r, M., near her, about a mile further out and a The fleet gencable's length nearer the batteries. erally, at this time, was standing in and anchoring. An hour later, three rebel steamers approached us and opened fire with rifled guns, but at a distance

which i^roved ineffective. The "Ottawa," "Pembina" and this vessel got underway, and, standing in at an angle, allowing our heavy guns to bear, drove them before us. At sunset we returned, and anchored as before. At daylight on Tuesday several rebel steamers again attacked us. AVe got underway, and, obeying signals from the "Ottawa,"' accompanied her, with the "Pembina," "Curlew," "Isaac Smith," and afterwards the "Pawnee," drove them until we were within a cross-fire of the batteries of Hilton Head and Bay Point, both opening upon us. No material damage was sustained. A heavy shell— or shot, probably struck the vessel on the port-side, but I have been unable to find it, and probably will not until we get in a sea-way. (_)ur rigging was

—

struck three times. The object being effected— that of ascertaining the strength of the rebel batteries— we returned and anchored, as before, about halfpast 8. Two or three hours after, the rebel steamers again approached us, and, finding that they were within range, I had the satisfaction of firing an 11-inch shell at the flag-ship, which was seen from aloft, as well as by several persons on deck, to strike just abaft the starboard wheel-house. The vessel put into Bay Point, and on returning, or rather show-

OF THE ing herself, in the afternoon, had a large white plank forward of the port wheel house, probably where the shell went out. On the morning of the 7th, obeying signal, we took position assigned us in the line, and, passing up, delivered our fire at Bay Point, and on arriving out of fire of the batteries, made chase as directed by instructions to the rebel steamers. They, being river boats, soon left us, and I had the chagrin of having wasted several

—

shells at

them at

—

ineffective distance.

Returning to the attack on Hilton Head, we passed so near to the shore as to be fired upon by riflemen, who kept quiet on being fired on by our Parrott 20-pounder. From an enfilading position we began with 10-second fuses, and, closing up, found ourselves within effective 5-second range. As to the latter part of the action, we were within howitzer range, and were using both howitzers effectively, as well as 11-mch gun and Parrott 20pounder. D uring the engagement we fired sixty-three 11 inch shells, 9 with lo-second fuses, 38 with iO-second fuses and 28 with 5-second fuses. Thirty-three projectiles from the Parrott-gun were also fired, and twelve 34-pounder shrapnel. I am sorry to say that the Parrott shell appears defective its flight was wild and range short. As I fired once myself, I know they were not to be depended on, and the captain of the gun was much disappointed at his results. During the engagement an officer was kept at the mast-head, whose duty it was to report our firing, by which we were governed. I have, therefore, reason to believe that our fire was effective. Few of our crew have served before in a vessel-ofwar, and as we went into commission only three weeks before the engagement, Mr. Sproston, the first-lieutenant of the vessel, fired nearly all the 11Inch shells with his own hands. Of him, as well as of the officers and crew generally, I have to express my warmest commendations, and my surprise that amidst such a shower of shot and shells we received ;

no damage. I

servant,

Daniel Ammen, Lieutenant- Commanding " Seneca.'''' Flag-Offlcer Samuel F. DuPont, Commanding South Atlantic Blockading

stopped firing, about 500 yards from the fort. While engaging at a distance of about 1,000 yai'ds, and when within 300 yards of the beach of Hilton Head, some of the riflemen of the enemy commenced firing upon us, when we opened with tlie howitzers charged with shrapnels, and quickly dispersed them. It only remains for me to notice the good conduct, coolness and gallantry of both officers and men upon the occasion, wido behaved with the steadiness of veterans, and to commend them to your favorable notice, and the notice of the Department, as worthy supporters of the cause we have espoused.

Very

respectfully, T. H.

Stevens, Lieutenant-Commanding, TJ. S.

iV.

DuPont, Commanding South Atlantic Blockading

Flag-Offlcer S. F.

Squadron.

order for " unadilla " and other ships to take possession op beaufort, s. c. Flag-ship, "Wabash,") Port Royal Harbor, Nov. 10, 1861. Sir — It has been reported to me by LieutenantCommanding Ammen that, on taking possession of |

the town of Beaufort, under my orders of tlie 8th instant, he found that most of the white inhabitants had abandoned the town, and that the negroes were committing excesses and destroying private property. You will proceed with the most convenient dispatch in the gun-boat "Unadilla," under your command, to Beaufort, where you will find tlie gun-boat "Pembina" (Lieutenant - Commanding Bankhead), and the gun-boat "Curlew" (Lieuten-

ant-Commanding VVatmough\ and assume com-

mand

of the station.

You

employ your forces in suppressing any on the part of the negroes; and you will

will

excesses

pains to assure the white inhabitants that is no intention to disturb them in the exercise of their private rights, or in the enjoyment of their private property. Actmg on this principle of conduct, you will pursue any other measures that may tend to create confidence, to bring back the people to their houses talce

and to

Squadron.

REPORT OF LIEUTENAXT-COMMANDHSTG

re-establish order. will please send Lieutenant - Commanding Watmough to report to me to-morrow morning in person upon the actual state of things, and upon the steps you may have found it expedient to take. Any information you may have it in your power to collect, concerning the state of the surrounding country, will be valuable. S. F. DuPont, Flag-Officer, Commanding South Atlantic

You

T.

H.

STEVEXS.

United States Gun-boat " Ottawa," Off Hilton Head, Nov. 8, 1861.

—

395

there

am, very respectfully.

Your obedient

CIVIL WAR.

)

)

Sir I have the honor to report that, as soon as the "Ottawa," under my command, could take up her position in the order of battle, I weighed anchor, following in the wake of our leading vessel. When abreast of Bay Point battery, finding that our 11inch gun was doing good execution, I stopped the engine to engage it, and threw about a dozen shells In and about the fortifications. Discovering, however, that we were under a cross-fire, I steamed up to talie distance, in the order assigned. About tliis time a 33-pound shot struck the Ottawa" in the port- waist, just abaft the pivot-gun (11 -inch), wounding severely Mr. Kerne, one of the actingmasters who subsequently lost his leg by amputation), one other man seriously, and four others slightly, and doing considerable damage to the deck of the vessel, the coamings of the forward coal-bunker hatch, and splitting two of the upperdeck beams. Discovering, as we ranged up with the fort on Hilton Head, that we occupied an enfilading position, I continued to occupy it until the enemy deserted their batteries, when, being nearest to

Blockading Squadron. Lieutenant Napoleon Collins, U. S. N., United States Gun-boat " TJnadilla,''^ Port Royal Harbor.

letter commending the officers of the "curlew' by acting-lieutenantcommandinq watmough. United States Gunboat "Curlew, Port Royal, 8. C, Nov. 17, 1861.

—

)

\

Sir It affords me great pleasure to speak with praise of the general gallantry, coolness, and cheerfulness of the officers and men under my command during the several actions with the rebel squadron and batteries on the 4th, 5th, and 7th instants. Master H. E. MuUan, acting executive officer, rendered efficient service by his readiness and zeal. Acting-Master C. A. Curtis, in charge of the battery of 33s, is deserving of all praise for the spirit

THE NA VAL HISTORY

396

Acting-Master curacy of the divisional firing. Spavin's steadiness at tlie wheel merits commendation. Acting-Master H. N. Parish, who had charge of the Parrott pivot-gun, disabled early in the action of the 7th by the enemy's shot, afterwards assisted with his crew at the broadside battery. The paymaster, Wm. A. A. Kerr, acting as signalofficer, by his coolness and watchfulness was of material assistance; he also kept a careful record of the incidents of the several actions. Messrs. Emory, Swasey, McConnell and Lloyds, engineers of the vessel, with great difficulties to contend against, in the general unfitness of the engine, boilers and condensing apparatus toi- such rough service, managed to carry us through the action, for which I was thankful. Fortunately, the readiness of our medical officer, Mr. Perucer, was not called upon. Master's Mate Duncan, acting as gunner, provided a bountiful supply of ammunition for the battery. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Pen. G. Watmough,

Aoting-Lieutenant-Commanding.

DuPoxt, Commanding South Atlantic Sqtiadron. S. F. DuPont, RespeotfuUy forwarded,

Flag-Officer S. F.

FLAG-OFFICER DUPONT'S REPORT CONCBRNING the marine battalion, nov. 15. Flag-ship "Wabash,"/

Port Royal Harbor, S. C, Nov. 15, 1861. Sir— I avail myself of the first moment of leisure to transmit to you the report of Major John George Reynolds, commanding the battalion of marines )

attached to my squadron, in which he relates all the circumstances attending the loss of the chartered steamer " Governor," and the rescue of himself and his command by the frigate "Sabine," Captain Ringgold. The Department will find this report exceedingly interesting, and will be gratified to learn that the conduct of the officers and of nearly all the men of the battalion was such as to command Major Reynolds' approval, as it will, I doubt not, receive the favorable notice of the Department. The established reputation and high standing of Major Reynolds might almost dispense with any observations of my own upon the bravery and high sense of honor which he displayed in disputing with Mr. Weidman (though not a seaman) the privilege of being the last to leave the wreck. I have the honor to be, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

Flag-Officer.

Flag-Officer,

Blockading Squadron. Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

COMMENDATORY LETTER TO FLAG-OFFICER DUPONT.

Navy Department, November

—It

16, 1861.

\

)

is

in its efforts. The results of the skill

and bravery of yourself and others have equalled and surpassed our highest expectations. To you and your associates, under the providence of God, we are indebted for this great achievement by the largest squadron ever fitted out under that flag, which you have so gallantly vindicated, and which you will bear onward to continued success. On the receipt of your dispatches announcing the victory at Port Royal, the Department issued the enclosed general order, which, with this letter, you will cause to be read to your I

command. am, respectfully,

etc.,

Gideon Welles. Samuel F. Dupont, Commanding /South Atlantic Blockading

Flag-Officer

Squadron.

general order. Navy Department, November 13, 1861. The Department announces to the Navy and

) j

to

the country its high gratification at the brilliant success of the combined Navy and Army forces,

commanded by Flag-officer S. F. DuPont and Brigadier-General W. T. Sherman, in the capture of Forts Walker and Beauregard, commanding the entrance of Port Royal harbor. South respectively

Carolina.

To commemorate this signal victory, it is ordered that a national salute be fired from each Navy Yard at meridian on the day after the receipt of this order.

Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.

report of major JOHN GEO. REYNOLDS, U. S. M. C. United States Ship " Sabine," At Sea, November 8, 1861. I

with no ordinary emotion that I tender to you and your command the heartfelt congratulations and thanks of the Government and the country for the brilhant success achieved at Port Royal. In the war now raging against the Government in this most causeless and unnatural rebellion that ever afflicted a country, high hopes have been indulged in the Navy, and "great confidence reposed

Sir

S. F. DuPoNT, Commanding South Atlantic

)

—

Sir I have the honor to report that the marine battalion under my command left Hampton Roads on transport steamboat "Governor," on the morning of Tuesday, the 29th of October, with the other vessels of the fleet, and continued with them, near the flag-ship "Wabash," until Friday, the 1st of

November. On Friday morning, about 10 o'clock, the wind began to freshen, and by 13 or 1 blew so violently that we were obliged to keep her head directly to the wind, and thereby leave the squadron, which apparently stood its course. Throughout the afternoon the gale continued to increase, though the Governor" stood it well tUl about 4 o'clock. About this time we were struck by two or three heavyseas, which broke the port hog-brace in two places, the brace tending inward. This was immediately followed by the breaking of the hog-brace on the starboard side. By great exertions on the part of the officers and men of the battalion, these braces were so well stayed and supported that no immediate danger was apprehended from them. Up to this time the engine worked well. Soon after, the brace-chains, which supported the smoke-stack, parted, and it went overboard. Some three feet of it above the hurricane-deck remained, which enabled us to keep up the fires. Soon after the loss of '

'

the smoke-stack, the steam-pipe burst. After this occurrence we were unable to make more than fourteen pounds of steam, which was reduced, as soon as the engine commenced working, from three to five pounds. The consequence was, we had to stop tlie engine frequently in order to increase the head of steam. At this period the steamer was making water freely, but was easily kept clear by the pump of the engine, whenever it could be worked. About 5 o clock we discovered a steamer with a ship in tow which we supposed to be the "Ocean yueon. To attract attention, we sent up rockets, which signals she answered. When our rockets, SIX all, were gone, we kept up a fire of musketry lor a long time, but the sea running high and the wind being violent, she could render us no assistance. Ohe continued nn bpr nnnvoa n'n cir.r.i' ^\,o.

m

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

greater part of the night. About 3 o'clock Saturday morning the packing around the cylinder - head blew out, rendering the engine totally useless for time. The engine was finally put in running order, although it went very slowly. The rudderchain was carried away during the night, the water

some

gaining constantly on us, and the boat laboring At every lurch we apprehended the hogbraces would be carried away, the effect of which would have been to tear out the whole starboai-dside of the boat, collapse the boiler, and carry away the wheel-house. Early in the morning the rudderhead broke, the engine was of very little use the water still gaining on us rapidly and we entirely at the mercy of the wind. It was only by the untiring exertions of our men that we were kept afloat. Nearly one hundred of them were kept constantly pumping and bailing, and the rest were holding fast to the ropes which supported the hogTowards morning, the weather, which braces. during the night had been dark and rainy, seemed to brighten and the wind to lull. At daybreak two vessels were seen on our starboard-bow, one of which proved to be the United States steamer " Isaac P. Smith," commanded by Lieutenant J. W. A. Nicholson, of the Navy. She descried our signal of distress which was ensign half-mast, union down and stood for us. About 10 o'clock we were hailed by the "Smith," and given to understand that, if possible, we would all be taken on board. A boat was lowered from her, and we were enabled to take a hawser. This, through the carelessness of Captain Litchfield, of the " Governor," was soon cut off or unavoidably let go. The water was still gaining on us. The engine could be worked but little, and The It appeared our only hope of safety was gone. " Smith" now stood off, but soon returned, and by 1 o'clock we had another hawser from her, and were again in tow. A sail (the propeller - bark "Young Rover" which had been discovered on our starboard-bow during the morning, was soon within hailing-distance. The captain proffered all the assistance he could give, though at the time he could do nothing, owing to the severity of the weather. The hawser from the "Smith" again parted, and we were once more adrift. The "Toung Rover" now stood for us again, and the captain said he would stand by us to the last, for which he received a heartfelt cheer from the men. He also informed us a large frigate was ahead, standing for us. He then stood for the frigate, made signals of distress, and returned. The frigate soon came into view, and hope once more cheered the hearts of all on board the transport. Between 3 and 3 o'clock the United States frigate "Sabine" (Captain Ringgold) was within hail, and the assurance given that After a little all hands would be taken on board. delay, the ' Sabine " came to anchor. We followed her example, and a hawser was passed to us. It was now late in the day, and there were no signs of an abatement of the gale. It was evident that whatever was to be done for our safety must be done without delay. About 8 or 9 o'clock the " Sabine" had payed out enough chain to bring her stern close to our bow. Spars were rigged out over the stern of the frigate, and every arrangement made for whipping our men on board, and some thirty men were rescued by this means. Three or four hawsers and an iron stream-cable were parted by the plunging of the vessels. The "Governor," at this time, had three feet of water, which was rapidly increasing. It was evidently intended by the commanding ofBeer of the "Sabine" to get the " Governor" alongside, and let our men jump from the boat to the frigate. In our condition this appeared extremely hazardous. It seemed impossible for us to strike the frigate without instantly going to pieces. We were, however, brought alongside, and some forty men succeeded in getting on board 4.« XT, „ J_i „ ^„^ ,^.,^ «„,.ir,"U^^ i-r. ^+V. U^+,..^«„ +U^ violently.

—

—

,

.

—

397

and the steamer in attempting to gain a on the frigate. Shortly after being brought alongside the frigate, the starboard quarter of the "Sabine" struck the port -bow of the "Governor," and carried away about twenty feet of the hurricane-deck from the stem to the wheel-house. The sea was running so high, and we were being tossed so violently, it was deemed prudent to slack up the hawser and let the "Governor fall astern of the frigate with the faint hope of weathering the gale till morning. All our provisions and other stores indeed, every movable article were thrown overboard, and the waterfrigate

foot-hold

''

—

—

casks started, to lighten the vessel. From half -past 3 till daylight the "Governor" floated in comparative safety, notwithstanding the water was gaining rapidly on her. At daybreak, preparations were made for sending boats to our relief, although the sea was running high, and it being exceedingly dangerous for a boat to approach the guards of the steamer; in consequence, the boats laid off, and the men obliged to jump into the sea and then hauled into the boats. All hands were thus providentially rescued from the wreck, with the exception, I am pained to say, of one corporal and six privates, who were drowned or killed by the crush or contact of the vessels. Those drowned were lost through their disobedience of orders in leaving the ranks or abandoning their posts. After the troops were safely re-embarked, every exertion was directed to securing the arms, accoutrements, ammunition and other property which might have been saved after lightening the wreck. I am gratified in being able to say nearly all the arms were saved and about half the The knapsacks, haversacks and accoutrements. canteens were nearly all lost. About ten thousand rounds of cartridges were, fortunately, saved, and nine thousand lost. Since being on board this ship every attention has been bestowed by Captain Ringgold and his officers towards recruiting the strength of our men, and restoring them to such condition as will enable us to take the field at the earliest possible moment. Too much praise cannot officers and men under my command —all did nobly. The firmness with which

be bestowed upon the

they performed their duty is beyond all praise. For forty-eight hours they stood at ropes and passed water to keep the ship afloat. Refreshments in both eating and drinking were passed to them at their posts by non-commissioned ofQcers. It is impossible for troops to have conducted themselves better under such trying circumstances. The transport continued to float some hours after she was abandoned, carrying with her when she sunk, I am grieved to say, company books and staff returns. In order to complete WiQ personnel of the battalion, I have requested Captain Ringgold to meet a requisition for seven privates, to which he readily assented.

I considered this requisition in order, as I

have been informed by Captain Ringgold it is his intention, or orders were given, for his ship to repair to a Northern post, in which event he can be easily supplied, and my command, by the accommodation, rendered complete, in order to meet any demand you may make for our services. Under God, we owe our preservation to Captain Ringgold and the officers of the " Sabine," to whom we tender our heartfelt thanks for their untiring labors while we were in danger, and their unceasing kindness since we have been on board the frigate.

This report is respectfully submitted. I am, Commodore, very respectfully, your obediJohn Geo. Reynolds, ent servant, Commanding Battalion Marines, Southern Dimsion.

Samuel F. DuPont, Commanding United States Naval Expedition,

Flag-Officer

THE NAVAL HISTORY

398

THE CAPTURE OP TTBEB ISLAND, GEORGIA. Flag SHIP "Wabash," Port Royal Harbor, Nov. 25, 1861. Sir

)

S

—I have the honor to inform the Department

that the flag of the United States is flying over the territory of the State of Georgia. As soon as the serious injury to the boilers of the "Flag" had been repaired, I dispatched Commander John Kodgers to Tybee entrance, the mouth of Savannah River, to report to Commander Missroon, the senior officer, for a preh'minary examination of the bars, and for the determination of the most suitable place for sinking the proposed obstructions to the navigation of the river.

Captain Rodgers was instructed to push his reconnoissance so far as to "form an approximate estimate of the force on Tybee Island, and of the possibility of gaining access to the inner bar " and further, 'if the information acquired by this reeonnoissance should be important, to return and communicate it to me immediately." I was not surprised when he came back and reported that the defences on Tybee Island had ;

probably been abandoned. Deeming it proper, however, to add the "Seneca," Lieutenant Commanding Ammen, and "Pocahontas," Lieutenant-

Commanding

Balch, to his force, I directed him to renew his approaches with caution, and, if no opposition was met with, to occupy the channel.

I am happy now to have it in my power to inform the Department that the "Flag," the "Augusta," and the "Pocahontas," are at anchor in the harbor abreast of Tybee beacon and light, and that the "Savannah" has been ordered to take the same

position.

The abandonment

of

Tybee

Island,

on which

a strong Martello tower, with a battery at its base, is due to the terror inspired by the bombardment of Forts Beauregard and Walker, and is a direct fruit of the victory of the 7th inst. By the fall of Tybee Island, the reduction of Fort Pulaski, which is within easy mortar distance, becomes only a question of time. The rebels have themselves placed sufficient obstructions in the river at Fort Pulaski, and thus by the co-operation of their own fears with our efforts, the harbor of Savannah is effectually closed. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, there

is

S. F. DuPoNT, Flag-Officer, Commanding South A tlantio Blockading Squadron. Hon. Gideon Welles,

Secretary of the Navy.

Note.

— The

reports of the other commanding contain any statements of historical general in their character, and are therefore omitted. officers do not interest, being

CHAPTER XXXIV. Further Operations op Flag-Officbr Goldsborough

the Sounds op Forth Caro— Importance op Gun-boats in Co-operating in Expeditions op the Army and Navy. — Commander C. Rowan's General Order to the Opficbrs and Men under HIS Command. — Operations in the Blackwater River under Lieutenant Flusser. —The Gun-boats Extricate Themselves from a Dilemma. —Notice op Lieutenant CusHiNG, HIS Attack on the Town op Jacksonville and his Gallant Defence op THE " Ellis." — Capture op Fort Macon by the Army and Navy. — Surrender op 1862. Yorktown, May Co-operation of the Navy. — Attack on Sewell's Point BY Flag-Oppicer Goldsborough. — Evacuation op Sewell's Point and Craney — " Susquehanna," Island — " Merrimac " blown up by the Confederates, June " Seminole " and " Dakota " anchor before Norfolk. — The Retreating Enemy set lina.

S.

5,

11.

Fire to the Navy Yard.— Attack on Drury's Bluff by Commander John Rodgers WITH the "Galena," the "Monitor," and other Vessels. Remarks on the Services op the North Atlantic Squadron. Flag-Oppicer Goldsborough and Commander Rowan receive the Thanks of Congress. Attack on Hamilton by Lieutenant Flusser. Attack on Confederate Troops at Washington, N. C., by Lieutenant R. T. Renshaw. Blowing up op the Army Gun-boat "]?icket." Exhibit op the Work done by the North Atlantic Squadron under Flag-Oppicer Goldsborough.

—

—

—

—

—

—

soon as Flag-officer Goldsborough received the news of the battle of the "Monitor" and "Merrimac," he returned to Hampton Roads to superintend matters in that quarter, leaving Commander S. C. Rowan in charge of the sounds of North Carolina.

AS

The gallant service performed by Commander Rowan, in the capture of Newburn and Elizabeth City, has already been rethough complete justice has not been done to the officers and men who embarked in frail vessels never intended to go under the fire of a battery, and who exhibited as much courage as if they were fighting behind the bulwarks of stout frigates. The manner in which the little flotilla in the sounds of North Carolina operated is worth j^ of all praise, and confers the highest honors on the able commander and his officers, who, scorning all the dangers of an intricate lated,

navigation, concealed riflemen, and masked batteries, pushed on up the sounds and rivers wherever a Confedei-ate flag could be heard of or a Confederate gun was mounted, and who never failed to achieve

victory gage.

when

there

was an enemy

to en-

There was a large army force in the commanded by brave and energetic officers, but it is no disparagement to them to say that, without the hearty co-operation of the gun-boats, they would not have achieved half the success they did. It became evident, at a very early period of the war, that no army operations along rivers or sounds could be successful unless aided by gun-boats. Most of these vessels carried guns of heavy calibre which could not have been dragged along by an army, and these guns always proved to be more than a match for the lines of defence thrown up by the Confederates all along the rivers and sounds. The Federal Army could not have held these works unless the gun-boats were at hand to drive off or capture the improvised vesselsof-war, which it has been seen were equally sounds,

as well

armed

a time

made a sturdy

as the

Union

vessels,

and

for

opposition to the ad-

vance of the Navy. It must not be supposed that the Federal officers and men conquered the enemv with-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

400

out a struggle, or that their victories were easy ones; if they were, it was because the enemy were not prepared for the bold dashes that were made upon them, and did not suppose that any officer would lead a weakly built flotilla right up to the mouths of heavy batteries, around which the enemy's gunboats had assembled for safety and protection.

The good account his officers and men gave of themselves in their various encounters with the enemy drew from Commander Rowan the folio wing General Order, whicli is as remarkable for the handsome compliments it pays to all who served under him, as for its brevity and truthfulness; he could have said no moi'e had he used a folio of

steamer "Commodore Perry." Acting-Lieutenant Edmund R. Colhoun commanded the "Hunchback." and Acting-Master Charles A. French the "Whitehead." On the morning of October 3d, 1863, the three above-mentioned steamers got underway and proceeded up the river, which was so crooked and narrow in some places that these vessels, small as they were, could not turn the bends without the aid of hawsers. At 7 o'clock the " Perry," being ahead, came to one of three short turns, and, while engaged in running out a line, a heavy fire was opened upon her from a steep bluff, almost overhead, by a body of the enemy's concealed riflemen.

words: [order.]

United States Steamer "Delaware." Off Elizabeth City.

February

11th, 1863.

The commander of the flotilla in Albemarle Sound avails himself of the earliest moment to make a public acknowledgment of the coolness, gallantry and skill displayed by the oflficers and men under his command in the capture and destruction of the enemy's batteries and squadron at Cobb's Point.

The strict observance of the plan of attack and the steady but onward course of the ships, without returning a shot until within three-fourths of a mile of the fort, excited the admiration of our enemies.

The undersigned is particularly gratified at the evidence of the high discipline of the crews in refraining from tresijassing in the slightest degree upon the private property of defenceless people in a defenceless town; the generous offer to go on shore to extinguish the flames applied Ijy the jiands of a vandal soldiery to the houses of their own defenceless women and children, is a striking evidence of the justice of our cause, and must have its effect in teaching our deluded counti-ymen a lesson in humanity and

The expedition was under the command W. Flusser, on board the

of Lieutenant C.

civilization.

S. C. Rowan, Commanding Flotilla, Albemarle Sound,

For the present we must discontinue the narrative of operations in the sounds of North Carolina. As has been seen, there was scarcely a large gun left in the hands of the enemj^ of the many that were mounted when the little naval flotilla entered the sounds through Hatteras Inlet, January 19, 1862, and the preparations which were made by the Navy Department for carrying on the war in this important section of the Confederate strongholds had been carried out with a judgment and success which entitled all concerned to the highest praise. In the latter part of September, 1863, a joint expedition of the Army and Navy was prepared to operate against Franklin, a small town on the Blackwater River. It

was agreed between the military commandGeneral Dix, and the commander of the

er,

gun-boats, that the attacic should be on the 3d of October.

made

The guns of the steamer could not be brought to bear, and the only way to escape the fire of the riflemen was to work by the point and obtain a position where the great guns could be brought into play. This was attempted, but the vessel ran ashore. At this moment, a daring color-bearer of the enemy started towards the gun-boat, trying to get his companions to follow him and board her. But he was instantly shot down and the enemy were driven back to their cover. In a few moments the gun-boat was off the bottom, and pushed ahead until she could bring her guns to bear, and from this position cover the passage of the other two Having passed the turn in steamers. safety, these vessels joined the " Commodore Perry'" above, where they were still fired upon from the bluff, without being able

make any effective return. To make their position more critical, they now came upon a barricade which they found it impossible to pass. The enemy soon noticed the dilemma of the gun-boats, and began to fiatter themselves that they were about to have an easy victory. A large body of men collected below the Federal vessels and commenced felling trees across the narrow stream to cut off their retreat, after which they calculated to capture them all bj' driving the men from the

to

decks with their rifles. In his anxiety to get ahead, Lieutenant Flusser had not waited for the troops, and he now found himself caught in a trap. He had got into the difficulty through an error of judgment, and the only way to get out of it seemed to be to fight" until the troops

came up. It was most

difficult to work the guns under such a terrific fire from concealed riflemen without a great loss of life, but there was no alternative. Flusser threw 1 1-inch shells towards the town of Franklin, while with the forward 33-pounder he poured grape and canister into the woods on his

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

With the after 33-pounder and a fieldgun he fought the enemy on the right and

left.

with his 9-inch guji aft he shelled the bluff, from whence the weight of the enemy's fire proceeded. Thus he fought on like a lion at bay, scattering shell, grape and canister on all sides, while his men were exposed to a deadly fire from marksmen no one could see. idle,

but

fol-

lowed the tactics of their leader, and their fire

disconcerted the aim of the

rifie-

men.

When a lull occurred, the steamers made a dash down the river, and although their decks were still swept by the enemy's fire, they succeeded in passing the bluffs. During this movement the Union commanders kept their men under cover, and thus saved many lives. When they came to the fallen timber they put on a full head of steam and pierced their way through and over it. It was "neck or nothing" with them, and it was only through great exertions that they succeeded in getting beyond the range of the enemy's fire by nightfall.

The "Commodore Perry" lost two killed and eleven wounded (a severe loss for so small a vessel). The " Hunchback " had two killed and one wounded. This was not a great battle, but it was more trying than some great battles have been, and was accompanied by much more danger. It shows that the gun-boat commanders were of good metal, determined to as dearly as possible. There nothing in the world so harassing as to be caught in a narrow river under such circumstances, and there is scarcely anything

sell their lives is

it, unless the vessels are supported by a land force. In the above case the land force unfortunately did not come

to justify

up.

Flusser

was a

cool and daring officer,

and

his name has already been mentioned several times in the course of this narrative. He was always to be found where fighting was going on. There was another young officer in the JSTorth Atlantic squadron at this time. Lieutenant William B. Gushing, who made a name for himself by his total disregard of

danger.

He would undertake the most desperate adventures, where it seemed impossible for him to escape death or capture, yet he almost always managed to get off with credit to himself and with loss to the enemy. He commanded the small gun boat " Ellis," and in November, 1862, it struck him that he would enter New Eiver Inlet, push up the river, sweep it clear of vessels, capture the town of Jacksonville or Onslow Courthouse, take the Wilmington mail and de-

find

on the

He

expected to surprise the enon going up, and then fight his way

out.

Five miles from the mouth of the inlet he in sight of a vessel bound out with a

came

load of cotton

and turpentine.

The enemy

her in order to prevent her falling into Cushing's hands but this officer did not waste time over her. After assuring himself that she was thoroughly ignited, and that the owner could not return and extinguish the flames, he proceeded on his way up the river. He reached the town of Jacksonville, landed, threw out pickets and placed guards over the public buildings. Jacksonville was the county-seat of Onslow County, and quite an important place. Here he captured 25 stand of arms in the Court-house, and a large mail in the postoffice. He also took two schooners and confiscated the negroes of the Confederate postmaster. Jacksonville being situated on the main road to Wilmington, it was not long before the news of Cushing's performances reached the latter place, and the Confederates at once took measures to prevent his escape. As soon as he had finished with the town, Gushing dropped down with his two prizes until he came in sight of a camp on the riverbank, which he shelled very thoi'oughly. The enemy opened fire on the " Ellis " with rifies, but they were soon dispersed. Night coming on, the pilots declined to take the vessels out of the river until daylight next morning. In consequence. Lieutenant Gusliing anchored five miles from the outer bar, took his prizes alongside and prepared for an attack. All night the signal fires of the enemy could be seen on the banks, and the Union commander had very little doubt that he would be attacked at daylight. As soon as possible next morning Gushing got underway, and had nearly reached the most dangerous place in the river when the enemy opened upon him with two fieldpieces. He placed his vessels in position, hoisted the battle-flag at the fore, his crew gave three cheers and he went into action. In one hour he had driven the enemy from his guns and from the bluff, and he passed on within a hundred yards of their position without being fired at. Up to tliis time the fortune of the Federal party had been in the ascendant, but they were destined to meet with an accident which changed the fortunes of the day, and resulted in the destruction of the "Ellis." About 500 yards from the bluff, the pilots, making a mistake in the channel, ran the steamer hard and fast aground. AH hands set to work at once to lighten her and every effort was made to get lier afloat, but without avail. When the tide fell, Gushing sent set fire to

;

The other steamers were not rapid

any salt-works he could

stroy

banks.

emy

401

THE NAVAL HISTORY

402

a party on

sliore to

take posses-

sion of the artillery

which had

been abandoned by the enemy, but found it gone. There was nothing now left but for Gushing to save his crew from the overwhelming force which he knew would soon be brought to bear upon the gun-boat. So, "

hands " were

' '

all

called to muster

"

told that they could go on board the schooners and get off

and

down the river and over the bar. He called for six volunteers to him and defend the steamer until the last. The volunteers came forward at once; stay with

two Master's Mates, "Valenand Barton. The schooners were ordered to

also tine

drop down the channel out of range of any guns the enemy might mount on the bluff, and there to wait the termination of the action, and if the "Ellis" was destroyed to proceed to sea. Early in the morning the enemy opened fire upon the steamer with three heavy guns and one Whitworth. It was a cross-fire and very destructive. Gushing replied as well as he could, but in a short time the engine was disabled and tlie vessel so much cut up that the only alternative was surrender or a pull of a mile and a half in an open boat under the enemy's

-4 _]

O

Ixl

X >PQ

o < OS

o

fire.

The last expedient was adoptThe "Ellis" was set on fire in five places, and leaving the battle-flag flj-ing. Gushing trained his guns upon the enemy ed.

so that the vessel could fight to the last, started down the river,

reached the schooners and put A party of Gonf ederates attempted to cut off his retreat, but they were unsuccessful, and

to sea.

the sailors gave three cheers and hoisted the Union flag as they sailed out over the bar.

Gushing brought away all his men, his rifled howitzer and ammunition, the ship's stores and clothing, the men's bags and hammocks, and most of the small-arms. As he crossed the bar the "Ellis " blew up and the enemy were disappointed in getting her.

Gushing was famous for this kind of adventure, and he will be heard of frequently here-

o

OF THE CIVIL WAR. He was what might be called a " Freelance," who was always ready to perform any act of daring; and although he was not always successful, the honor of the flag never suffered at his hands. There were plenty of young officers in the Navy who were equally brave, and with more judgment, but Gushing was of a peculiar temperament, always doing something to astonish his commanders, and whether fortunate or not in his undertakings, he was sure to create a sensation. The account of the loss of the "Ellis" is given as an illustration of this young officer's character and his fancy for seeking adventures. There was nothing particularly to be gained by his trip up New Inlet River, and there was a chance of losing his vessel. He lost her, but, in doing so, showed his spirit of adventure, risking his life and the lives of his men, and then escaping with his crew, arms, provisions and clothing, setting fire to his vessel and training her guns upon the enemy so that

after.

damage was of a

heavy

403 inflicted upon the fort in spite sea, which rendered the firing

from the vessels somewhat uncertain. The gun- boats themselves suffered little damage.

On May 5, 1862, Yorktown was evacuated by the Confederates, and General McClellan telegraphed to Captain Wm. Smith of the "Wachusett" to assist in communicating with Gloucester and to send some of the gun-boats up York River to reconnoitre. The flotilla was immediately underway, and proceeded to Gloucester Point, where the American flag was hoisted. The " Corwin," Lieutenant T. S. Phelps, and the "Cur-

W. F. Shankland, pushed on some twelve miles further up. rituck," Acting-Master

Commander T. H. Patterson, in the "Chocura," proceeded up the river as far as

she might give them a broadside as she went out of existence.

Among the captures made by co-operating vessels of the North Atlantic squadron was that of Fort Macon, Beaufort Harbor, C. combined expedition of the Army and Navy attacked this place on April 25, 1862, and after a bombardment of some hours, by land and sea, the American flag was hoisted

N

A

over the fort. The naval part of the expedition consisted of the following vessels under the command of Commander Saimuel Lockwood:

Steamer "Daylight" (flag-ship). Steamer "State of Georgia." Commander J. F. Armstrong. Steamer " Chippewa." Lieutenant -Com-

^

—

manding A Bryson. Bark " Gemsbok." Acting - VolunteerLieutenant Edward Cavendy.

—

—

Steamer " Ellis." Lieutenant-Commanding C. L. Franklin. The gun-boats attacked the fort by passing it in an ellipse and firing when abreast of

it.

Major-General Burnside commanded the land forces, and to him the fort surrendered. The losses were small on both sides, which was rather remarkable, as Commander Lockwood states that the interior of the fort was literally covered with fragments of bombs and shells, and many of the guns disabled

Beaufort was a valuable acquisition to the North Atlantic squadron, and a fine rendezvous for the smaller vessels engaged in blockading the coast. With regard to the bombardment, the reports of both Army and Navy are somewhat obscure, but it aonears that a erood deal of

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER (NOW REAR-ADMIRAL) T. S. PHELPS.

West Point, which had been deserted by the enemy. White flags were flying all few small vessels were along the river. captured, but the enemy had fled from that

A

quarter.

About the 7th of June, Flag-officer Goldsborough was ordered by the President to make an attack on Sewell's Point and to ascertain the possibility of landing a body of troops thereabouts. The wooden vessels were to enfilade the works, while the " Monitor," accompanied by the " Stevens," went up as far as the wrecks to engage the " Mer-

rimac " in case she made her appearance. The " Monitor " had orders to fall back into fair channel-way and only to engage the "Merrimac" seriously in such a position that the "Minnesota." too-ethpr wihh

THE NAVAL HISTORY

404

the merchant-ships prepared for the occasion, could run her down if an opportunity presented itself. The ramming-vessels were directed to run at the "Merrimac" at all hazards, and the "Baltimore," an unarmed steamer with a curved bow of light draft and high speed, was kept in the direction of the "Monitor," to throw herself at the "Merrimac" forward or aft, as circumstances might require. The demonstration was made, and the ships shelled Sewell's Point, and ascertained the fact that the number of the enemy's guns had been materially reduced and did not amount to over seventeen. Whether it was this demonstration, or the fact that the Confederates found that they could not hold their works at Sewell's Point in the face of even a small number of troops, or that they did not care to stand a shelling from the Federal ships, is not

Lieutenant Selfridge in a tug to Sewell's and Commander Case in another to

Point,

Craney Island,

to ascertain the position of

affairs.

Selfridge landed at Sewell's Point and found that the enemy had departed, on which he hoisted the American flag on the ramparts. When Commander Case arrived at Craney Island he also found the forts deserted. Two Confederate flags were still flying over the works, which he hauled down and replaced with the American colors. The "Susquehanna," " Seminole," "Dakota "and "San Jacinto" proceeded up to Norfolk without difficulty, and cast their anchors before the town. The deserting Confederates played the same part that had been played by the Federal forces when they gave up the Navy Yard. They set fire to all the useful buildings, and most of them were destroyed; the commandant's and the officers' quarters being left intact, in hopes that the Confederate officers might have a chance some day to live in them again. Thus Norfolk became the head quarters of the Navy, as it ought to have been from the beginning of the war to the end. There had been no good reason for deserting the place, for there were as many ships in front of the town at the time when the Navy Yard was burned, as on May 9, 1862, while the Confederates were much weaker. The retreat from Norfolk was caused by a panic which sometimes seizes upon people, and leads thein to do things at the moment for which they rebuke themselves when they

come to tlieir senses. The re-occupation of Norfolk Navy Yard was a great convenience to the North Atlantic squadron, which had been obliged to send most of

its vessels to Philadelphia and for repairs, and now the operathe James River could be carried

New York COMMANDER (NOW REAB-ADMIEAL)

A. L.

CASE, U.

S.

N.

EEAK-ABMIRAL GOLDSBOEOUGH'S FLEET CAPTAIN.

up on more tions

effectivelj'.

On May known, but on the 10th

of

May,

1862, Nor'force under

folk surrendered to a Federal General Wool, who had landed at Willoughby's Point. All the works on Sewell's Point

were evacuated, and also those at Craney Island, and early in the morning of the 11th the "' Mei-rimac" was blown up. Thus ended the farce of the Confederate occupation of

Norfolk. It should never have fallen into their hands, and could liave been retaken at any time by a force of ten thousand men and the vessels at Hampton

Roads. Flag-officer Goldsborough, supposing that Sewell's Point and Craney Island might not have surrendered, ordered all the Heet to get underway and proceed to the attack of those places, but remembering that when the army had got into their rear that the enemy would no longer stay there, he sent

18,

1862.

Flag-officer Golds-

borough reports to the Department an engagement which took place on the James River between some gun-boats under Com mander John Rodgers and a heavy batterv on Drury's Bluff (a high point commanding a long reach of the river). The vessels which attacked this stronghold were the iron-clad (so-called) •• Galena."' Commander John Rodgera, the " Monitor." Lieutenant W. N. Jeffers, andtheunarmored steamers "Aroostook,"' "Port Royal'" and

"Naugatuck." These vessels moved up the James River on the 15th of May and encountered no artificial impediments until thev reached Drury"s Bluff, eight miles below Richmond, where tiie Confederates had erected batteries and placed two separate obstructions m the river. These barriers were made by driving piles, and sinking vessels loaded

OF THE with stone. It was said that the enemy's gun -boats, "Jamestown" and '"Yorktown," were among the vessels sunk. It cannot be doubted that these obstacles were too formidable for the gun-boats to

unless they could succeed in dismounting the guns on Drury's Bluff, which was not easily done. Any attempt to remove these obstructions (even if the fort was silenced) without the aid of a large land force would have been unavailing, for the banks of the river all along, up to and past the bluff, were lined with rifle-pits pass,

filled

with marksmen,

who made

it

almost

impossible for the Federals to stand at their guns. The " Galena," leading, ran within 600 yards of the batteries, and as near to the obstructions as it was deemed prudent to go. She let go her anchor, and swinging with a spring across the channel, not more than twice the length of the ship, opened fire on the enemy at Drury's Bluff. The wooden vessels anchored aljout 1,300 yards below, and the "Monitor" anchored just above the "Galena," but finding that her guns could not be elevated sufficiently to reach the forts, she dropped to a position to enable her to do so. After an action of three hours and fifteen mmutes, the "Galena" had expended nearly all her ammunition, having but six charges left for the rifled Parrott gun and not a 9inch shell filled. Thirteen men had been killed and eleven wounded on board. Signal was made to discontinue the action, and the vessels dropped out of fire. The "Monitor" was unhurt, though struck once squarely on the turret by an 8-inch shot, and twice on her side armor. The rifled 100-pounder burst on board the "Naugatuck," and disabled her. Commander Rodgers reported that the " Galena " was not shot-proof, exactly what was predicted of her when she was on the stocks. The vessel was so much cut up that it was reported she would have to be thoroughly repaired before she could go to sea. It was intended to ascertain by this action whether the " Monitor " or "Galena" was the best vessel for fighting forts. It was settled in favor of the "Monitor," which was not damaged seriously. It was a one-sided battle altogether, for the forts on Drury's Bluff could not be taken by a naval force alone. They could only be taken by a combined attack of the

Army and Navy. If it was intended to show the enemy that the courage of naval officers would under-

take anything, this was amply demonstrated by the cool manner in which the vessels anchored and went at what they musthaveknown was hopeless work. There

CIVIL WAR.

405

no matter how often they might drive their guns by an overwhelming fire, that they would just step inside their bomb-proofs until a good that,

the

enemy away from

opportunity offered to return to their guns. The Confederates knew that no naval force would attempt to land and scale the In fact, it was simply bluff, 200 feet high. good practice for the enemy and whatever ;

defects their works showed were remedied in twenty-four hours.

That Commander Rodgers and his officers showed the greatest courage, in attacking works so far superior to them in every way, every one will admit. The " Galena" was simply a slaughter - house, and the other vessels, except the " Monitor," would have fared worse than the "Galena" had not the enemy been intent upon destroying the vessel which carried the divisional flag at her main.

Commander Rodgers still thought that the "Galena" and "Monitor" could reduce the works if they had plenty of ammunition; but experience had by this time taught most of our commanders that very few expeditions of this kind were successful unless the Army and Navy acted together, and it was only the desire of a brave man to try and get even with the enemy. This expedition convinced. Commander Rodgers "that an army could be landed on the James River within ten miles of Richmond, on either bank, and that this land force with naval co-operation could march into Petersburg; that such a move would cause the evacuation of Drury's Bluff in its then condition, and other forts along the James River that obstructions could then be removed, and perhaps the gun-boats ;

might work their way on

to

Richmond."

This was the hardest fight that had occurred on the James. The duties on that river were, as a rule, monotonous in the extreme, and the officers of the Navy were delighted with this opportunity to show that the same spirit existed at this point as elsewhere to perform the most hazardous undertakings.

The work of the North Atlantic squadron in the James and York rivers was deficient in those dashing strokes which had been made in other squadrons, and which so attracted the attention of the Northern people. With the single exception of the affair of the " Merrimac," nothing had been done by the northern portion of this squadron to attract much notice, yet it was in some respects the most important squadron afloat. The security of Washington greatly depended on its efficiency, for, in the event of a move of the Confederates upon the Capital, a large force of gun-boats could be sent

up the Potomac and prevent the enemy from TTTi

avrthiii

o*

nirtif»rlAr

nrin n

+Vi/:»

/^1+T

THE NAVAL HISTORY

406

time to assemble troops enough to meet him in the field. Washington City would have been cut off entirely in its river communications with the North, in the earlier part of the war, but for the presence of this squadron at Hampton Roads, where it was within easy reach. Without it, the Grand Army of the Potomac could not have been moved so successfully to the Peninsular; and it is scarcely yet forgotten how, in the most trying times, when that army

great discipline, the energy of the offiand the skill of its commanders, it not only often arrested defeat, but sometimes changed defeat into victory. It might appear to some people that there was a larger number of vessels lying idle in Hampton Roads than was necessary, and that these might in the earlier part of the war have pushed on up the James and kept that river free of batteries until the Federals could mount guns enough afloat to its

cers

COMMANDER (AFTERWARDS REAE-ADMIEAL) JOHN RODGERS.

seemed

to be in danger of annihilation, at hand to give shelter under its guns to our retiring and weary troops, and drive back the excited and victorious foe, who would have driven our soldiers into the river, or made them lay down their arms. These things are mentioned not for the purpose of claiming undue credit for the Navy, but to show that it was always on hand to perform its part of the duty in putting down the rebellion, and that, "through

the

Navy was

push on up to Richmond. But war cannot be carried on without mistakes, and these occurred in the Navy as well as in the Army; but we will venture to say that there were not near so many in the Navy. The sins of the Navy were more those of omission

than commission. The situation was a new one to all concerned, and the stern reality could only be learned by wading through battle-fields, or in the slaughter-pens of gunboats when under the fire of heavy artillery.

OF THE Owing to the change of the head-quarters of the North Atlantic squadron, reports of naval occurrences were not always received at the Navy Department in regular order, and being quickly recorded as they were received, it happens that many of the events of the war are narrated out of their proper order, and the earlier performances are behind the later ones. This cannot well be helped, and it would probably make confusion if the writer attempted to remedy the evil. When General McClellan had captured Yorktown he almost immediately moved part of his army up the river in transports in the direction of West Point. On the 7th of May, 1863, Lieutenant T. H. Stevens reported that, hearing the firing of

heavy cannon, he proceeded on board the

CIVIL WAR.

407

rifled guns, when the enretired. It was the opinion of General Franklin's officers that the rapid and accurate fire of the gun-boats " was greatly in-

with their heavy

emy

strumental in saving the Army from severe disaster, if not defeat." The gun-boats followed along on the flanks of the Army, ready to aid it in every

way, until the river became so narrow and crooked that they could go no farther, and in returning had to drop stern foremost. General Franklin's object in advancing on West Point was to cut off the retreat of the Confederates from Yorktown. But he encountered a much larger force than he had expected, and but for the gun-boats would have been roughly handled. Acting-Rear-Adrairal S. P. Lee assumed command of the North Atlantic squadron on July 10, 1863, taking the place of Flagofficer Goldsborough, who was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, and relieved at

Though the services of his own request. the latter officer had not been brilliant, yet his duties had been well performed and his record is that of a faithful, zealous officer, who,

if

field of

he had been employed in a wider operations, would no doubt have

The his name more conspicuous. President considered that his services in the sounds of North Carolina entitled him to a vote of thanks from Congress and sent in his name, and afterwards that of Com-

made

mander Rowan. Goldsborough was a Southerner by

and although no

birth, officer deserves particular

credit for standing had taken care of

by the Government that

him

for fifty years, yet

he showed an example of live patriotism

which

LIEUTENANT LEONARD PAULDING.

"Wachusett," for the purpose of joining command, which he had passed on the

his

way up; when General Franklin telegraphed him that he was attacked by a superior force and desired the assistance of the gunboats — "that he wanted immediate support," etc.

the gun-boat " Maratanza" was engaged, two miles below, in endeavoring to haul the gun-boat " Marblehead" off a shoal. Receiving Captain William Smith's orders to go on board the "Maratanza" and bring her into action. Stevens took a boat from the "Wachusett" and joined his vessel. The " Wachusett " and "Sebago" went into action with some batteries that had been posted on hills to prevent the advance of the Union Army. The gun-boats shelled t.hfi flonf fid Pirate a.rtillerv for nearly an hour

At

this

moment

entitled

him

to respect

and

to

any

honors his country had to bestow. From July 11th up to November 30th, 1863. there was little done by the North Atlantic squadron except in the sounds of North Carolina, which for a time were under the control of Commander Rowan. The operations in the sounds, after the time mentioned, were not of a very important nature, but as they form part of the history of the war we will give a brief sketch There was great danger in some of them. of the expeditions, and good judgment and gallantry shown in all. Lieutenant C. W. Flusser, who has already figured as a brave' and energetic officer, was a leading spirit in every enterprise set on foot. He seemed to delight in making explorations where little was to be

gained except hard knocks, and it is remarkable that in the severe river-fighting to which he was exposed he did not sooner lose his life.

On

the 9th of July, 1863, he left Plymouth in the steamer " Commodore Perrv." bavins' taken on board Cantain W.

for

Hamilton

IHE NAVAL HISTORY

408

Volunteers, and twenty of his men, with the steamers " Shawsheen " and "Ceres" in company; the latter vessel having on board Second -Lieutenant Joseph A. Green and

He also followed them up with shell and killed a number in their retreat. During this action the Army gun-boat " Picket" blew up, killing the captain and 18 men, and wounding others, who were

ten men.

taken on board the "Louisiana" and prop-

While ascending the river, at 1 o'clock p. M.. the flotilla was fired upon from the south bank by riflemen. Flusser returned the fire and pushed on, expecting to meet the enemy at Hamilton in force. The vessels were under fire from the banks and rifle-pits for two hours, during which time they had to run very slowly, looking out

erly cared for.

W. Hammell, Company

F., 9th

New York

Acting - Master Edward Hooker is welL spoken of for the manner in which he managed the guns of the "Louisiana." The action must have lasted some time, as 1.37 shot, shell, stands of grape, and howitzer shell were fired from the "Louisiana;" and, if less justice is done the occasion than it

for batteries. When they reached Hamilton, the enemy, who had been flring from concealed places, retreated, being afraid to meet Flusser's little force of 100 sailors and soldiers in the open field. The only reward which they received for all their exposure was the capture of an

deserves,

because the accounts of the

officer are so obscure.

This closes the account of the operations of the Navy in the sounds of North Carolina up to November 10th, 1862, at which time these waters were in charge of

Commander

The sounds

H. K. Davenport.

were virtually in possession of the Federal Army and Navy, though the enemy would make useless raids along the banks of the rivers for the purpose of firing at this time

unimportant town and a small schooner. The loss on board the vessels, fortunately, was small (two killed and ten wounded), but these casualties often repeated ran up in time to a large number. In this warfare not much was to be gained except gunshot wounds. There was no prize - money, but the officers and men of this expedition were spoken of in the highest terms of praise, which cheered them on in the absence of

on the gun-boats.

During the command of Flag - officer Goldsborough all the sounds had been taken possession of under the admirable management of Commander Rowan, Lieutenant Flusser and others. Newbern, Plymouth, Elizabeth City, and every important place, was in charge of a gun-boat or was garrisoned by soldiers, and most of the Confederate troops that had been sent to resist the Union forces had returned to Richmond, where at that time an attack was expected. The harbor of Beaufort was in the hands

other rewards. Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant John Mac-

dearmid and Acting - Master Thomas

it is

commanding

J.

Woodward, who commanded the steamers " Ceres " and " Shawsheen " on this expediwere highly spoken of. Acting- Lieutenant R. T. Renshaw, commanding U. S. steamer " Louisana," reports that while at Washington, N. C. on the 6th of September, 1863, the enemy attacked that place in force and opened on his vessel " with volleys of musketry." " That he returned the fire with grape and shell, killing a number and finally driving them back." tion,

and part of the coast of North Carolina was under blockade. All of which, when closely examined, exhibits as much gallantry, energy and hard work, in proportion to the means at hand and the objects in view, as appears elseof the Federals

,

where.

AND OFFICERS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUADRON, UNDER REAR-ADMIRAL L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH.

LIST OF VESSELS

Commander

A.

Ludlow

Case, Captain of the Fleet.

OBTAINED from THE SECRETARY'S REPORT OF STEAM-FRIGATE " MINNESOTA"—FLAG-SHIP. Commander, A. L. Case; Lieutenant-Commanders, E. C. Grafton and John Wattei-s; Lieutenant, Adolphus Dexter; Midsiiipman, R. S. Cliew; Fleet Surp:eon,W. M.Wood; Surgeon, J. S. Kitchen; Assistant Surgeons, S. J. Jones, Edgar Holden and E. R. Dodge; Paymaster, Robert Pettit; Chaplain, T. Ct. Salter Captain of Marines, W. L. Shuttleworth ;

First-Lieutenant of Blarines, W. H. Cartter; Chief Engineer, C H. Loring; Assistant Engineers, J. H. Bailey, E. J. Whittaker, Alfred Colin, L. A. Haverly, T. W. Rae and G. W. Thorn; Acting-Masters, D. A. Campbell, W. G. Saltonstall andWm. Wright; Boat-

1863,

-

AND NAVY REGISTER OF

SEPT. 1862.

swain.Paul Atkinson; Gunner,C. W. Homer; Carpenter, Ebenezer Thompson; Sailmaker, A. A. Warren.

STEAMER " MARATANZA." Commander, G. H. Scott; Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. P. McCann- Assistant Surgeon, Job Corbin; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. S. Perley; ActingMasters, Charles Cortney, Jacob Kimball and J. B. Wood Jr. Acting-Engineers, Edward Scattergood, Wni. H. Kdpatrick, L. H. Harvey and R. L. Webb; Actmg- Master's Mates, J. Creighton and B. W. Flowers. ;

STEAMER "MORSE." Acting-Masters. Peter Haves and ft

TXT

r!n=wol1.

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Henry Russell, ActingAssistant Engineers, Thomas Divine, Tim. Flanders and George West; Acting-Master's Mates, William Dunne and C. E. Rich. IRON-CI/AD "monitor." Commanders, John L. Worden, Wm. N. Jeflers and T. H. Stevens [commanding at different times]; Lieutenant, 8. Dana Greene; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. Flye; Acting- Assistant Surgeon^ D. C. Logue; Acting -Asssistant Paymaster, W. F. Keeler; Acting-Master, L. M. Stodder; Assistant Engineers, A. B. Campbell, Geo. H. White, R. W. Hands and M. T. Sunstrom; Acting-Master's Mates, Geo. Frederickson and Peter Williams.

STEAMER

JACOB BELL.'' Lieutenant - Commander, E. P. MeCrea; Acting"

Assistant Surgeon, O. J. Bissell; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Samuel Anderson; Acting- Assistant Engineers, Arthur Clements, Nelson Ross and R. H. Buel; Acting-Master's Mate, E. McConnell.

;

W.

;

J.

L.

Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Sellman; ActingMasters, S. B.Washburn and B.W.Loring; Assistant Engineers, J. W. Thompson, T. T. Millholland, P. A. Breman, James Dodd and A. S. Chipman; Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Jenks, Andrew McCleary, Alex. Meldrum and E. A. Galindo; Gunner, J. D. Boorom; Boatswain, Rob't Dixon.

STEAMER "STEVENS." Lieutenant, D. C. Constable.

STEAMER "daylight." Commander, Samuel Lockwood; Acting-Master, J. D. Warren, (commanding at different times]; Acting-Masters, J. R. Dickinson and J. H Gleason; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, F. M. Dearborne; ActingAssistant Paymaster, A. J. Clark; Acting- Assistant Engineers, C. D. Kiersted, Wm. Emmons and T. Mcintosh Acting-Master's Mates, Chas. Attmore

and James

Lieutenant-Commander, George U. Morris, Acting -Volunteer - Lieutenant, Wm. P. Randall [commanding at different times] Lieutenant, H. D. Todd Assistant Surgeon, W. S. Fort Assistant Paymaster,

IRON-CLAD "GALENA," John Rodgers; Lieutenant-Commander, H. Newman; Assistant Surgeon, R. E.Van Giesen\

Captain,

;

STEAMER "port ROYAL."

;

409

A. Bates, Jr.; Assistant Engineers, W. Sensner, O. C. Lewis, F. B. Allen

C. Selden, G.

andE. M. Breese; Acting-Masters Mates, W. F. Reynolds, Jr., E. V. Tyson and Ben,]. Woods. STEAMER " SUSQUEHANNA." Captain, R. B. Hitchcock Lieutenant - Com-

Corlace.

STEAMER "GENESEE."

Wm. H. Macomb; Lieutenant- Commander, Wm. H. Dana Assistant Surgeon, G. B. Slough Acting-Masters, Wm. Hanson, C. M. Merchant and R. 'T. Wyatt Acting-Engineers, W. H. Green, C. H. Harrab, G. H. Griggs, M. McLoughlin and C. Moulton Acting - Master's Mates, W. J. Crosby, John Connor, G. M. Fludder and E. W. Commander,

;

;

;

;

Halcro.

STEAMER, "

ELLIS.''

;

H. Gillis; Surgeon. Joseph Beale; Paymaster, W. H. Thompson; Assistant Surgeon, H. C. Nelson Captain of Marines, P. R. FendaLl Chief Engineer, George Sewell; Assistant Engineers, J. M. Hobby, James Renshaw, James Butterworth and E. R. Arnold; Acting-Masters, W. L. Churchill and G. B. Livingston; Boatswain, Chas. Miller; Gunner. Wm. Summers Carpenter, G. M. Doughty; Sailmaker, J. C. Herbert. STEAMER "AROOSTOOK.'' Lieutenant-Commander, S. R. Franklin; Lieutenant, T. S. Spencer; Acting-Masters, Eben Hoyt and W. A. Maine Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. L.

mander,

J.

;

;

;

;

Pynohon; Assistant Engineers, W. G. Buehler, Geo. R. Holt, James Entwistleand Samuel Gragg; ActingMaster's Mates, C. F. Palmer, Louis and Edw. Culbert.

Hammersley

STEAMER "DACOTAH." Captain, J. P. McKinstry Lieutenant, G. C. Wiltse; Surgeon, Delavan Bloodgood; Acting Masters, Wm. Earle and W. Moslander; Assistant Paymaster, Richard Washington; Chief Engineer, P. G. Peltz; Assistant Engineers, Elijah Laws, G. P. Hunt, Geo. W. Melville and Jas. H. Perry; Acting-Master's Mates, Charles Trathen, Paul Borner, C. H. Chase and C. H. Davidson; Boatswain, G. C. Abbott; Gun;

Edmond. STEAM-FRIGATE " SAN JACINTO." Commander, Wm. Rockendorff; Lieutenant-Commander, Ralph Chandler; Lieutenant, B. P. Smith; ner, Geo.

W. Bragg;

Assistant Paymaster, T. C. Masten; Acting-Masters, John Baker, H. J. Coop and D. G. McRitchie; Captain of Marines, L. L. JDawson First-Lieutenant of Marines, Robert Kidd Chief Engineer, M. Kellogg Assistant Engineers, G. W. Hall, H. 8. Davids, H. C. Mcllvaine, Edwin Wells, H. W. Scott. Edm. Lincoln and N. P. Towne; Boatswain, John Marley; Carpenters, J. W. North and R. A. Williams Gunner, C. A. Stephenson; Acting-Master's Mates, J. D. Weed, H. T. Keen Assistant Surgeon,

I.

;

;

;

;

and

A. H. Fuller.

TUG "dragon." An.f,inD'-ARRiR
;

S.

Phelps.

STEAMER " COMMODORE BARNEY." Acting-Lieutenant, R. T. Renshaw; Acting-Master, J. R. Grace; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. R. Mann; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Benj. Page ActingAssistant Engineers, Strong Conklin and Lemuel ;

Albert

Wm.

;

Acting-Master's Mates, J. Aspinwall,

Betts,

John HiU and

C.

Jr.,

Washburn.

STEAMER " COHASSET." [Commander not found]; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. P. Burke and Jacob Daggett; Acting-Assistant Engineers, Sidney Smith and Chas Robinson. STEAMER " CEEES. Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, John Macdearmid; Acting-Master, G. B. Thompson. STEAMER "A. C. POWELL." Acting-Master's Mate, A. P. Matthews

Engineer

;

Acting-

Wm.

Mahan. STEAMER " W.

G.

PUTNAM."

Acting- Master, W. J. Hotchkiss; Acting- Assistant Engineers, James Osborne and John Henry. STEAMER "YOUNG AMERICA. Acting- Assistant Acting-Master, G. W- Graves Engineers, James Hamilton, C. E. Rainer and W. B. Whitmore. ;

STEAMER "ZOUAYE. Acting-Assistant Engineers, Isaac Buck.

Note. — The above

list

John Badgely and

of officers

is

necessarily in-

complete and not strictly correct, from the fact that the Navy Register for September, 18G3, does not furnish the information usually given.

CHAPTER XXXV. OPERATIONS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON,

1863.

Successful Expedition off Yorktown and up Neuse River. —Loss of "Monitor." —Gallant Rescue of Greater Portion of "Monitor's" Crew by the "Rhode Island." Serious Loss to the Government. Operations op Lieutenant Flusser. The " Southfield DisON the Chowan River.— Attack on Plymouth, N. abled. Achievements of Gener.\l J. G. Foster. Army and Navy Co-operate. Lieutenant Cushing's Expedition IN Expedition against Goldsborough, N. Gushing Captures a Fort and puts Enemy to against Wilmington Pilots. Flight. Other Adventures. Lieutenant Flusser's Expedition to Hertford, N. C. Confederates Attack Fort Anderson. Assistance Rendered by Gun-boats. Enemy Withdraws. Letter of Col. Belknap. Great Havoc Committed by Steamer " Hbtzel." Vessels Dispatched to Occupy Nansemond River. Gunboats IN Demand. Lieutenant Lajison Distinguishes Himself at Hill's Point. Gushing Prevents Longstreet and Forces from Crossing River. Repulse of Confederates AT Suffolk. General Getty acknowledges Merit. The "Mount Washington" Fights her Way out of Mud. The "Barney" Engages Enemy. Bravery of Officers and Men. Noble Acts. Lieutenant Lamson Runs his Vessels UNDER Enemy's Guns. Capture of Confederate Artillery. Commendation OP Lamson and Gushing by Secretary Welles. Capture and Destruction ofBlockade-runners. — Operations in Sounds of North Carolina. Confederatesinvest Washington, N. C. but Compelled to Retire. Gun-boats Engage and Silence many Batteries on Pamlico Riv^er. Names of Officers and Men whoReceived Commendations. General Spinola's Testimony in Regard to Gallant Conduct op Navy. Lieutenant French's Expedition. Important Captures. General Dix Evacuates West Point, Covered by Gun-boats. Expeditions UP North, York, and Mattapony Rivers. Cutting out of Confederate; Steamer "Kate" prom under Guns of Fort Fisher. Acts of Bravery Displayed. Attempt to Destroy Steamer "Hebe." Lieutenant Gushing "Cuts"' out and Destroys Blockade-runner "Alexander Cooper." Destruction or THE "Venus."— Miscellaneous.

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Acting-Rear- Admiral S. P. Lee succeeded Rear- Admiral Goldsborough in the command of the North Atlantic squadron left to

be

done except keeping up a strict blockade of the coast and keeping the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds under subjection. All the naval force of the enemy between Norfolk and Howlet batteries had either been destroyed or made its escape to Richmond, enabling the Navy Department to decrease the large force kept in and about

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was not much

—

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WHEN

Hampton Roads.

—

—

—

there

"'

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From September 1st up was but little of moment

to Januarv there to report' in the

North Atlantic squadron, beyond the operaNorth Carolina and the naval expedition under Commander Foxhall A. Parker, off Yorktown, which proved successful, the Navv being of much. service to the Army contingent under General Negley also a successful military expedition up the Neuse River under Geaeral Foster, in which the Navv participated,, with tions in the sounds of

:

much

credit to its

commander. Commander

Alexander Murray.

On December

31st, 1863,

the

Governmeat

THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE met with a

serious loss by the sinking at sea of the famous little " Monitor," which had set the huge Merrimac " at defiance and driven her back to Norfolk. This was not only the great actual loss of a fighting vessel, but in addition there were associa'

'

tions connected with this little craft

which

made her name dear to every Union-loving man, and it was hoped by all those who faith in her that she might be long permitted to float the flag of the Union at her staff and become a terror to its enemies. But it seems that she was only permitted to perform the great service for which she was built, an event that made her name as famous as that of the old "Constitution," and then she sank from sight in the depth of ocean, leaving behind her not as much of her hull as would serve to make a small memento of the past. The " Monitor " left Hampton Roads in tow of the U. S. steamer " Rhode Island," on the 29th of December, 1863, at 2.30 p. M., with a light southwest wind, and clear, pleasant weather, with a prospect of its continuance. At 5 a. m., the next morning, a swell set in from the southward with an increase of wind from the southwest, the sea breaking over the pilot-house forward and striking the base of the turret, but not with sufficient force to break over it. But it was found that the packing of oakum under and around the base of the turret had worked out, as the "Monitor" pitched and

had

CIVIL WAR.

413

of the "Monitor," in order to keep his veslong as possible, cut the large cable by which she was towed and ran down to the " Rhode Island," which enabled sel afloat as

him

to use all the

pumps.

Two

boats reached the "Monitor" from the "Rhode Island," and the Commander ordered Lieutenant S. Dana Green (who had been flrst-lieutenant during the fight with the "Merrimac") to put as many of the crew in them as they would safely carry. This was a very dangerous operation, and it brought into play that cool courage which is more admirable than that shown in battle. heavy sea was breaking entirely over the deck and there was great danger of the boats being crushed by the overhang, if not pierced by the sharp prow which was first high above the waves, then completely submerged by the crushing billows. The "Rhode Island " herself was in great danger, as she was lying close by and liable at any moment to be struck by the "Moni-

A

tor's "

bow.

and water made its way into the vesthough for some time the bilge pumps

rolled, sel,

kept her

free.

The wind hauled

to the south, increasing the time, the vessel towing badly and yawing about very much. By 8 p. m., the wind began to blow heavily, causing the " Monitor " to plunge deeply, the sea washing over and into the turret, and at times Commander J. P into the hawse-pipes. Bankhead, of the " Monitor," signalled several times to the " Rhode Island " to stop towing, in order to see whether that would prevent the influx of water into his vessel, but she only fell off into the trough of the sea and made miatters worse, the water coming on board so rapidly that it became necessary to start the centrifugal pumps. It was quite evident to many on board that the last days of the Monitor " had come unless the wind should abate and the sea go do wn, which did not seem at all likely but the enthusiasm of the commander, officers and men kept them at their posts until it became necessary to signal to the "Rhode Island " for assistance, which was promptly given. The officers and men of the " Rhode Island" (Commander Stephen D. Trenchard) did not hesitate to jump into their boats in that tempestuous weather and go to the The Commander relief of their comrades. all

•

'

;

THE "MONITOR" LOST IN A GAIE.

The first two boat-loads safely reached the " Rhode Island" amid the storm and darkness, and again returned on their mission of mercy to rescue the remaining persons, the vessel being most difficult to find in the gale. In the meantime the captain and the remnant of his crew retired to the turret and there held on, though several of the men were washed overboard and lost. Fortunately the vessel was on soundings, and the captain gave the order to let go an anchor in hopes it would bring the Monitor's " head to wind, and that the chain would hold her there long enough to get the crew out. At this moment the water was over the ash-pans and increasing rapidly, and the engine-room had to be abandoned. Fortunately the " Monitor " came head to wind, when the cable brought her up. By this time the vessel was filling rapidly, the deck was on a line with the water, and all the men left on the turret were ordered bv '

'

THE NAVAL HISTORY

414

the captain to gain the deck and endeavor to reach the two boats that were again approaching. At that time there were twentyfive or thirty men left on board. The boats had to approach the "MoniShe was as dangerous tor " very carefully. as a reef of rocks just above the water over which the sea was breaking furiously. Several men were washed overboard in their attempt to reach the boats, and only one of them was picked up. With great difficulty one of the boats succeeded in getting into a position where a number of the crew could get into her, but there were several persons still on the turret who would not come down, either being unmanned, or not supposing the vessel would sink so soon. These went down in her. The captain had done all a good officer could do to save his vessel and his crew. He had stood at his post like a hero, helping the men into the boats, and now finding that he could be of no more use he jumped into the already deeply laden boat and shoved off, the heavy, sluggish motion of the" Monitor" giving evidence that she

would soon go down. The boats had scarcely

"Rhode Island" when

reached

the gallant

the little

craft that had done so much to save the honor of the nation, and had by her one battle destroyed the prestige of the best fighting ships in Europe, sank to the bottom,

the wild winds howling a requiem over her resting-place! While regrets

remain that not all her crew were saved (many of whom had served " Merrimac"), it is wonderful, considering the dangerous condition of the " Monitor," that so many were in the fight with the

rescued.

In mustering the crew of the " Monitor," on the deck of the "Rhode Island," two officers and twelve men were found to be missing. All honor to their memories Two great battles had they fought in a short time, one with the Confederate monster, the other with the wrath of the ocean, and in both cases had they shown that indomitable courage and skill which are among the !

highest attributes of the American sailor. There was no instance during the war where greater courage, skill and coolness were exhibited than on this ever-to be-remembered occasion, and it is due to the officers and men of the ill-fated " Monitor" that this small tribute should be paid them for standing so manfully by the historic vessel which had added some of the greenest laurels to the fame of the American Navy. The position of the vessel on that dark and tempestuous night was enough to appall the stoutest heart, but neither officers nor men quailed before the dangerwhich seemed to cut off all hope of rescue. Lieutenant S.

Dana Greene and Acting-Master L. N. Stodder stood by Commander Bankhead to the and Acting-Master's Mate Peter Wiland Richard Anjier, Quartermaster, showed conduct entitling them to all praise. The quartermaster remained at his post until the vessel was sinking, and when ordered by the captain to get into the boat, said, "No, sir, not until you do so." This may seem to be a long and tedious description of an event the like of which happens so often in peace or war, and frelast,

liams,

quently without grave

comment

;

but the

"Monitor" was an historic vessel whose name and fame should be handed down to posterity, and as the memorable event of her great battle is known to almost every school-boy, it is but fitting that the story of her tragical end should be told also. One of the boats of the " Rhode Island," which had been successful in taking off a load from the " Monitor," was driven off by the storm and supposed to be lost. Search was made for her all the following day, but without success, and she was given up. But, fortunately, after many perils, she was picked up by the schooner " Colby," of Buckport, Maine, and restored to the steamer "' Rhode Island." The poor fellows in this boat suffered great hardships, and their adventures would form by themselves an interesting chapter of incidents. Lieutenant-Commander Flusser, so prominent under the command of Rear-Admiral Goldsborough, continued to hold his reputation under Rear-Admiral Lee. He was a terror to the marauding troops of the enemy, who made a note of all his move-

ments.

On December 9th, 1862. he left Plymouth to operate on the Chowan River, leaving the " Southfield," Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant C. F. W. Behm, to protect the place. He had not much more than started when the enemy appeared and commenced a heavy musketry fire from the shore. Lieutenant Behm immediately beat to quarters and trained his guns so as to command the Plymouth shore The river-bank was lined with people flying before the Confederates, who were firing alike on friend and foe, and it was difficult for the "Southfield" to open fire, for fear of harming those citizens who had proved themselves friendly and favorable to the Union cause. The steamer immediately got underway and stood up the river where her guns could be Ijrought to bear upon the enemy, who now opened upon her with their artillery, and succeeded in putting a shell through her steam-chest and filling the gangways and hold so full of hot steam that the powder - passers could not get to the magazines. Of course, the "Southfield" could no longer use her guns, and the boats had to be lowered to tow

OF THE

CIVIL

down the river. In the meantime the enemy committed all the mischief possible

her

and then decamped. Lieutenant -Commander Flusser hove in sight a short time after, and taking the " Southfield" in tow returned to Plymouth, where his presence restored confidence and quiet.

Thus the Confederate marauding parties continued, on every favorable opportunity, to molest the citizens in the sounds of North Carolina, determined that no loyal feeling should exist among them, or, if it did, that the citizens should pay the penalty for their allegiance to the North. The mistake of the Navy Department at that moment was that it did not keep a larger force of vessels in the sounds to gain the confidence of the inhabitants and secure them against the raids of the Confederate troops.

WAR.

415

were always

at hand, and they had received so many proofs of the effectiveness of their "batteries'" that they seldom attacked the military posts except in the absence of the gun-boats. General Foster was fully alive to the value of the naval branch of the forces, and availed himself on all occasions of its services.

In December, 1802, he planned an attack upon the Confederate fortifications of Kinston and the railroad at or near Goldsborough, and asked the co-operation of the naval flotilla, at that time commanded by Commander A. Murray. The following gun-boats were assigned to this expedition: "Delaware," ActingVolunteer-Lieutenant A. P. Foster; "Shawsheen," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant T. C.

Woodward; "Lockwood," Acting Master Seymour, " Acting-Master F. G. W. Graves -

'

;

'

S.Wells, and the Arnay transports, "Ocean Wave," Major Uliam; "Allison," Gunner, E. A. McDonald, U. S. N.; "Port Royal," Acting-Master G. B. Thompson, U. S. N. "Wilson," Captain Rodgers, and "North State," Captain Berry. This flotilla left Newbern on the evening of the 12th of December. The "Allison," "Port Royal," "Ocean Wave" and " Wilson" were in the advance, under Colonel Manchester of the " Marine Artillery," with orders to push ahead and reconnoitre, and in case of an attack, or the discovery of the enemy's batteries, to fallback on the heavier vessels.

COMMANDEB (ATTEEWAKDS

CAPTAIN)

J, P.

BANKHEAD.

One of the most energetic of the military commanders in this neighborhood was General J. G. Foster, who was always on the alert to circumvent the enemy in his movements. The war in North Carolina was not prosecuted on a scale that could accomplish any decisive results. The military force in that region was only sufficient to keep down the Confederate raids, which were made with forces consisting of five or six hundred

men. These seldom accomplished anything beyond oppressing the inhabitants of towns along the rivers where Federal troops were stationed, covered by the gun-boats. Notwithstanding the apparent insignificance of these small bands, if they could have united they would have driven the Federal troops out of the country. The difficulty of the Confederates was that the naval vessels

Colonel Manchester, in charge of the military expedition, anchored his steamers for the night and made preparations to ascend the Neuse River. At daylight next morning he got underway and with great difficulty forced his way up to within two miles of Kinston, meeting with but slight opposition from the guerilla bands which infested that neighborhood, and only losing one man. About two miles from Kinston the officers of the vessels, on turning a bend, suddenly found themselves faced by a 10-gun battery, while they were penned within the river with a space of only a hundred feet in which to move their boats. The " Port Royal," Ocean Wave" and "Wilson" were ordered to back out, and the " Allison " was interposed between them and the battery, which now opened a rapid fire. It took some minutes to back the vessels down the it was so narrow. The "Allison" replied to the enemy's fire with her Parrott

river,

gun, the first fire being within canister range. Three shells were exploded within the enemy's batteries with good effect and the Confederates were silenced. It was sunset when the firing commenced, and darkness came on so rapidly that the vessels could hardly see their way, the enemy's shell exploding around them all the

416

THE NAVAL HISTUHr

The " Allison " received three shell in her upper works. The vessels dropped behind the bend of the river and there anchored in double line, hay, beef, bread, etc., being packed along the sides; the guns put in battery ready for service, and bags of oats spread over the decks. In this manner the commander of the expedition waited until daylight, in expectation of an attack from the enemy, who could move about unseen and ascertain where the flotilla was stationed. Several attempts were made at early morn to reconnoitre the position, but the enemy were driven off by the fire of the Federal outposts. The active force had to return down the river, owing to the falling water, and half the night was spent in hauling over the steamers that had grounded in the mud. After proceeding about five miles, Colonel Manchester heard of a force concentrating about a mile below, with the intention of" disputing his passage. The "North State was sent ahead to ascertain the enemy's position, while the other vessels followed prepared to shell them out. A mile further by sharpon, the flotilla was attacked shooters, who kept up a galling fire during the next five miles. At a place called Old Dam the enemy had assembled in force, with the intention of obstructing the river, and both banks seemed to be well manned with sharpshooters. The position of the Confederates was well chosen, as they were enabled to rake the vessels with artillery as they turned the river-bend. The steamers now underwent a running fire from unseen foes, to which they answered as best they could with grape and canister, and with such good effect that the last gun - boat could find nothing to fire at. The distance of the gunboats was from one to two hundred feet from the Confederates and their guns did serious injury to them. The vessels were much shattered by shot and falling trees, but by good luck and good management they worked their way out of the net in which they had injudiciously become entangled. Yet these were the services in which both Army and Navy were called upon frequently to embark, where, in nine out of ten times, the loss and capture of the expedition might have been counted upon. Fortunately, in this expedition, only two

time.

men were killed and six wounded. Commander Murray says, in his

report

:

"This expedition was partially strategic and was very successful. The attack on the batteries and the falling-back of the light boats, the shelling of the woods, and the feint to land a force on the north bank, had the desired effect." [!]

What the desired effect was, history does not say, and it seems to the writer that this

was simply an expedition where men's lives were sacrificed without any apparent good. The Army was frittering away its forces in these small attempts to score a point, while the true course to pursue would have been to concentrate all the troops, drive the enemy out of the State of North Carolina, tear up the railroads leading to Richmond, and destroy all the means of subsisting an army in the State. Though it may have been said that the Federals held North Carolina, yet it was by a most precarious tenure; and this section, which should in the beginning have been completely conquered, remained simply a skirmishing - ground for the contending forces throughout the war. On January 5th the indefatigable Lieutenant Cushirig started on an expedition to capture some Wilmington pilots, and having heard that there was a pilot station at "Little River," thirty miles below Fort Caswell, he made sail for that point, and reached it on the morning of January 5th, 1863. He crossed the bar at S o'clock at night with twenty-five men, in three cutHe was ters, and proceeded up the river. in hopes of finding pilots above and also some schooners. About a mile from the mouth of the river the expedition received a volley of musketry from a bluff on the left. Cushing beached his boats the moment he was fired upon, without returning the fire, and formed his men about 200 yards from the point of •' attack, and gave the order Forward .'" double-quick charge The fearless fellow never stopped to con-

—

:

—

sider whether he was charging fifty men or a thousand. It seemed immaterial to him, when his blood was up. how many of the enemy faced him: and his men. inspired by his intrepid example, followed him without hesitation.

There was a wood in front of the charging party, through which they passed, and on getting into the clearing Cushing found himself before a fort plainly to be seen by the light of the camp-fires, which were burning freely. Knowing- that the enemy were ignorant of his numbers, he charged with the bayonet, giving three cheers, and as he went over one side of the works the enemy went out of the other.

The fort was an earthwork surrounded by a ditch ten feet wide and five deep, with a block-house inside pierced for musketry. No guns were mounted on the work. If tliere had been, the daring and impetuosity of the attack would have captured them. The enemy left in such haste that all their clothes, amnrunition, stores, and the larger portion of their arms were left in the hands of the sailors, and all that could not be brought away was destroyed.

OF THE Notwithstanding that there was a possithe enemy returning with increased numbers, Gushing pushed on up the river, where he met another party of Confederates, and a skirmish took place in which the sailors used up all their ammunition and had to return to their boats, with only the loss of one man. This was not an important affair, but it is

l)ility of

showing the indomitable couryoung officer who received a share honor during the war that seldom falls

selected as

age of

of a

to the lot of one holding so subordinate a position; his performances in the face of the enemy had already attracted the notice of his commander; and, finally, the Government, having confidence in his valor and judgment, intrusted him with duties of a hazardous character, which he always performed with credit to himself. Not to be outdone by Gushing, that gallant and efficient officer, Lieutenant-Gommander Flusser, started on the 29th of January for Jamesville, hearing that a regiment of Confederates were fortifying that place, it being one of the best points on the river for annoying the gun-boats; and was too important a position and too near to allow the enemy to hold it. the 30th, Flusser took on board his vessel (the " Gommodore Perry ") fifty soldiers of the 37th Massachusetts, under Captain Sanford, landed them at Hertford with about ninety sailors, marched into the country eight or ten miles, destroyed two bridges over the Purquimenous River, and returned that same night to Plymouth. Thus was cut off one of the mieans by which the enemy had supplied themselves with goods from Norfolk and Richmond, by the south side of the Chowan River, enabling the Navy to guard that ford with a gun-boat; for a large amount of contraband traffic had been carried on from the Albemarle Sound and its rivers by means of small boats which kept along the shore and could slip into the small creeks if a gun-boat hove in

Plymouth

On

sight.

expeditions, though not very enemy, showed the spirit of the naval officers and their determination to give the enemy no rest. On the 14th of March, 1863, the Confederates made an attack on Fort Anderson, a work built by the Union troops opposite

These

little

damaging

to the

Newbern, and occupied by a regiment of The enemy bombarded the works with field-pieces, and kept up the fire all night. In the morning they made volunteers.

a spirited attack in force, with masked batteries on the right. The gun-boat " Hunchback" and an armed schooner were brought up to strengthen the Federal position; when Lieutenant-Commander McCann, bringing his batteries to bear, and keeping up a well-

CIVIL WAR.

417

directed fire, with the aid of the schooner, silenced the enemy's guns. There was an intermission of an hour on the enemy's part, who made a demand for the surrender of the fort; but this was evidently to give them time to bring up more guns. (The fort had no guns mounted.) Perceiving that their demand received no attention, they brought up fourteen more guns and renewed the attack, the " Hunch-

back" and armed schooner throwing in their shells until the enemy drew off. Before doing so, they were attacked by the gun-boats "Hetzel" and "Shawsheen," which vessels, being in a disabled condition, had to be towed into action by tugs. The firing of the Federal vessels was excellent, and so well aimed were their guns that the enemy was unable to use his artillery with much effect. The " Hunchback " was only struck twice, but the schooner was placed in a sinking condition. Had it not been for the prompt assistance rendered to Fort Anderson by the gun boats, it would certainly have fallen into the enemy's hands. From the fact that the Army undertook to hold several places with skeleton regiments and few or no guns, it required the utmost watchfulness on the part of the Navy to prevent disastrous results. This affair was a surprise on the part of the Confederates, for which the Union troops were not at all prepared, and they thanked their stars that so watchful a friend as the Navy was at hand to succor them in their hour of need. The Army were not unmindful of the service rendered by the Navy on this occasion, and their feeling of gratitude is well expressed by Colonel J. C. Belknap, as follows:

Headquarters First Brioade, WBSSEiy's Division, N. C, March 15, 1863. Commodore— When, on the 14th of March, 1863, General Pettigrew, with eighteen pieces of artillery and over three thousand men, made his furious assault on Fort Anderson, an unfinished earth-work garrisoned by three hundred men of my command (the 92d New York Volunteers \ the capture or destruction of the brave little band seemed inevitable, but the gun-boats under your command, the pride of loyal men and the terror of traitors, came promptly to the rescue. Your well-directed lire drove the enemy from the field, covered the landing of the 85th New York, sent to the relief of the garrison, and the repulse of the rebel army was complete. Allow me, Commodore, in the name of the officers

Newbern,

and members

,

my

of command, to express to you for the promptitude and skill displayed by your command on that occasion. The Army is proud of the Navy.

my admiration I

remain your most obedient, J.

C.

Colonel 85th Regiment,

Belknap,

New

Commanding Commander Davenport,

1st

York Volunteers, Brigade.

Newbern, N. C.

The steamer "Hetzel" committed great

THE NAVAL HISTORY

418

havoc among the enemy on this occasion by the accuracy of her fire. One of her shells struck a Parrott gun and destroyed it.;

bursting,

it

killed a

number

of

the

enemy, scattering their bones and fragments of their clothing over the ground. The army on the Newbern side of the river had to be lookers-on during this fight, and could give no assistance to their comrades, consequently it v?as altogether a naval affair; but no one doubted what the result would be when they saw the rapidity and accuracy of the naval fire. In this action the revenue-cutter "Agassiz" also took part at close quarters, embarrassing

enemy in his retreat. As the enemy retreated, the gun-boats " Lockwood" and "Allison" hung upon his rear for ten miles up the river, inflicting

the

severe punishment; all these gun-boats, be understood, being flimsy vessels, that could not encounter a naoderate gale of wind at sea without danger of foundering. This was one of the most gallant affairs that had occurred in the North Atlantic squadron since Rear - Admiral Lee took command, and was an instance of how necessary was the aid which the Navy stood always ready to afford the other Moreover, it was branch of the service. not an assistance that was sought by the Army, but one which the Navy anticipated by being on hand at the right moment. In April the Confederates seemed to be making more zealous efforts to obtain a firm footing in North Carolina, and the naval oificer in command of the Sounds urged the commander of the North Atlantic squadron to increase liis flotilla, suggesting that, if the Army also was not re-enforced, that the Union forces would be driven out of the

it

General Peck that the enemy were advancing in an attempt to surround the Federal forces at Suffolk, the Admiral dispatched the following vessels under the command of Lieutenant R. H. Lamson, with instructions to occupy the Nansemond River between Suffolk and the bar, at the mouth of the western branch, and to render all possible assistance to the Army: "Mount Washington" (river steamer), with a 30 pounder Parrott, 3 howitzers, and a detachment from the " Minnesota." "Cohasset" (tug), 20-pounder Parrott and a 34-pound howitzer. "Alert" (tug), one 12 and one 34-pound howitzer.

"Stepping Stones" (light ferry-boat), with a battery ot howitzers. The " Commodore Barney," Lieutenant W. B. Cushing, was also detached from other duty and sent to Jamestown Island.

State.

The policy of keeping small detachments of troops at the different towns on the rivers, with the gun-boats to look after them, had no permanent effect towards bringing the State under subjection, for the roving bands of Confederates were ever on the alert to gain some advantage over the Union forces, which may be said to have been kept penned up under the protection

gun boats. About the same time the enemy seemed to be making a move upon Williamsburg, Va., and on the morning of April lltli they attacked that place, and commenced concentrating a heavy force on Fort Magruder, which was not far from Williamsburg. Gun-boats were immediately required by the Army to move up and down between Yorktown and Queen's Creek, and also to Every effort lie near Jamestown Island. was made to comply with the demands made upon the Navy, and on an announcement being made to Rear- Admiral Lee by of the

COMMANDER (ATTEEWARDS

EEAE-ADMIRAI.) STEPHEN D.

TRENCHAKD.

The above list of vessels will show to what shifts the Navy was put to meet the calls made upon it by the Army. Gun-boats were called for everywhere, and these demands were more than the naval commander could comply with. On the 11th, Major-General Keyes telegraphed that the Federal troops in the neighborhood of Williamsburg were being driven by a large force of Confederates down towards the mouth of Queen's Creek, and that, if a large force of gun-boats was not sent to Yorktown, even Yorktown itself might fall. « The "Commodore Morris" (the only available vessel) was sent immediately to the York River to co-operate with the "Crusader," then there. Any one can imagine the embarrassment the commander-in-chief laboredunder to satisfy all these demands, first in the Sounds,

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

then on the Nansemond, James, or York rivers. After all, most of these gun-boats were merely improvised for the occasion, and the Army transports, armed with field-

would have answered the same But the soldiers were not used to managing steamers up the narrow streams or handling guns behind the frail bulwarks of wooden gun-boats. Only sailors could do that kind of work, and the Army were only too glad to have them do it. During the demonstrations made by the enemy on this occasion there was much

artillery,

purpose.

hard service performed, frequent attacks from and repulses of the enemy. Some clever

young

service,

officers

were employed

in this

among them Lieutenant Lamson

—

and the indomitable Gushing both brave, energetic men Lamson with the capacity of one older and more experienced, and Gushing with dash and vigor never exceeded. Lamson especially distinguished himself by planning, and with the co-operation of troops under Brigadier-General Getty, effecting the capture of five guns and 130 men on Hill's Point. This position commanded the communication between the Upper and Lower Nansemond, and the Gonfederates had, from it, greatly harassed the flotilla. Here Lamson captured a 34pound howitzer and the sword of the Confederate commander. Lieutenant Gushing again, on this occasion, exhibited those high qualities which he was known to possess in so remarkable a degree, being in a fight of some kind from the time the expedition came in sight of the enemy until the latter retreated. The enemy's forces were under the command of General Longstreet, a brave and able officer, who with 10,000 men on the left bank of the river and a large force on the right bank, including strong field and siege

—

was attempting to combine and surround General Peck

batteries,

forces Suffolk. It

his at

was Gushing who prevented the Gonfed-

erates from crossing the river, and kept up the communication with the Union troops.

The enemy were given no rest by the flotilla. They were frequently driven from their riflebut continually returned to them with indomitable courage whenever the flre of the gun-boats slackened for a moment. While Gushing was operating with his vessel, he also kept pickets on shore to prevent a surprise, and a party of these men captured the engineer-in-chief on the staff of the Gonfederate General French, who had come down near the gun-boats with the intention of locating batteries. General Peck and General Getty both relied very much on the aid of the Navy in repulsina: the Confederate attack on Suffolk, pits,

-1^1

„1„

,*

]^U*-^^

+^+1-.,-

^flR«^«

419

and men of the vessels for the hearty cooperation which they afforded, either by scattering the enemy with their guns or carrying the batteries on shore by assault. This latter work was done on several occasions in the most handsome manner, the assaulting party being always led by Lieutenant Lamson. General Getty, that brave old soldier, who never failed to acknowledge merit when it came under his notice, was profuse in his acknowledgments of Lieutenant Lamson's conduct in the management of the flotilla. It would require too long an account to tell the whole story of this expedition, where fighting was carried on from the 12th of April to the 23d, where the sailors took their share of the fighting on shore, and where the gun-boats, under the incessant fire of the enemy, were nearly knocked to pieces.

But General Getty

speak for him-

shall

On

April 20th he writes as follows: Headquarters, 3d Division, 9th Corps, U. S. 8. "Stepping Stones," Nansemond River, April 20th, 1863. \ Admiral, I beg to express my most sincere thanks to Captain Lamson, U. S. N., his officers and crews, for the gallantry, energy and ability displayed by them self.

)

)

:

in the operations of yesterday, restilting in the capture of one of the enemy's batteries of five guns, on the west side of the Nansemond, and a number of prisoners. All did their duty most handsomely. Very respectfully, etc.,

George W. Gettt, BHgadier-&eneral, Rear-Admiral Lee.

Also the following u.

s.

U. 8. Volunteers.

letters:

grun-boat "stepping stones,"

Sleepy Hole Landing, Nansemond River, AprU 31st,

Admiral

'1 ,

1863. 3.

i

:

I have again to express my obligation to Lieutenant R. H. Lamson, commanding gun-boats in upper Nansemond, for the admirable disposition of gunboats during the withdrawal of the troops, etc., last night, from Hill's Point, and for the efficient aid rendered by him, his officers and crews in effecting the withdrawal, which was successfully aecomphshed, the last man having recrossed the river at 12 o'clock All was aecomphshed without confusion or acci-

dent.

The artillery, trophies, material, etc., have been landed from the " Stepping Stones " at this point, and are now on the way to Suffolk. The prisoners were landed on the right bank of the Nansemond immediately after the battery was and sent to Suffolk. remain. Admiral, etc., etc.,

carried, I

George W. Getty, Brigadier-General,

To Rear-Admiral Lee,

etc.

etc., etc.

Headquarters 3d Division, 9th Corps, In the Field, Nansemond River, April 29th, 1863. Admiral

)

\ )

:

1

deem

it

proper to state that

all

the arrange-

ments made by Captain Lamson, U. S. N., commanding gun-boats in the upper Nansemond during the operations of the 19th and 20th instants,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

420

The conduct of Captain Lamson, his officers and men, was bold and gallant in the extreme. I

remain, Admiral,

etc.,

George W. Getty,

Brigadier-Oeneral,

Rbar-Admibal

S. p.

Lek,

Commanding.

etc., etc.

The operations to which these brief letwere those which took place between April 12th and April 23d, in which Lieutenant Lamson, commander of a small co-operated with Generals Peck flotilla, and Getty for the protection of Suffolk, ters alluded

Virginia.

During this time the fighting was hard and incessant, and but for the aid of the naval force Suffolk would, without doubt, have fallen into the hands of General Longstreet, who, with a large army, attempted unsuccessfully to cross the river and surround the Union works.

That

little fleet

of

gun -boats was under

a constant fire for days without once flinching from the post of duty. Often grounding while under a heavy pelting from the enemy's field-pieces (which seemed to know no fatigue), they were almost cut to pieces. The commander expressed it, in his modest way, when he on one occasion said: "The enemy soon obtained our range, and his artillery told with fearful effect on the timbers and machinery of these lightlybuilt vessels." But his reports all end with a cheering account of having silenced the enemy's batteries, and scattered the sharpshooters.

One who knows anything about such matters can imagine what targets these quasi gun-boats must have been to Longstreet's well -trained gunners, and how hardly pummelled these veterans must have been, when they were obliged to retreat again and again before the welldirected fire of these "paper-clad" vessels. The Confederate artillery was no sooner silenced in one position than it opened from another upon the vessels, which had not the option of choosing their position in these narrow rivers. At times they would lie in the mud, bow on to the enemy, who was too intelligent not to take advantage of their apparently helpless condition. But, with a brave energy that never flagged, Lamson would hoist his guns to the upper or hurricane deck, without considering whether the deck would bear their weight, and open fire upon the enemy until they were driven off. The guns so mounted were often struck by the expert artillerymen of the enemy, and the decks were plowed up by their shot and shell; but the gun-boats never gave in, and only changed their positions for the purpose of bringing more guns to bear.

The Confederates would

when they

yell

with delight

could get one of the larger ves-

sels, like the "Mount Vernon," f ast_ in the mud, where they could bring all their artillery and sharpshooters to bear on her; but the " Stepping Stones," or some other spirited little craft, would get alongside, and tow her into deeper water, and receive without flinching the shot and shell intended for

her helpless companion. General Getty might well say that the From such officers and men did their duty. a liberal old soldier, as he was, this was but faint praise. It may be that the Army commanders considered brevity to be a virtue when dealing with such matters, for, as a rule, the Army was not eulogistic of the Navy at any time during the war. We should not attach much importance to the mere brevity of these dispatches, for sometimes much may be expressed in a very few words; but the "Eecords of the War" show to-day that, on almost all occasions where the Army and Navy co-operated, the reports of army operations were very voluminous, and even concerning points which could not have been held except by the guns of the Navy, the Army came in for the largest share of praise. An affair which occurred on the 14th of April in the Nansemond River, where Lieutenant Lamson in the "Mount Washington," and Acting-Master T. A. ^Harris in the "Stepping Stones," fought the enemy's batteries for six hours under the most adverse circumstances, was one of the most gallant affairs of the "war. The reports of these actions are long and voluminous, and only a condensation of them can be given in this history. But they can all be found in the Report of the Secretary of the Navy for 1863, where may be seen the most faithful and interesting account of these events that has yet been written in fact, a better story of the doings of the Navy throughout the war is given in these official reports than any historian can ever compile. They were written by the men who did the work; and who can so well describe, not only the acts that were done, but the motives that inspired them? Now and then a paragraph forcibly strikes our attention, and, though it lengthens this work beyond bounds, we cannot leave it out. On the Uth, when the " Mount Washington" was fighting her way out of the mud, and was getting out hawsers to bring her broadside to bear, Lamson says: * * * The hawser slipped, and the channel being so narrow, she was obliged to run down some ;

distance before she could turn, artillery

when the enemv's

was again turned on the "Mount Wash-

ington."

Captain Harris soon ran up to me again, and I was towed out of the enemy's range. The "Barney " still remained engaging the enemy, and continued to fire till their artillery ceased and withdrew.

Towards the close of the action the "Mount Washington's " flag-staff was shot away even with

OF THE the upper deck, when Mr. Birtwistle and seaman Thielberg assisted me to haul it up out of the water by the ensign halliards, raise it, and lash it alongside the stump.

And

further—

words to express my admiration of the courageous conduct of my officers and men, who fought the guns for six hours, aground in a disabled vessel, under such a fire of artillery and musketry, and who did not flinch even from working a gun on the open hurricane deck, or from going out in boats to carry hawsers. I wish through you to express my thanks to Captain Haynes, of the "Mount Washington," and his executive officer, Mr. Griffith, who nobly refused to leave the vessel when his crew were sent away, and who rendered the most valuable assistance during the action. Master's - Mate Birtwistle, of the "Minnesota," behaved in the most gallant manner, and I respectfully recommend him to you as a most brave and I cannot find

efficient officer.

There was much heroic conduct displayed on this occasion:

A seaman, Joachim Sylvia, was instantly killed and knocked overboard by a shell from the enemy, when Samuel Woods, captain of the gun, jumped overboard to rescue the body, but, before he reached This gallant seaman it, it sank to rise no more. then swam back to the vessel, went again to his gun, and fought it to the close of the action, in a manner that attracted the attention of every one.

How many

noble acts of this kind occur

war without any notice being taken of them The smaller glories are swallowed up by the greater and apparently more in

!

aggregate they would show an amount of gallantry far outweighing that of some of the grandest sea-fights. We would gladly chronicle all these Tittle events, but our space will not permit it. It is seldom that the sailors, who are so much exposed, have their nanaes handed down in history, and it is a mistake commanders of

brilliant events, while, if the minor affairs were summed up,

vessels commit in failing to notice the gallant tars who, in all the wars which the United States has had with foreign nations, have performed acts of heroism that could not be excelled by the bravest officers.

Lieutenant Lamson shows a praiseworthy example by commending the deeds of his gallant sailors as well as those of his officers. Henry Thielberg, Eobert Jourdan and John Sullivan, seamen; Robert Woods, boatswain's-mate; Quartermaster De Lunn; Third - Assistant Engineer, John Healey;

William Jackson and James Lody (both are all handsomely spoken of. They, no doubt, received medals (the highest reward a sailor can aspire to), but let their names go down in history as part of the gallant band who so nobly sustained the reputation of the Navy on April 14th, 1863, the anniversary of the day when Sumter, battered and torn, had to lower her flag to those who gave the first stab to colored),

our free institutions. Another one of the events of this expedition, which General Getty alludes to, oc-

CIVIL WAR.

421

curred on April 19th, when Lieutenant Lamson received on board the Stepping Stones" a portion of the 89th New York Volunteers, under Lieutenant-Colonel England, and the 8th Connecticut, under Colonel Ward, the whole consisting of 300 men. Lieutenant Lamson had four 13-pound howitzers ready for landing, manned by sailors. Near 6 o'clock a. m., at a preconcerted signal from the steam-whistle, a heavy fire was opened from all the gun-boats on the Confederate batteries, and from General '

'

Getty's two batteries on Colham's Point, opposite, under Captains Morris and Valler, U. S. A.

When all was in position, Lamson steamed slowly down the river, as if about to run the batteries (which he had done several times before), until he got nearly abreast of the enemy's works, when he signalled to the gun -boats and Federal batteries to cease firing, and putting his helm hard-astarboard, ran into the bank immediately under the upper end of the enemy's works, and so close to them that the Confederates could not bring a gun to bear. The screens that had been used to hide the troops were triced up, gang-planks were launched, and with a cheer from all the boats and Union batteries the 89th New York rushed ashore, followed by the naval howitzer-battery and the 8th Connecticut. The Confederate works consisted of two lines, with an impassable ravine between them. The Federal troops carried the first line at once, but while the 89th New York were running around the head of the ravine, the enemy swung round some of their guns, and poured a charge of grape into the assaulting party, which was immediately answered by a discharge of canister from the naval battery, that had been judiciously planted on the crest of the ravine, overlooking the inner line of defences. The brave 89th were into the works by this time, and the Confederates did not fire another shot. The victory was a complete one. The Federals captured 161 prisoners and 5 pieces of artillery (13 and 24 pound fieldguns, captured by the Confederates at Harper's Ferry or from Western Virginia), with a large amount of ammunition. Not a Confederate escaped. Owing to the decisive charge made upon the enemy and the fortunate position occupied by the naval battery, the loss to the Federal side was small but never was there a better commanded affair, and Lamson gives due credit to those of his officers and men who were engaged in it. Though the work of the Navy in this affair is lightly spoken of by the Army authorities, the Secretary of the Navy saw in it something worth noticing, and he ;

THE NAVAL Hl^TUKr

422

result of this expedition was the rethe enemy and the security of the of pulse Federal forces in the intrenched works at But this was not war on a grand Suffolk.

The

issued the following communication, which in part repaid Lieutenant Lamson for the

hard work he had performed throughout the campaign: Navy Department, April 4, 1863. Sib— Your recent important and meritorious services on the upper Nansemond deserve the special commendation of the Department. The ability

such as should have been inaugurated by the Federal Government at that time, when its troops were almost numberless, and great armies were posted from Washington to Missouri. These little skirmishes and reconnaissances had no material effect upon the war. It was a great waste of men on shore and a great destruction of gunscale,

displayed In the discharge of the important and responsible duties which devolved on the naval force during the late demonstration of the enemy reflected the greatest credit upon yourself and the

and men under your command. Their zeal and courage in the hazardous positions in which they were placed have not failed to receive the approbation of both the naval and military

officers

boats afloat. It was quite evident to those who could judge, that, under such a system as the Government was pursuing, the war must languish for want of one efficient leader, who could arrange and direct the great armies which were scattered from one end of the States to the other, without apparently

authorities.

General Getty, with whom you have been cooperating, has expressed his obligations to you and your command for gallantry and energy displayed, especially in the capture of a rebel battery on the Nansemond, and for valuable assistance rendered to him during his operations in repelling the enemy

officer. Acting Rear-Admiral Lee, has reported in terms of admiration of your discretion and valor. The Department congratulates you on your success, and is proud to see in the younger members of the corps such evidence of energy and gallantry and execution and ability, scarcely surpassed by those of more age and experience.

and your immediate commanding

Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.

Gushing also came in for a share of commendation for his success on the Nansemond, and Secretary Welles was no less enthusiastic in his praise than in the case of Lieutenant Lamson: Navy Department, May 4, 1863. Sir

—Your

gallantry

and meritorious

services

during the recent demonstrations of the enemy on the Nansemond, and in co-operating with the Army, are entitled to the especial notice and commendation of the Department. Tour conduct on this occasion adds additional lustre to the character the face of you had already established for valor the enemy. The energy and ability displayed by yourself and the officers and men under your command in defence of the lower Nansemond are most creditable, and are appreciated by the Department.

m

working for one common

These object. comparatively small demonstrations had no actual value beyond making the troops familiar with the duties of soldiers in the field, and the establishment of positions at places like Sufliolk (which they could not liold without a force of improvised gunboats carrying the heaviest guns) gave evidence that the art of war had not progressed much, in 1863, when such small operations were held in such high estimation. There was a great waste of military force, and in most cases waste of time, frequently without any effect (one way or the other), beyond demonstrating the zeal, energy and courage of the

two arms

of the service.

one good-sized army had been stationed upon the Peninsula, its lines gradually closing in the direction of Eichmond, with its If

These were very complimentary words, and made these officers proud of the distinction that had been shown them distinctions superior even to those received by

centre resting upon the principal river, as it advanced, and covered by a large flotilla of well-constructed gun-boats, all the rivers in that part of Virginia would have been so completely under the Federal control that the Confederates would have had no opportunity to keep up their incessant raids, which seemed to keep the Army and Navy in a continual state of excitement. Ill some cases the Army had hardly got possession of some point and made themselves warm in it, when the strategy of war turned it over to the hands of the Confederates, who would erect batteries after their mode of defence, and then abandon it in as summary a manner as the Federals had done before them. The same course seems to have been taken in Virginia as was tried in North Carolina small bodies of men detailed to hold prominent positions,

officers

who had commanded fleets and performed services that hadamost decisive bearing on the war. Without doubt, these young

with a few ill - built and worse - equipped gun-boats to protect them. There was no want of activity, courage

deserved all that was said of them, and their performances in after service show that the commendations were not misplaced.

and zeal on the part of the officers of the North Atlantic squadron, but there was so

The Department desires to express to you more especially its admiration of your gallantry and enterprise, in conducting an important armed reconnaissance with a party from the gun-boats, some miles into the enemy's country to the village of Chuckatuck, and putting to flight a party of the enemy's cavalry, and safely returning to your vessel. Accept my congratulations for yourself and the officers

and men who were under your command. Gideon Welles,

Secretary of the Navy. Lieutenant W. B. Cushing, Commanding Steamer "Commodore Barney.

should have

officers

^^

—

—

small a

field of operations,

with the excep-

OF THE

CIVIL

tion of such as has been mentioned, that the oflScers and men had not the same opportunity for distinction as was enjoyed on other stations; though in war the true secret is to make the opportunity. It is what seldom comes to any one. It must be for, and though it is a shy spirit, not wooed and won, yet it puts itself in

sought easily

the way of those who are determined to pursue and overtake it in spite of all obstaThe proof of this was demonstrated cles. in the case of Lieutenants Lamson and Cushing, two daring young fellows, who lost no opportunity of bringing their names before the Navy Department, and who were as well known in the Navy as the most successful commanders of fleets. great many of the vessels of the North Atlantic squadron were employed in the blockade of the coast from the mouth of the

A

Chesapeake to below Cape Fear shoals. The Cape Fear Eiver had (since the complete blockade of Charleston) become the principal ground for blockade-runners, that river having two entrances, by either of which blockade-runners could enter, protected by Fort Caswell on the south side of Cape Fear, and by strong earth-works (which finally grew to be Fort Fisher) on the north side. reports are made of the capture or destruction of blockade-runners, and in chasing up these vessels great activity was displayed. On the 6th of May, LieutenantCommander Braine reports a boat expedition from the steamer "Monticello" and the mortar schooner "Matthew Vassar" (Acting-Master L. A. Brown), mentioning the destruction of one of the vessels in Morrell's Inlet, an English schooner called the "Golden Liner," of Halifax, with a large cargo, and also the burning of two large store-houses. Destruction of this kind of property always caused serious loss to the enemy, and it could not be replaced. On May 2?th, Rear- Admiral Lee reports the operations in the sounds of North Carolina. It appears that the Confederates had invested Washington, on the Pamlico Hiver, which investment lasted eighteen days, and after a fruitless effort to take the place (which would have been of no use to them if they had succeeded), the enemy retired on the 15th of April. Washington, N. C, had been pretty extensively fortified by the Confederates it,

but they had been driven

away from it by the Federal forces. On the morning of March 31st the

my

433

tioned at Washington, and, on the appearance of the Confederates, opened fire upon them with their great guns. At 5:45, the enemy took position at Rodman's Point, and opened fire with artillery upon the " Commodore Hull," which vessel had been stationed at that point to prevent The fire was returned their occupying it. with vigor, and, after a smart action of one hour and a half, the " Commodore Hull," in changing her position, got aground, where she remained until eight p. m. exposed to a continuous and accurate fire. Her commander (Acting -Master Saltonstall) defended her most gallantly until all his ammunition was expended. The vessel was much cut up, but received no vital injury.

Meantime the "Ceres," Acting- VolunteerLieutenant J. Macdearmid " Lockwood," Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant G.W. Graves; the sloop "Granite," Acting - Master E. ;

Boomer, and, finally, the "Hunchback," Lieutenant-Commander McCann, were dispatched by Commander Davenport to the relief of the besieged forces at Washington, but they were stopped below Hill's Point by the re-establishment of the enemy's batteries there, and by the removal of the buoys at This prevented the steamers from going ahead, for fear of being grounded on the old wrecks, in which case they would easily have been destroyed. It was not possible to send out boats and place other buoys on account of the enemy's sharpshooters and flying artillery, which would have destroyed the boats. Under the circumstances there was no remedy, and the above-mentioned steamers had to remain outside; but during the siege communications were opened at great risks between the vessels above and below the batteries, thus conveying ammunition and

the old obstructions.

Many

while they held

WAR.

ene-

appeared in force, and took possession of their old works (seven miles below the town), which had been built to cut off the water communication. The "Commodore Hull " and " Louisiana " (two light-built and vulnerable gun-boats) were at the time sta-

dispatches. On the 3d of April, the flotilla below Hill's Point was reinforced by the "Southfield,"

"Whitehead" and "Seymour," from Plymouth. In the meantime the " Commodore Hull" and "Louisiana," and an armed transport called the " Eagle," under charge' of Second- Assistant Engineer J. L. Lay and AssistantPaymaster W.W.Williams, of the "Louisiana," as volunteers, were almost continually engaged with the enemy's batteries opposite Washington, until the morning of the 4th, when the "Ceres" made a gallant dash past the forts, with a full supply of ammunition, and joined the besieged force above. On the 6th, a snaall naval battery of two light guns was established on shore, commanding the channel from above, to repel any attempt on the part of the enemy to attack the gun-boats from that quarter by water.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

424

On

the 7th

on the 9th the

enemy

inst. 112,

on the 8th

107,

and

55 shot and shell were fired by at the gun-boats without inflict-

ing any serious damage. On the 10th, Acting - Ensign J. B. De Camarra succeeded in getting a schooner til rough from the lower fleet, loaded with naval ammunition. On the 12th, the gun-boats silenced and destroyed by their fire a battery which the enemy had erected with sand-bags and cotton-bales, abreast of the town, and which for seven days previously had maintained an active and dangerous fire on them. On the 13th, the Confederate boats filled with infantry, as pickets on the river below the forts, were driven ashore by ActingVolunteer-Lieutenant Macdearmid, with a howitzer on a small schooner. On the same night the army transport " Escort" gallantly ran the blockade, with reinforcements for the Federal troops at Washington, having safely passed Hill's Point under cover of the gun-boats below. On the 14th and 15th, the enemy kept up a vigorous fire with their artillery, which was returned by the gun-boats. An opportunity occurred about the time

mentioned for the

Army and Navy

to score

a strong point on the Confederates. There were a number of troops in transports below Hill's Point waiting the opportunity to reinforce the troops above, either by running the batteries or turning them by land marches. Under cover of the gun-boats the troops could easily have carried the enemy's works at Hill's Point, but it was not attempted. The Confederate batteries were behind strong natural banks of earthworks, perforated at points with embrasures. The gun-boats had attacked them several times without any apparent effect. The position was deemed too strong to carry by assault with a limited number of troops, so the gun-boats and transports had to lie at anchor before it and make no sign, until troops could be marched overland

.

from Newborn. On the morning of the 15th, the steamer "Escort" arrived with General Foster on board, who seemed to think the situation so serious that his presence was demanded. Tlie day after his- arrival the enemy suddenly disappeared, and the siege was raised. The commander of the North Atlantic squadron seemed to be well satisfied with the conduct of those under his command, and reported that the credit of the Navy had been well maintained throughout. Commander Renshaw, at Washington, and Lieutenant-Commander McCann, below on the river, conducted affairs with prudence and zeal. The former held a position of great responsibility and severe trial, and he met the various emergencies

with promptness and decision. He had the direction of naval matters, and would have been held responsible if the town had fallea into the enemy's hands.

On the 3d

inst.,

the

enemy had established

their batteries abreast of the town, one of

them a rified 12-pounder, distant 600 yards. The batteries succeeded in firing only five shots before they were silenced by the Federal shell, which fairly demolished the works.

During the siege (if it may be so called) there was an incessant peal of artillery, and the enemy seemed determined to carry the place, no matter what the cost might be to them; but, whether aground on the river-bed or lying in the stream, the fire of the gun -boats was incessant and well directed so well directed, indeed, that the enemy frequently seemed to be firing at

—

random. Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant Macdearmid spoken of in the highest terms for his This is not the first coolness and valor. time that his name has appeared in this narrative, and it will not likely be the last. is

Acting-Master Saltonstall was promoted by the Department for the steady gallantry with which he fought his disabled vessel for nearly a day against great odds, and for his good conduct during the siege. Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant Graves and Acting-Master Welles were commended for faithful and efficient service, and were promoted in consequence. Acting-Ensign De Camarra, Acting-Master's Mates E. MacKeever, A. H. Hicks and Edward S. Austin were commended for their good conduct and bravery in battle. Acting -Master F. Josselyn, ActingEnsigns J. O. Johnson and J. B. De Camarra, Acting-Master's Mates A. F. Haradea and Henry W. Wells, Acting-Second-Assistant Engineers H. Rafferty and John E. Harper, and Paymaster's Steward John 0. Cross, were recommended to especial notice for their bravery in battle.

These

commendations

were

only

known

know

that they are remembered.

probably

to the parties who secured them; and, as their names have not been handed down in history, it may be some compensation to them at this late day to arra, Johnson, Wells and mended for promotion.

De Cam-

Hicks were recom-

That the Navy performed excellent service in defending the garrison at Washington, N. C, there can be little doubt. The naval force appeared promptly on the scene of action, and was so well handled that it saved the garrison from capture; yet all this zeal, gallantry and efficiency is merely mentioned by General Spinola as follows: I cannot close this report without bearing testimony to the gallant conduct of the Navy while

OF THE acting in conjunction with

my command,

CIVIL

particu-

Captain Macdearmid, of the gun-boat "Ceres." The conduct of the lieutenant-commanders of the gun-boats engaged was all that could have been exthey manifested great bravery, pected of them coupled with a willingness to do all in their power to relieve the garrison.

larly

;

These are not the hearty expressions that should come from the pen of a gallant soldier, who should have felt and expressed a warmer gratitude for the services rendered to his army; but this seems to have been the style of noticing the work of the Navy throughout the war. Very few cases occurred where the Army could help the Navy; but, when such was the case, the latter acknowledged the obligation in a most eulogistic

manner.

This affair on the Pamlico River was very much like that on the upper Nansemond there were too few troops for the occasion.

These scattered garrisons, in badly-built and poorly-armed earth-works, offered great temptations to the Confederate roving bands, who, through their spies, watched the Federal movements closely, and when the military commanders grew less watchful, or the gun-boats were out of the way, pounced upon them, expecting an easy victory. The enemy would often fight with a pertinacity bordering on desperation, and, after firing away all their ammunition, would retire as suddenly as they appeared. What the Federals needed in order to break up these raids was a large force of cavalry, moving from one part of the State to the other with such rapidity and energetic action that the Conf«ederates could

make no headway

This against them. course would have placed the Army in a

more independent position, and they would not have become impressed with the idea that "every soldier ought to carry a gunboat in his pocket." On May 37th, Lieutenant Flusser reports an expedition under Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant Charles A. French, who went in the steamer " Whitehead" to cruise in the eastern end of Albemarle Sound, and break up the contraband trade, a great deal of which was carried on in that vicinity. Lieutenant French reports the capture of a large twomasted boat, containing 600 barrels of tobacco. In Alligator River he captured or destroyed several boats engaged in illicit trade, and also along the shore a large quantity of pork, bacon, leather, tobacco bags, lard and tallow ready for shipment to the enemy. Many grist mills, grinding corn for the enemy, were burned by the officers of the "Valley City." At this time the Confederate commissaries were out in great force gathering stores for the Army near Suffolk, and it was desirable to destroy as much provisions as possible even though the non-combatants

—

WAR.

435

suffered considerably. Such is the law of war no distinction can be drawn in such cases, and on this occasion the duty was

—

performed very thoroughly. On May 31st, 1863, General Dix concluded to evacuate West Point, at the head of York River, and on that day the Federal Army marched out, covered by the gun-boats

"Commodore Morris," "Commodore Jones," " Morse" and " Mystic," under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Gillis. The operation was effected without the slightest accident,

and without any demonstration on

the part of the enemy. Everything belonging to the United States Government was safely removed, the gun-boats taking on board the forage, provisions and ammunition, and landing them safely at Yorktown. In the latter part of May, LieutenantCommander James H. Gillis participated in an expedition with Brigadier-General Kilpatrick in Matthews County. The object of the expedition was to mount all the dismounted men in Kilpatrick's command.

Lieutenant- Commander Gillis took on board the "Commodore Morris" 100 men from the 4th Delaware Volunteers, under Major La Mott, and with the "Winnissimmet" in company proceeded to North River, where he arrived at half -past five p.m. Here were captured 300 horses, 150 head of cattle and a large number of sheep. At the same time the troops destroyed all the property that could be of any use to the Confederates. A large amount of property was destroyed in these raids. It was impossible to discriminate, and, in consequence, a great many innocent people suffered. One of the mail-boats (the "Swan") was fired upon by a party of Confederate raiders, on York River, below West Point, the result of which was the burning by the gun-boat "Morse" of twelve houses, in front or behind which the enemy had placed their batteries. The object evidently was to have these houses burned, in order to embitter the inhabitants against the Union troops. The justification given for firing the buildings was that an unarmed mail-boat, which was in the habit of carrying women and children as passengers, had been fired upon by the Confederates. It was rather a severe -punishment to inflict on an unoffending people, because the Confederates would not stay to be captured, and it certainly was not the best method of gaining the confidence of the citizens, whom the Army and Navy claimed to protect. The amenities of war were entirely forgotten on this occasion, and such wantonness could only insure retaliation on the first favorable opportunity. On the morning of June 4th, an expedition of 400 soldiers embarked at Yorktown on board the United States steamers " Com-

THE NAVAL

426

modore Morris" (Lieutenant Commander "Commodore Jones" (Lieutenant-

Gillis),

Commander

Mitchell), the

" Smith Briggs" nissimmet."

army gun-boat

and the transport " Win-

These vessels proceeded to Walkertown, about twenty miles above West Point, on

Here the troops Mattapony River. were landeHand marched to Aylett's, where the

the object of the expedition was successfully accomplished: a large foundry, with all its machinery, grist mills, and a quantity of grain were destroyed, and a number of horses captured. The affair was carried through without any accident, the gun -boats keeping the river open, though several attempts were made by the enemy to annoy them at difThis expedition was fitted ferent points. out (as appears from a general order of General Keyes) with the purpose of "striking an effective blow at the enemy," but the results were only as above stated. These events do not appear very striking on paper, but in a campaign which did not offer a very large scope for military and naval operations, they hold a place worthy of being mentioned, as exhibiting the zeal, bravery and enterprise of the Federal offi-

who showed a determination to annoy and cripple the enemy in every possible way. But still this was not war, in the true sense of the word it was simply raiding when we had quite a respectable force that should have been gaining victories over the enemy, who did not seem unwilling to meet the encounters of the Federal troops, and who held their own positions and checked the advance beyond the upper Nansemond whenever it was attempted. The records of the times, in speaking of the military movements on the Peninsula, have constant accounts of the Federal's getting possession of West Point and then evacuating it, to fall back on Yorktown, which latter place seems to have been kept for a harbor of safety, or a resort from whence the Army could, by aid of the gun- boats, malce a dash, carry off some heads of beef and horses, and return with little or no loss. But at that moment it was the only field of adventure which offered itself to the North Atlantic squadron, and the Navy was glad of the cers,

—

opportunity to share with the Army the dangers (if there were any) of these expeditions.

We are aware that the doings of the North Atlantic squadron afford dry reading, in comparison with the more brilliant achievements enacting elsewhere; but it is a part of the history of the war, in which the Navy bore its part, if not with any important success, yet with patience, zeal and gallantry, under circumstances which were ofttimes more trying than was the case in

tlliiTUKr other squadrons, where a wider field of action was offered. It may seem to the reader that we have

dwelt longer than necessary on what might be considered unimportant events, but the small matters are the links in the chain of history, which, if omitted, would leave the story incomplete. Officers themselves have attached so much importance to some of these events, and have made such minute reports of them, that they possess more intrinsic value than appears upon their face. A good many of the later reports are taken up with accounts of small expeditions in the sounds of North Carolina, the gunboats being evidently constantly employed attacking small bodies of the enemy in narrow and crooked streams, destroying granaries, and detecting Confederate sympathizers. But with all our desire to do justice to the praiseworthy efforts of the officers and men of the North Atlantic squadron, and to mention all those who in any way distinguished themselves or scored a good point on the enemy, we feel obliged to omit many accounts of expeditions which would take up the place of more important matters having a greater bearing on the war. Therefore, we will confine ourselves to such expeditions as accomplished important results. Our pages are limited, and

we

desire to

make them

as bright as pos-

sible.

On the 31st of July, 1863, the steamer "Kate," belonging to the Confederates, while going into Wilmington, was driven on Smith's Island Beach by the gun-boat " Penobscot," But was eventually floated off by the enemy, and towed under the batteries at New Inlet. Early in the morning of the 1st of August, the blockading vessels, "James Adger," "Mount Vernon" and "Iroquois," ap-

proached, and the "Mount Vernon," discovering the condition of the Confederate steamer, reported it to Captain Case, of the "Iroquois." This officer immediately organized an expedition to cut the vessel out from under the guns of Fort Fisher (which had not at that time assumed such formidable proportions as it did later on). The Confederates were at this time towing the " Kate " in towards New Inlet, and Commander Patterson, in the "James Adger," was ordered to assist the " Mount Vernon " in cutting her out, and prevent her reaching the protection of the batteries. At seven o'clock, the "Mount Vernon" opened fire upon the steamer, when her commander ( Acting-Volunteer- Lieutenant James Trathen) received orders from Captain Case to "drag the 'Kate' out." Two boats were called away from the "Mount Vernon" and sent to board the "Kate," while the vessel herself went alongside, and

OF THE CIVIL WAR. sent another party on board at the same time. hawser was made fast to the

A

and she was towed out. The Confederate batteries at New Inlet opened with great vigor, and a masked battery of Whitworth guns on Smith's Island kept up a furious fire. The enemy did not seem to be particular in his aim, as an 80 - pounder Armstrong rifle shot prize,

-

passed through the port-side of the " Kate," and out through the starboard bulwarks, just as the "Mount Vernon " and her boats boarded her. Several shots from heavy Armstrong guns and Whitworth 13-pounders struck the "Mount Vernon." One Whitworth projectile passed through the engine-room, instantly killing Edwin H. Peck, first-class fireman. This shot lodged in the engineer's tool-chest, demolishing the contents. An Armstrong rifle-shot cut away all the shrouds of the port fore-rig-

A A

Whitworth shot cut away the fore-topmast rigging, and another the foregaff. shot from the mound battery carried away the stock of the port-anchor. Many shot passed over the vessel and all around her, and the firing from the enemy's work was lively enough to make the affair very exciting. But the commander of the Mount Vernon " did not abandon his prize he towed her out, and delivered her to the " Iroquois," which vessel took her to Beauging.

'

'

fort. _

This cutting - out was gallantly done, and the parties concerned deserve great Captain Case speaks handsomely credit. of the manner in which Lieutenant Trathen boarded the "Kate" and towed her off shore. It was not only the coolness and bravery with which this affair was conducted, but also the professional skill with which the " Mount Vernon" was managed by her commander that gives it special merit.

There were lively times when a blockaderunner was sighted. Starting a hare with a pack of hounds would not create a greater excitement than when a long, lean, Englishbuilt steamer, with a speed of sixteen knots an hour, suddenly found herself almost in the grip of the blockaders, which, being usually on the alert, would give her a hard chase, if they did not capture her outright. To look at the beautiful lines of one of these small steamers (which often carried cargoes worth half a million) as she skimmed over the water, it would seem impossible that our improvised cruisers could overtake her. These vessels, built in England with all the science known to English ship-builders, were sent fearlessly upon our coast, with a certainty that nothing we had could overtake them. Yet how mistaken the British builders were with regard to Yankee watchfulness and naval pluck

427

Every mail would carry the news to England of their fastest vessels having been though picked up by Federal cruisers they may have made several successful

—

runs ere they came to grief. It is said that if one blockade-runner out of three could make a successful passage, it would more than cover the cost of all. On August 18th, one of these clippers, the "Hebe," attempted to run into Wilmington There were by the New Inlet channel. several blockaders on the alert, and among them the "Niphon" which vessel, being in-shore of the " Hebe," attempted to head her off. But, instead of surrendering when he saw that his vessel was cut off, the commander of the "Hebe" beached her, and escaped in his boats, with his crew and passengers. It was then blowing a gale from the northeast, with a heavy sea on, and the waves broke over the doomed vessel. Lieutenant W. B. Gushing commanded one of the vessels present on this occasion (the "Shokokon"), and from the two vessels a boarding-party was formed which started through the breakers to destroy the " Hebe." There were always companies of Confederate artillery moving up and down the coast to prevent vessels driven on shore from being destroyed by blockaders. The boarding-party had no sooner landed and boarded the steamer, with the intent to fire her, than they were opened upon by Confederate artillery, well posted behind the sand-hills, and these kept up a warm fire, not only on the boarders, but on the two gun-boats, which the latter were unable to return with any certainty, owing to the heavy sea running. The result was that the "Niphon" lost two boats, which were swamped in the breakers, and fifteen persons by capture, four of whom were officers. One ensign (E. H. Dewey) and three men were saved by the boats of the two gun-boats. On this occasion, though there was a good deal of gallantry displayed, there was bad luck for the blockaders, and the enemy succeeded in getting a large part of the damaged cargo on shore. Later in the month the Federal vessels came in for a share of the cargo, and destroyed the steamer, but not until the enemy had shown a strong determination to hold on to all of the "Hebe" that they

—

could.

On the 23d of August, Commander T. H. Patterson, in the "James Adger," was directed to proceed to the " Hebe," and try to destroy her. When within 500 yards of her, he opened fire upon the vessel's hull and upon the enemy's artillery, which was located behind the sand-hills on the beach, about 100 yards from the "Hebe." This

THE NAVAL HISTORY

428

was kept up until the steamer was pretty well cut to pieces. (A boat had been sent in before the firing commenced to see if it were practicable to get the vessel afloat, but it was opened upon by the enfire

a Whitworth gun, hopes of saving her were abandoned.) The enemy also concentrated the fire of their field-pieces on the " James Adger," striking her three times in the hull, one shot passing through the air-jacket of the donkey-engine, and another cutting the rim of the starboard-wheel. Notwithstanding the fire of the enemy, the boats of the blockading vessels brought off some Whitworth guns that had been abandoned; and the "Hebe," being now

emy with musketry and and

all

practically of no use, was left upon the beach to "be broken up by the winds and waves. great deal of ammunition was expended upon this vessel 163 shot and shells from the "James Adger," and 145 from the flag-ship " Minnesota." On the 22d of August, 1803, quite a gallant affair took place, when Lieutenant Gushing cut out and destroyed the block-

A

—

ade-running schooner " Alexander Cooper." On the 12th, Gushing made a reconnaissance, in the boats of the " Shokokon," of " New Topsail Inlet." and was driven off by the fire of four Gonfederate field-pieces stationed near the entrance of the inlet. But before he was driven back he discovered a schooner at anchor at a wharf about six miles up the sound. This schooner he de-

termined to destroy. On the evening of the 22d the " Shokokon " anchored close to the sea - beach, about five miles from the inlet, and sent on shore two boats' crews who shouldered the dinghy, and carried it across the neck of land that divided the sea from the sound (this was half a mile in width, covered with a dense thicket). This crossing placed the landing party some miles in the rear of the artillery force guarding the entrance. The dinghy being launched on the inside waters, six men, under the executive officer, Acting Ensign J. S. Cony, started, with orders to capture or destroy anything that might be of use to the enemy. A 13-pound howitzer was stationed at the point towards which the expedition was bound, and the smoke-stack of the " Shokokon" having been seen over the trees, Captain Adams (the Confederate officer in charge of tlie post) went over to see that a bright look-out was kept. While the Confederates at the schooner's mast-heads were straining their eyes in looking to the southward, the boat was approaching them from another direction, and the Federals succeeded in landing fifty yards from the wharf without being discovered. The master -at arms (Robert Clifford)

—

creeping into the Confederate camp, counted men when, having returned to his shipmates, a charge was ordered, and the seven men bore down upon the enemy with In a moment the Confedthree cheers. erates (who out-numbered our sa,ilors three to one) were routed, leaving in Ensign Cony's hands ten prisoners (including Captain Adams and Lieutenant Latham), one 12-pound howitzer, eighteen horses, one schooner and some extensive salt-works. Mr. Cony then threw out two pickets, detailed two men to guard the prisoners, and, with the remaining two, fired the schooner and salt-works, which were entirely contheir

;

sumed.

The object of the expedition having been accomplished, the men returned to their vessel, taking with them three prisoners, The Confedall that the boat would hold. erate officers and men were all dressed alike, and Mr. Cony could not tell them apart, so he was at a loss to know which to retain. He settled the matter by picking out the three best-looking, who all turned out to be privates This performance almost sounds like romance, but Cushing's officers were all ani!

his spirit, and were always ready to undertake anything, no matter how hazardous. As many risks were run, and as many dangers faced, as fell to Decatur's lot when he cut out the "Philadelphia"

mated with

in Tripoli harbor. The later operations of the North Atlantic squadron, in 1863, were merely attempts to

co-operate with the Army up the shoal rivers within the limits of the command, keeping down the Confederate raiders, and intercepting dispatches between Virginia

and Maryland, in which every light-draft was continually employed. It was not a very brilliant service, but it was a useful one. Without it the Confederates would have seriously harassed the important Army posts, and driven in the smaller ones. They dreaded those frail vessels, with their heavy guns and fearless seamen, and a gun-boat was often worth more to the Army than two or three stout regivessel

ments.

The last act chronicled in the records of the North Atlantic squadron for this year is the destruction of the blockade-runner "Venus." on October 21st. The " Venus " was from Nassau, bound to Wilmington, and, while attempting to run the blockade, was chased by the steamer "Nansemond," Lieutenant Lamson, and overtaken. As the chase did not comply with his orders to heave-to. Lieutenant Lamson opened fire upon her. One shot struck her foremast, another exploded in her ward-room, a third passed through the funnel and killed one man, and a fourth.

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

striking an iron plate near the water line, caused her to leak so badly that it was necessary to run her on shore, where (as it was found impossible to save her) she was set fire to and burned, her boilers blown up, and her machinery destroyed. The " Venus " was a splendid vessel of 1,000 tons burden, and, had she not been destroyed, would have made a useful addition to the gun-boat fleet. During all this time, be it remembered, many vessels of this squadron were engaged in that dreary blockade duty, which, though

439

somewhat wanting in incidents of a desperate character, was continually adding history to the Navy by successful captures of arms and munitions of war, and creating great astonishment abroad at the ability of the Federals to keep up such an effective blockade, contrary to the predictions of able statesmen and experienced admirals. This duty was relieved somewhat of its monotony, as it paid well in prize-money, amply compensated officers and any hardships they had to un-

which

sailors for

dergo

winter storms or

in

NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, JANUARY Acting-Rear-Admiral Samuel

COMMANDER PIERCE CROSBY, FLEET CAPTAIN, JULY, STEAM-FRIGATE " MINNESOTA —FLAG-SHIP.

Commander, N. B. Harrison; Lieutenant-Commander, E. C. Grafton; Lieutenant, Adolphus DexSurgeon, ter; Fleet Surgeon, W. Maxwell Wood ;

John S. Kitchen; Assistant Surgeons, S. J. Jones and E. R. Dodge; Paymaster, C. C. Upham; Chaptr. Salter; Marines: Captain, W. L. Shuttleworth, Second-Lieutenant, C. F.Williams ActingMasters, D. A. Campbell and AVm. Wright; Ensigns, J. H. Porter, R. S. Chew, C. S. Cotton and 8. W. Terry; Acting Ensigns, F. R. Webb and Amos Urown; Master's Mates, Wm. Hunter, C. W. Campbell, W. R. Hunter, James Birtwistle and P. B. Doran; Engineers: Chief, Philip G. Peltz; SecondAssistant, G. W. Sensner; Third-Assistants, Alfred Colin, T. W. Ray, G. W. Thorn, Webster Lane and Guy Samson; Boatswain, Wm. Bunker; Gunner, C. W. Homer; Carpenter, E. Thompson; Sailmaker,

lain, T.

;

T. O. Fassett.

STBAMEB " 0S3IPEE." Captain,

John

P.

Gillis Lieutenant - ComJr.; Lieutenant, John A. ;

mander, Robert Boyd,

Howell; Surgeon, Thomas T. Turner, Paymaster, Edward Foster Acting- Master, C. E. Bunker Acting-Ensigns, H. 8. Lambert and C. W. Adams; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. Knapp, Jr., Charles ;

Putnam, Wm. Wingood, W. W. Gregg and W. W. Black; Engineers: Acting - First - Assistant, J. M.

Adams; Second-Assistants, Jas. Renshaw and John Wilson Third - Assistants, C. S. Maurice, W. W. Vanderbilt and Monroe Murphy Acting - Third Assistants, J. R. Webb and G. W. Kidder Boat;

;

;

swain,

Andrew Milne

;

Acting - Gunner, John. Q.

Adams. STEAMBB "DAOOTAH."

heats.

1863.

P. Lee.

— LIEUTENANT

1863.

FLAG LIEUTENANT, APRIL,

1,

summer

R.

H.

LAMSON,

1863.

B. Newman, J. F. D. Robinson and Wm. H. Hubbs; Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. Bryant, J. J. Everhardt, J. L. Robins and J. B. Cawood. STEAMEB "IBOQUOIS." Commander, A. Ludlow Case; Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. E. Fitzhugh; Lieutenants, H. E. Mullan; Surgeon, Wm. E. Taylor; Assistant Paymaster, John A. Bates Acting-Ensigns, Joseph Avant, Thos. Stothard and J. D. Dexter; ActingMaster's Mates, John Roberts, Horace Dexter, W. F. Halsall and Matthew Crimmen; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, J. W. Storms Acting-SecondAssistants, Warren Ewen and W. J. Howard; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. H. Mathews, W. J. Barrington and H. S. Short; Boatswain, J. H. Downs; Acting-Gunner, J. C. Clapham. STEAMEB "MAEATANZA." Commander, Gustavus H. Scott; Lieutenant-Commander, Chas. S. Norton; Assistant Surgeon, Job

W.

;

;

Corbin; Assistant Paymaster, C. S. Perley; ActingMasters, Chas. Courtney, Jacob Kimball and J. B. Wood, Jr. Acting-Ensigns, J. C. Gibney and Geo. Smith Acting-Master's Mate, Henry Wheeler; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, C. L. Carty; SecondAssistant, Edward Scattergood; Third-Assistants, W. H. Kilpatrick, L. R. Harvey and R. L. Webb. STEAMEB "STATE OF GBOEGIA." ;

;

Commander, James F. Armstrong Acting - Assistant Surgeon, W. W. Myers; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, T. H. Haskell; Acting-Masters, J. 8. Rogers and A. D. Littlefleld Acting - Ensigns, ;

;

David Mason and N. Broughton; Acting-Master's Mates, Isaac Halleck, J. W. Buck and Wm. B. Mix, Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, James Wilkinson; Acting-Second- Assistant, David Pyke; ActingThird- Assistants, J. D. Rodgers, Thomas Nesbit and E. F. Maxfield; Acting-Gunner, Andrew Hannen. STEAMEB " CAMBEIDGE." Commander, Wm. A. Parker; Acting-Master, P. :

Lieutenants, G. C. Captain, Benj. P. Sands Wiltse and S. D. Ames; Surgeon, Delavan Bloodgood; Paymaster, Richard Washington; ActingMasters, Wm. Earle and Wm. Moslander ActingEnsign, Isaac Francis; Acting-Master's Mates, Paul Borner, Charles Trathen, John McMillen and C. H. Chase; Engineers: Chief, Wm. W. Dungan; Acting-First-Assistant, Wm. H. Dobbs; Acting-SecondAssistants, G. R. Bennett, Wm. Best and Charles Cranston; Acting-Third- Assistants, J. H.Perry and G. W. Wilkinson; Acting-Gunner, Geo. Edmond. STOBE-SHIP " BEANDYWINE." Commander, Benj. J. Totten; Acting-Lieutenant, S. J. Shipley; Paymasters, C. J. Emery and Thos. H. Looker; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. J. Sow;

;

W. Strong

Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Ezra Pray; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. C. Canning; Acting-Ensigns, E. A. Small, S. H. Meade, Jr., and D. W. (rlenny; Acting-Master's Mates, W. T. Dungin, H. B. Niekerson and G. K. Knowiton; Engineers: Aoting-First-Assistant, Geo. B. Orswell ActingSecond-Assistant, J. F. Powers; Acting-Third -Assistants, H. F. Hayden and John Whitaker; ActingGunner, Wm. Fisk; Carpenter, Theo. D. Wilson. ;

;

STEAMEB "MAHASKA."

THE NAVAL HISTORY

430

N. H. Farquhar and E. C. V. Blake; Assistant SurActing-Assistant Surgeon, geon, John C. Spear Chas. Fairchild; Acting Master, Benj. Dyer; ActingEnsigns, N. W. Black and Frederick Elliott; ActingMaster's Mates, G. E French and F. M. Drake; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, Geo. E. Ashby; Third-Assistants, Elisha Harsen, Thomas La Blanc,

ant Paymaster, W. H. Anderson; Acting-Master, H. A. Phelon; Acting-Ensign, Wm. P. Burke Acting-Master's Mates, George B. Howard and Daniel Laken; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, G. W. Richards; Acting - Third - Assistants, J. L. Bowers

Stevens and E. L. Hewitt. STBAMEE "HETZEL." Commander, H. K. Davenport; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, N. L. Campbell; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. W. Morton; Acting -Masters, G. B. Thompson and G. W. Caswell; Acting-Master's Mates, Benj. Walker and John Rudrow; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, J. B. Dick; Third-Assistants, J. H. Padgett, T. B. Cole and Eli Tempeny. SLOOP-Or-WAE ' TANDAMA." Surgeon, A. C. Lieutenant, M. B. Woolsey Gorgas; Paymaster, Rufus Parks; First-Lieutenant Acting-Masters, E. M. King, of Marines, C. H. Nye; C. Folsom and A. Washburn; Acting- Ensign, F. H. Bacon; Acting-Master's Mate, Richard Burk; Boatswain, P. J. Miller; Gunner, Wm. Cheney; Sailmaker, Wm. Rogers. STEAMER "MTSTIO." Lieutenant-Commander, H. N. T. Arnold; ActingAssistant Surgeon, Wm. F. Brown; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, T. E. Smith; Acting-Masters, S. B. Meader and R. F. Coffin; Acting-Ensign, A. F. Hamblin; Acting-Master's Mate, J. M. C. Reville Engineers Acting-Second- Assistants, J. B. Lovell and J. B. A. Allen; Acting-Third- Assistants, H. F.

Lieutenant - Commander, Wm. P. McCann; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, George B. Mann; ActingAssistant Paymaster, Henry Gushing; Acting-Master, Richard Pasquell; Acting- Master's Mates, W. L. Weaver, C. H. Weaver, R. P. Boss, John Maddock and T. C. Barton; Engineers: Acting-SecondAssistant, Henry Armstrong; Acting Third-Assistants, John Wall, James Dodd and Bryce Wilson.

;

J. C.

;

;

:

W. Shank and Isaac Buck. IKONCIAD STEAMER "GALENA."

Loveaire, George

Lieutenant-Commander, Leonard Paulding; Acting-Lieutenant, James Parker; Assistant Surgeon, R. E. Van Gieson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Sellman; Acting - Masters, I. D. Seyburn and Edmund Kemble; Acting-Master's Mates, Andrew McCleary, J. H. Jenks and E. A. Galindo; Engineei's: Acting-First-Assistant, J. G.Young; ActingSecond-Assistants, B. F. Beckett and A. S. Chipman; Acting-Third-Assistants, Thomas MillhoUand,

Wm.

Deaver and C. W. Kenyon; Boatswain, J. H. Polly; Gunner, William Hardison. STEAMER 'PENOBSCOT." Lieutenant-Commander, .J. E. de Haven; Assistant Surgeon, Edw. A. Pierson; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Addison Poole; Acting-Master, Charles E. Jack; Acting-Ensigns, S. K. Luce and H. D. Edwards; Acting-Master's Mate, G. H. Smith; Engineers: Acting-Seeond-Assistant, Geo. W. Cobb; Acting-Third-Assistants, M. Rodes, C. Burrett and G. W. Hall. STEAMER " CHOOTJEA."

Wm.

Wm.

Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. T. Truxton; Lieutenant, John McFarland; Assistant Surgeon, Chas. Carter; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, E. L. Turner; Acting Masters, P. S. Borden and T. B. Sears; Acting-Master's Mates, D M. Carver, Wm. Leonard and A. P. Atwood; Engineers: Second - Assistant, Zeph. Talbot; Third - Assistants, Andrew Blythe, Theodore Cooper and Wm. H. Harrison. STEAMER "MONTICEIiliO."

Lieutenant-Commander, D.

L. Braine; Acting- AsGale; Acting- Assistant PayActing-Masters, J. F. master, G. de F. Barton Winchester, L. A. Brown and Richard Hustace. Acting-Ensign, A. G. Stebbins Acting - Master's Mates, Henry Baker and T. J. Gildersleeve; Engineers: Acting Second-Assistants, John Pick and W.

sistant Surgeon,

Wm.

;

;

S.

Montgomery; Acting-Third- Assistants, Thomas

McGough and

A. L. Koories.

STEAMER " COMMODORE PEREY." Lieutenant-Commander, Charles AV. Flusser, Aetinc-Assistant Surgeon, Geo.

W.

Gale; Acting-Assist-

;

and F. A. Whitfield. STBAMEE "HtTNCHBACK."

STEAMEE "COMMODORE MORRIS." Lieutenant- Commander, James H. Gillis; ActingAssistant Surgeon, M. H. Henry; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. G. Hutchinson; Acting Master, A. A. Lewis; Acting-Ensigns, P. B. Low and H. M. Pierce; Acting- Master's Mates, R. C. J. Pendleton, W. H. Otis and C. E. Blanchard; Engineers: Acting-SecondAssistant, Volney Cronk; Acting-Third-Assistants, B. F. Harris, Heiiry Harbinson and H. J. Watkins.

STEAMER "COMMODORE BAENET." Lieutenant -Commander, J. C. Chaplin; ActingAssistant Surgeon, James Kinnier; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Benj. Page; Acting - Ensigns, Wm. Betts, Cornelius Washburn and B. P. Trask Acting-Master's Mates, David Fader and John Aspinwall, Jr. Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistant, Thos. Pemblett; Acting - Third - Assistants, L. M. Kensil and Hiram Warner. STEAMER "MOESB." Lieutenant-Commander, Chas. A. Babcock; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. F. Winslow Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Henry Russell; Acting-Ensigns, C. F. Russell and J. F. Merry; Acting-Master's ;

;

;

Mates, C. E. Rich, J. W. Thompson and Wm. Dunne; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Thos. Devine; Acting Third - Assistants, Geo. West and -

Tim. Flanders.

STEAMER "VICTOEIA." Acting - Volunteer-Lieutenant, Edward Hooker; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, John G. Parke; ActingAssistant Paymaster, H. S. Bradford; Acting-Master, Alfred Everson; Acting-Ensign, Wm. H. Meyer; Acting-Master's Mates, B. W. Tucker and Wm. Moodey; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, T. D. Webster; Acting - Third - Assistants, J. M. Berron, John Haversfield and J. E. Robinson. STEAMEE "TJNDEEWEITEB." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. Flye; ActingAssistant Surgeon, L. R. Boyce; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Brown; Acting-Masters Mates, W. K. Engell, W. B. Griffith and Daniel Ward; Engineers: Acting-Third- Assistants, John Morse, S. B. Ellis and H. R. Steever. MEE "COLUMBIA." Ac ting-Volunteer-Lieu tenant, Jas. P. Couthouy; Acting-Masters, J. W. Balah and E. A. Howell; Acting-Ensigns, J. S. Williams and E. T. Manter; Acting-Master's Mates, E. Morse, E. L. Bourne andE. M. Clarke; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Passmore Treadwell; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, T. Q. Hill; Engineers Acting - First - Assistant, G. M. Bennett Second-Assistant, W. W. Shipman; Acting-Second:

Assistant, Samuel ants, J. H. Pelton

Lemmon; Acting-Third- Assist-

and W. H. Crawford. STEAMEE "MIAMI." Acting-Lieutenant, Robei-t Townsend; Assistant Surgeon, Wm. B. Mann; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Frank W. Haokett; Acting-Masters. W. N. Welles, Milford Rogers and John' Lear; ActingEnsign, R. W. Rountree; Acting Master's Mate, John Quevedo; Eiiffinpers- Ant.irio-- Spr-nnrl - AsKifit-

OF THE ant, L.

W. Simonds;

Davis, H. D. Heiser,

CIVIL WAR.

Acting-Third-Assistants, C. C. W. A. Windsor and J. W. Sav-

ille.

STEAMEB " DELAWARE. Aeting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Amos P. Foster; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Lorenzo Traver; ActingAssistant- Paymaster, G. T. Benedict; Acting-Master, H. H. Poster; Acting- Ensign, J. H. Kerens; Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Sprigman and Wm. Thompson Engineers Acting Second - Assistant, J. D. Williamson; Acting-Third-Assistants, T. J. Brown, James Mellon and R. O. Dennett. :

;

431

STEAMER "PHILADELPHIA. Acting-Master, Silas Reynolds; Engineers: ActingSecond -Assistant, C. A. Norris; Acting -Third -Assistants,

W. H. Capin and Robert Mulready. STEAMEB "STEPPING STONES.'

Acting-Master, T. A. Harris; Acting-Master's Mate, G. M. Lawrence: Engineers: Aeting-Second-Assistant, James A. Brown; Acting-Third- Assistant, Edw. Aspald. SHIP "SOMAN." Acting-Master, Francis P. Allen.

STBAMBK "VALLEY OITT."

STEAMER "DAYLIGHT."

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Hartman K. Purniss; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, P. B. Martinsdale; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. T. Whitmore; Acting-Master, J. A. J. Brooks; Acting-Master's Mates, John Cullaton and Thos. Langton; Acting-ThirdAssistant - Engineers, B. Hilderbrand and Joseph Peddle.

Acting-Masters, Joshua D. Warren and J. H. Gleason Acting-Assistant Surgeon, P. M. Dearborne; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. M. Rogers; ActingEnsigns, Wm. H. Brice. J. W. Willard and W. H. Penfleld; Acting-Master's Mates, A. E. Barrett and Charles Attmore; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, C. D. Kiersted: Acting Third-Assistants, C. O. Morgan and J. M. Battin.

STEAMEB "SOUTHFIELD." Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, C. P. W. Behm; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Holmes; ActingAssistant Paymaster, W. Goldsborough; Acting-Masters, Kichard Vevers, W. P. Pratt and W. Gr. Nutting; Acting-Ensign, Thos. B. Stokes; Acting-Master's Mates, C. A. Stewart, Gr. W. Pratt and John Woodman; Acting-Third-Assistant Engineers, Walter Bradley, H. M. Tuell and J. B. Perrand. STEAMER "MOUNT VEBNON." Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, James Tathern; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, S. B. Hoppin; ActingAssistant Paymaster, H. Y. Glisson; Acting-Masters, E. W. White and W. T. Buck; Acting-Ensign, P. M. Page; Acting-Master's Mates, Lloyd Rogers, Ernest Hodderand G. 0. Kellogg; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Jos. McKnight; Acting - Third - Assistants, J. H. Horsford, Wm. Emmons and Esubius Minne. STEAMER "CBBES." Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, John Macdearmid Acting-Master's Mates, M. Tallmadge Ryan and H. A. Hudson; Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistant, Hugh Raflferty; Third- Assistant, John S. Harper. SCHOONER "SAMUEL ROT AN." Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, W. W. Kennison; Acting-Master's Mates, Thos. Moore, C. H. Packer and D. M. Gaskins. STEAMER "JOHN L. LOOKWOOD." Acting-Master, G. W. Graves; Acting-Master's Mates, A. H. Hicks and Edw. Austin; Engineers: Acting-Seoond-Assistants, J. T.

Newton and W. W.

Whiting; Acting-Third- Assistant, J. T. Miller. STEAMER "GENERAL PUTNAM." Acting-Master, Wm. J. Hotchkiss; Acting-Ensign, Jennings: Acting-Master's Mates, H. C. Hawkins, A. P. Kirkham and C. A. Jones; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistants, James Osburn and R. A.

Wm.

Copeland; Acting - Third - Assistants, John Henry

and W.

P. Higgins.

STEAMEB "HENEY BBINKER." Acting-Master, James H. Hardesty; Acting-Ensign, H. S. Livermore; Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. B. Miles; Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistant, J. W. Kelsey; Acting - Third - Assistants, Robert Ross and W. H. Tate. STEAMEB "YOUNG ROVER." Acting-Masters, Ira B. Studley and T. W. Dodge; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Rob't Cowie; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Geo. W. Stone; Acting-Ensigns, D. S. Thompson, J. A. Edgren and E. M. Ryder; Acting -Master's Mates, W. P. Gragg and Joshua Simmons Engineers Acting - Second - Assistant, James Patterson; Acting-Third-Assistant, Samuel ;

McAvov.

:

;

STEAMER "SEYMOUR." Acting-Master, Francis S Wells; Acting-Ensign, Chas. Ringot; Acting-Master's Mate, Edwin Smith; Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistant, Newton Bggleston; Acting - Third - Assistants, J. A. Whittaker and Philip Hublitz.

STEAMER "WYANDOTTE." Acting-Master, Thomas Wright; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, James Pennoyer; Assistant-Paymaster, Alex. McC. Bishop; Acting-Ensigns, S. A. Hodge, Ben,i. Wood and Wm. Henry; Acting-Master's Mates, M. E. Wandell and Wm. Chandler; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Cornelius Carr; Acting-ThirdAssistants, G. R. Dunkley, Wm. Veitch and John

Heaney.

STEAMER

"

COMMODORE HULL."

Acting-Masters, Wm. G. Saltonstall and Francis Josselyn; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, C. P. P. Hildreth; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Jonathan Chapman; Acting-Ensigns, J. O. Johnson and J. B. da Camera; Acting - Master's Mates, E. P. Bowen, J. H. Wilkinson and A. P. Haradon; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, B. P. Bell; Acting- ThirdAssistants, D. R. Wylee, M. O. Stimson and Wm.

Lannan.

STEAMEB " CBUSADEE " Acting-Master, Thomas Andrews; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, B. A. Arnold; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, T. McC. Brower; Acting-Ensigns, G. W. Nelson, T. W. Sheer and T. S. Smythe; Acting-Master's Mates, Albert Buhner, Henry Parsons and E. D. Edmunds; Engineers: Acting Second -Assistant, P. O. Brightman; Acting-Third-Assistants, S. T. Strude and W. T. Waterman. SLOOP "GBANITE." Acting-Master, E. Boomer.

SCHOONER "WM. BAOON." Acting-Master, Wm. P. Rogers; Acting-Master's Mates, C. D. Thompson, H. E. Ripley and Daniel McLaughlin. SHIP " CHARLES PHELPS." Acting-Master, Wm. F. North. SHIP "BEN. MORGAN." Acting-Master, Wm. Shankland.

STEAMEB "ZOUAVE

"

Pilot, John A. Phillips; Acting-Master's Mate, P. B. Doran; Acting-Third-Assistant Engineer, H. N.

Ames.

TUG "COHASSET."

Thomas Eveans;

Acting-Master's Blate, J. P. Doggett; Engineers: Acting -Second -Assistant, Sydney Smith Acting - Third - Assistant, Charles Pilot,

;

Robinson.

CHAPTER XXXVl Rear- Admiral Dahlgren succeeds Rear- Admiral DuPont.—Dahlgrens Difficult Task.— General Gillmore requests Naval Co-operation.— Charleston Harbor.— Plan of General Gillmore.— Attack on Enemy's Works by Army and JSf avy.— Capture op Confederate Works on South End of Morris Island.— Assault on Fort Wagner.— Gillmore Repulsed.— Second Attack on Fort Sumter.— Capture of Enemy's Defences.— The Catskill Severely Handled. —Another combined Attack on Fort Wagner.—The Fort Silenced.— Army badly Repulsed in an Assault. Active Operations Suspended.— Bravery of Troops under General Strong and Colonel Putnam.— Dreadful Hand-to-hand Conflict.— Earth -works Erected by Gillmore.— The "Swamp Angel."— Gun-boats Engage Batteries in Stono River. —The "Commodore McDonough" Silences Confederate Artillery near Secessionville.— Lieutenant Robeson Plants the Flag on Morris Island.— Landing of Troops at Folly and James Islands.— Attack on Forts Sumter and Wagner.— Results of Bombardment.— Gillmore Demands Surrender of "Sumter."— Letter of Beauregard.— Gillmore's Reply.— Death of Commander George W. Rodgers.— Great efforts made to reduce Wagner, Sumter and Gregg.— Effect of the Fire on Charleston.— The Monitors again Open Fire on Forts Sumter and Moultrie.— Engineering Work.— Dahlgren and Gillmore differ.— Forts Wagner and Battery Gregg Evacuated.— The " Weehawken" Grounded.— Disastrous Naval Assault on Sumter. —Great Gallantry Displayed by Boat-Crews.— Ensign Wallace's Report.— Torpedo-boat.— Attempts to destroy '-New Ironsides."— Praise of Dahlgren and Officers.— The Monitors and "New Ironsides" Contrasted.

— Boynton's Criticisms, etc.

DAHLGREN sucREAR-ADMIRAL ceeded Rear- Admiral DuPont, at Port Royal, on July 4th, 1863, the having been relieved at his own request, owing to a difference of opinion between himself and the Secretary of the Navy in regard to the operations before Charleston and the attempt to take the Confederate works with the Monilatter

tors.

Dahlgren had a

difficult task before him. he had relieved an officer who maintained as high a prestige as any in the Navy, at home and abroad, for skill and bravery. The attack upon and capture of Port Royal had given DuPont a foreign reputation in addition to that he bore at

In the

first place,

home, and

European

of distinguished merit did not hesitate to say that the battle of Port Royal was one of the best exhibitions of naval tactical skill that had been seen for years. Compare it, even now. officers

with the late English attack in Egypt, with their heavy iron-clads and monstrous guns, and note the rapidity with which DuPont's squadron captured the works at Hilton Head, etc., in comparison with the longdrawn-out battle at Alexandria against forts only a trifle superior to those at Port Royal, and the palm will be given to the American squadron as an exhibition of skill. That affair did a great deal to impress foreign Governments with the power of our guns, and the indomitable energy of our officers and seamen; and though Great Britain, about that time, or shortly after, did threaten us in a manner that was anything but agreeable to the American people, yet that Government would have entered upon the fulfillment of their threats with misgivings the growth of former disappointments in the War of 1813. Aside from his recently acquired renown, there was no officer in the United States Navy better

—

(«;)

THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. !known abroad than Rear- Admiral DuPont. Many years of his life had been passed in the Mediterranean Squadron, where he traveled and made many European friends. He had commanded one of our best squadrons in China and Japan, and his bland manners, high standing as an officer, general knowledge on all subjects, in and out of his profession, made him an authority to

whom foreign

officers deferred. He was as well posted in all naval matters as any officer at home or abroad, and his opinions, which did not in 1863 run in accord with those of the Navy Department, were adopted by his friends and acquaintances in every quarter. DuPont had said that the forts in Charleston harbor could not be taken by the force with

which he had

at-

tacked them, and his opinion was accepted as that of

the

Dahlgren had no sooner taken command than he received a letter from BrigadierGeneral Gillmore, informing him that he (Gillmore) was about to commence military operations against Morris Island, and looked for naval co-operation. This should have been the first step taken at Charleston on the arrival of the Monitors, and the operations carried on should have been by an able and hearty co-operation of the Army and Navy, with welldigested plans drawn up, and an exact knowledge of the difficulties to be encountered and overcome. The capture of Charleston necessitated a somewhat long and patient siege by naval and military forces, as was the case during the war with places superior in strength to Charleston. In such cases,

the Confederates

had

an expert who had tried the matter to isatisfy

433

to succumb, to the great-

owing

er resources of the

Navy

Federal

Govern-

Department, and had failed, and who

ment; for the wellknown advantage

considered that to

besiegers in force have over a beleaguered place is that the latter must eventually fall under the accumulated power that is

attempt it again, under the same circumstances, with the same force, would only entail

a loss of men and material, if not a loss of naval prestige. The victory at Port Royal had settled the question of the future usefulness of Charleston and Savannah to the Confeder-

concentrated against

it.

Rear-Admiral

Dahlgren

must have congratulated himself

when he

saw that the Army was at once coming to his aid, and that he would not be

/

ates, for it offered

obliged to repeat the means, if we the attack made by had properly used DuPont upon the them, of sealing up EEAE-ADMIEAL JOHN A, DAHLGEEN. uninjured forts in those two harbors Charleston harbor, with the same Monitors as effectually as if we had actual possession that had failed so badly, and left one of of them, which we now know fully. The capture of Port Royal included in its direct their number resting on the bottom. Dahlgren was not an engineer, but he consequences all that was essential to the occupation of adjacent places -as far as must have known that the method about to be pursued by General Gillmore was the their value to the Confederate cause was concerned, they could be rendered useless if only feasible way of getting possession of Charleston, and he at once assured the Genthe proper steps were taken, without leading to a loss of vessels and men, a sacrifice eral that he was ready to assist him with all not at all called for by the circumstances his resources, if required. In making this announcement to the Navy Department, of the case. Rear - Admiral Dahlgren remarks "Of Therefore, when Rear- Admiral Dahlgren entered upon his command, it must have course, the most that is expected from the been with the consciousness that he had a action of these vessels is to relieve the troops as much as possible, and is to be diffi.cult task before him, and that he could considered of no other consequence." Thus, scarcely hope to succeed with the force that

—

:

V,r.^ V, r\i~iin

^ r\ iTn mn i^v*rk-\ fnlltr tr-iorl Vnr

nnPnr>+.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

434

DuPont;

of Battery Gregg, Moultrie and at long range, with the Monitors presenting their bows to the enemy (the least vulnerable point, and the most diflBcult for gunners to strike).

somewhat resembling Manhattan Island; Cooper River, on the east, may be compared

This was the only way Charleston could be taken. Why was not this course pursued in the first instance ? The question is easily answered. The Navy Department was so fully impressed with the power of the Monitors (those before Charleston being great improvements in strength over the original) that they had urged upon DuPont the necessity of making a grand stroke at the This first trial of these formidable vessels. was more for the purpose of making a great impression upon the French and English

Navy Department much from the Monitors the

not to expect as as was required of

as, with others, he had made up his mind that operations against tlie whole circle of forts should not be undertaken with a force that had proved itself totally inadequate on a former occasion. Charleston harbor, in its general configuration, may be likened to that of New York, the city being on a neck of land

Ashley River, on the west, resembles the Hudson. Morris and Sullivan Islands may pass for the defensive points at the Narrows, though the channel between them is much wider; and Sumter, Moulthe interior fortifications Cumming's Point, Battery Gregg, trie, Fort Johnson, etc. were all within the An lines of Morris and Sullivan Islands. attack on Fort Wagner could be made by a naval force without bringing the ships composing it within range of the heavy batteries which successfully resisted the attack of the Monitors on the first occasion. The plan of General Gillmore was to dispossess the enemy of Morris Island by opening batteries placed on the north end to the East River; while the

—

—

of Folly Island, to command those of the Island, and by occupying

enemy on Morris

the sandy eminences that form the southern portion of that island for a mile south of Light-house Inlet. It would require an accurate map of the harbor and forts to give one a good idea of the enemy's defences. hostile force approaching from the sea, with the intention of attacking the Charleston batteries, would be obliged to pass between Sullivan's Island on the north and Morris Island on the south, both of which had heavy batteries, including Moultrie and Wagner; while above Moultrie, and forming a triangle with it and Battery Gregg, stands Sumter. These works and the accessories within this line of defence remained pretty much the same after Dahlgren's accession as they were on the day

A

DuPont attacked them. " The circle of fire," and the plan

of meetminutely described in the circular issued by the Confed-

ing an advancing enemy,

is

erate Brigadier-General to all the officers in command of the forts, a copy of which will be found in the chapter entitled, "First At-

tack on Sumter." A squadron, making an attack on the Morris Island works (Fort Wagner), would be two and one-quarter miles from Fort Moultrie, two miles from Sumter, one mile from Battery Gregg, and half a mile from Wagner; therefore, a squadron of Monitors would not be subjected, as they were in DuPont's battle, to a cross-fire from five or six heavy batteries, but would be open only to

the

fire

Wagner

Governments, which were,

it is said, at that a favorable excuse to recognize the independence of the Southern States. At the same time, the Secretary of the Navy would have considered it a great triumph to have the Navy conquer this nest of secession; and though he did not demand success, he felt so assured of it that his expressed wishes amounted to almost an

moment watching for

order.

Seeing the ill-success of the

first attack,

and having been somewhat surprised at Rear-Admiral DuPonfs hint that he was willing the Department should send some one to undertake the capture of Charleston in

whom

fidence,

it

the Secretary had more conwas determined not to hamper

Rear-Admiral

Dahlgren with specific inhim and the military work out the problem after

structions, but allow

engineers to their own plans.

At the same time, tice to the

it

must be

said, in jus-

Navy Department,

that Secretary Welles represented to the War Department that "a second attack was preparing against the forts in Charleston harbor, and that its success required the military occupation of Morris Island, and the establishment of land batteries on that island, to assist in the reduction of Sumter," and, as this was a task requiring engineering skill of the highest

Brigadier-General Q. A. Gillmore to the command of the Department. General Gillmore commenced his advance upon Charleston by the movement of troops to Folly Island on July 3d, 1863, where they remained concealed as much as possible, and erected batteries to command those of the enemy on the south end of Morris ability,

was assigned

Island.

With the foregoing explanations, we will proceed to relate what followed, namely, the attack on the enemy's works by the

Army and Navy.

At 4 A. M. of July 10th, 1863, four ironclads—the " Catskill," Commander George

OF THE W.

Rodgers, "Montauk,"

CIVIL

Commander Don-

McN. Fairfax, "Nahant," Commander John Downes, and the " Weehawken," Commander E. R. Colhoun, passed over the ald

flag of Rear- Admiral Dahlgren flying on the "Catskill." One hour later, bar, the

General Gillmore made an attack on the Confederate fortified positions on the south end of Morris Island, and after an engagement of three hours and a quarter he had captured all the enemy's works upon that part of the island, and pushed forward his infantry to within six hundred yards of at 5 A. M.,

Fort Wagner. As the fleet of Monitors passed the bar, General Gillmore commenced the attack with his batteries, and as soon as the Monitors could get sufficiently near to fire with effect, they opened with shell upon the Confederate works, which were replying to

WAR.

435

beach, the iron-clads steamed parallel to the low, flat ground that extended northward from the sand-hills toward Fort Wagner, and as near to it as the depth of the water

would allow, sending shells in every direction over its surface to clear away any bodies of troops that might be gathered there. Gillmore's troops pushed on, and, as they reached Fort Wagner, two or three buildings standing apart from each other were seen to be in flames, supposed to be the work of the enemy to unmask the guns of Fort Wagner bearing down the beach.

The

iron-clads

at

this

time were laid

abreast of Fort Wagner. This was an open sand-work about two and three-quarter miles from the southern end of Morris Island, and lying about one and three-quarter miles north of the sand-hills, and commanding the intervening level.

FOKT WAGNEE DDEING THE BOMBARDMENT.

General Gillmore's guns, and dispersed the enemy wherever they were seen to assemble.

At 8 o'clock, being nearly abreast the northern end of the ridge of sand-hills, Gillmore's batteries ceased firing, and his troops were seen from the Monitors making their way upon Morris Island. The assaulting column, led by Brigadier-General Strong, had passed the waterway between Folly and Morris Islands in small boats, under cover of his batteries. He then held all the island, except a mile on the north end, including Fort Wagner and the battery on Cumming's Point, which, as near as could be judged, contained fourteen or fifteen heavy guns. Rear- Admiral Dahlgren speaks of an assaulting party of troops that were landed on Morris Island by Lieutenant McKenzie, but General Gillmore leads one to infer that these were landed in small army-boats. As the troops moved rapidly along the

was 9 o'clock before the first shot was from the Monitors at Wagner, the Rear- Admiral desiring to get close enough It

fired

grape shot, but the state of the tide his vessels to approach nearer than twelve hundred yards. The fire from the Monitors was promptly met, and was kept up vigorously until noon, when the vessels dropped down out of range to ento use

would not permit

able their men to get dinner, after which the previous position was re-occupied, and the attack continued until 6 p. m. Then the signal was made to "cease action," for the men had been at work for fourteen hours, and the weather was excessively hot. The four iron-clads fired during this action five hundred and thirty-four shell and shrapnel, making excellent practice, while the vessels themselves proved their endurance. The flagship "Catskill" was struck sixty times, a large percentage of the hits

being very severe.

The

pilot-house, turret,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

436

side-armor and decks were all more or less damaged. Some of the projectiles were One, found on deck, where it fell large. after striking the turret, proved to be of 10inch calibre. "When these heavy shot struck the turret the concussion was very great.

was broken ennut from one of the bolts being driven against the lining so as to break The deck-plates were cut through it also. in so many places as to make the entrance Though the test of water troublesome. was a severe one, the " Catskill," after firing one hundred and twenty-eight rounds, came out of action in good working order, as was proved by her renewal of the fight on the following day. Naturally, the enemy made a mark of the '• Catskill," that vessel The carrying the Rear-Admiral's flag. The iron

of the pilot-house

tirely through, a

"Nahant" was onlj^ struck six times, the "Montauk" twice, while the "Weehawken

"

escaped altogether. On the following morning, July 11th, Rear-Admiral Dahlgren received a note from General Gillmore statingthat he " had made an assault on Fort Wagner at early daylight, and had been repulsed." At the same time he stated that he learned the enemy were about to throw reinforcements into Wagner, and asked for some action to prevent it. The four Monitors were again moved into position near Fort Wagner, and scoured the ground in the direction from which the expected reinforcements would approach. So far the acquisitions of the combined forces had not been of a very important nature still, a foothold was gained on Morris Island, and the officers in command felt satisfied that it would eventually lead to the possession of Sumter. When General Gillmore made his attempt to carry Wagner, the parapets were gained, but the supports recoiled under the fire to which they were exposed, and could not be got forward. The loss of the army was about one hundred and fifty in killed, wounded and prisoners. In the morning they captured in the defences of the enemy eleven pieces of heavy ordnance and a large quantity of camp equipage. ;

Rear-Admiral Dahlgren issued his

first

general order, thanking the commanders, officers and crews of the Monitors, and the members of his personal staff: Fleet-Captain William Rogers Taylor, Flag-Lieutenant S. W. Preston, and Ensign La Rue P. Adams, for the zealous and efficient manner in which they had performed their duties during the attacks of the 10th and 11th of July; also the ordnance officer, Lieutenant-Commander 0. C. Badger, for the systematic promptness with which he had supplied the iron-clads with all requisite ord-

nance

stores.

This battle was a strong endorsement of Rear-Admiral DuPont's opinion regarding another attack on the enemy's works. Within the " circle of fire " were seventy-five guns, that being about the number the Confederates stated were used in DuPont's attack. On the 10th of July four Monitors were brought up with their guns bearing on only fourteen of this number; yet, after fourteen hours of severe firing, the works not only remained " practically uninjured," but a heavy assaultmg party were driven off, and the "Catskill" was struck sixty times by the shot from Fort Wagner. The whole fire of the fort, however, was evidently concentrated on this vessel, the enemy having soon learned that this was the

only

way

to disable the fleet.

The report of Commander G. W. Rodgers goes to show that the " Catskill " was very severely handled, the chief injury being inby the 10-inch smooth-bores of the enemy, their rifle-shot glancing. It can readily be imagined, if the fourteen guns of Wagner did so much damage, how the seventy-five guns of Sumter and adjacent works would have cut up DuPont's small squadron after fourteen hours of Under the circumstances, they cross-fire flicted

!

would have been literally knocked to pieces. At this day DuPont's opinion on these matters have been endorsed by a large majority of the officers of the Navy; and, as the siege is related, it will be seen that he followed the path of wisdom in declining

of Charleston to

risk the loss of his vessels

and

their

crews without adequate compensation. On the 18th of July another combined

at-

tack of the Army and Navy was made on Fort Wagner. After the failure of the assault by the troops. General Gillmore proceeded to bring his heaviest guns into position to play upon the besieged earth-work, as well as to throw his shot and shell into such of the enemy's works as he could reach, and, if possible, to throw shells into Charleston itself. The plan of the contest now consisted in pushing the siege-works

up as close as possible to Wagner, and to annoy the enemy as much as possible with sharp-shooters and bursting shells, which plan the latter were not slow to follow. On the 18th of July, General Gillmore had succeeded in getting into position, to bear on tlie opposing works, twelve heavy guns and eight mortars, within eight hundred j'ards of Wagner; and when his arrangements were all completed he notified RearAdmiral Dahlgren that he was ready to open fire. The naval commander was not averse to

an engagement, and at 11:30 a. m. of the above date led up to Fort Wagner with his flag flying on the "Montauk," followed by the "New Ironsides'" which had crossed the

—

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

bar—the " Catskill," "Nantucket," "Weehawken," "and "Patapsco." Upon arrival abreast of the fort, the " Montauk " was anchored and fired the first gun, whicli was immediately followed by the other vessels a nearer approach than twelve hundred yards, however, being prevented by an ebbMeanwhile, the gun-boats " Paul tide. Jones," Commander A..C. Rhind, " Ottawa," Lieutenant - Commander W. D. Whiting, "Seneca," Lieutenant - Commander William Gibson, '• Chippewa, "Lieutenant-Commander T. C. Harris, and "Wissahickon," Lieutenant-Commander John L. Davis (all under charge of Commander Rhind), were detailed to use their great guns at long range, which they did with good effect at the same time the batteries were delivering a very steady and deliberate fire. At 4 p. M. the tide changed to flood, and

—

;

the iron-clads got underway and closed in with the fort to a distance of three hundred yards, when the vessels opened fire again. Wagner was speedily silenced, and did not fire another shot or shell at the vessels during the day; neither was there a man of the enemy's force to be seen on or about the works. No troops in open earth- works could stand the terrible cross-fire on Fort Wagner from the vessels and General Gillmore's batteries, and the Confederates all went to cover, biding their time when the assault should come. This they knew was pretty sure to follow the bombardment.

The iron-clads continued their fire until became too dark to distinguish friend from foe, when they ceased from necesit

sity.

Very soon after, the rattle of musketry and the flashes of light artillery announced that the Federal troops were mounting the parapets of Fort Wagner. This continued without intermission until 9:30 died

away

altogether.

p. m.,

then

and finally ceased The Army had been badly re-

gradually,

pulsed a second time.

One gun in Wagner was known to have been dismounted, and another had burst, and General Gillmore, supposing from the terrible fire which had been poured upon the fort that the Confederates must be very much demoralized, determined upon a second assault without having men enough to overcome so powerful a work and its numerous and hardy defenders. It may be desirable, perhaps, to know what kind of a work this was that endured such a tremendous cross-fire from thirty-seven heavy guns on shore and afloat. It was seldom that an earth-work so situated could stand the fire of naval vessels, much less a combined attack. All that part of Morris Island not taken

by General Gillmore was well

fortified;

it

437

were the outposts of Fort Wagner. This work, though not mounting many guns, was built with remarkable care and skill; it was in shape partly a lunette, with one end fortified with guns looking down the beach, the other end commanding the upper beach. The whole work was constructed of immense timbers, forming bomb-proofs, and these were covered with sand-bags to a thickness of over twenty feet. Its air-line distance from Sumter was one and three-quarter miles, and from Battery Gregg less than one mile, and by these two works it might be said to be covered. It was very plain to a mere tyro in engineering that Wagner was the key to the destruction of Sumter and the acquisition of the enemy's works on Sullivan's Island. A new era had dawned in engineering, and the clever enemy, with sand-bags and timber, had built a work far excelling anything in the shape of mortar, brick and stone, and had armed it with the heaviest funs at that time known in the United tates. This was the fort (Wagner) which so far had defied the forces of both the Army and the Navy. It now became necessary to prosecute the siege of Wagner with patience and perseverance, as it was felt that the number of Union troops was inadequate to carry the work without throwing away the lives of the men and the useless expenditure of materials, therefore active operations were for the

moment

suspended.

was very evident that the fire of the naval vessels could silence Wagner's guns at any time, but General Gillmore could only raise one single column for attack, It

while the Confederates could throw into Wagner at night any number of men that mi^ht be required to fill up vacancies by casualties. These points had been made known to the Department; but, with a degree of negligence that cannot be accounted for, the notice was so slow in being

War

heeded that

it

gave the enemy opportunity

to strengthen their weak points, and repair damages to such an extent that the combined operations would have to be repeated. If

General Gillmore had been furnished with thousand more troops, Wagner, with-

five

out doubt, would have fallen at the first It is not the writer's intention to criticise the action of the Government he only states facts but it is, nevertheless, very remarkable, considering the great desire of the American people to see Charleston (the hot-bed of secession and the pioneer in the revolution) fall into Union hands, that prompter measures were not taken to strengthen the Army corps and the Navy when required. Here, again, was demonstrated the necessity for having at the head

assault.

—

—

THE NA VAL HISTORY

438

would know how

to direct

such important

credit to the Navy for the took in this affair, we deem it a duty we owe to the gallant army under General Gillmore to give an account of the more desperate adventures that befel the brave corps, which, after keeping up an energetic fire for so long a time, undertook For this purpose the assault of Wagner. two brigades were selected, consisting of the 7th Connecticut regiment, the 3d New Hampshire, the 9th Maine, the 76th Pennsylvania and the 48th New York, under Brigadier-General Strong; and the 7th New Hampshire, the 6th Connecticut, the 63d Ohio, the 100th NewYork, and the 64th Massachusetts (colored), under Colonel Putnam. The brigades were formed in line on the beach, with the regiments disposed in columns, the colored regiment being in the advance. This movement was observed from Sumter, and fire opened on the troops from that work, but without effect. At dark the order was given for both brigades to advance, General Strong leading and Colonel Putnam within supporting distance. The troops went forward in quick time, preserving the greatest silence, until the 54th Massachusetts, led by Colonel Shaw, was within two hundred yards of Wagner, when the men gave a cheer and rushed up the glacis, closely followed by the other regiments of the brigade. The enemy hitherto silent, but aware of all transpiring opened upon the advancing columns a most furious fire of grape and canister, as well as a rapid fire of musketry. The negro troops plunged on, and some of them crossed the ditch, though it contained four feet of water, and reached the parapets. They were dislodged, however, in a few minutes, with hand-grenades, and retreated, leaving more than half their number on the field. The 6th Connecticut, under Lieutenant -Colonel Rodman, was next in support of the 54th Massachusetts, and they also suffered a terrible repulse. The next in line the 9th Maine was

While giving

part

ported,

gave the order

to fall

back and

lie

the glacis, which was obeyed without confusion. While waiting, in this

down on

operations. it

— —

—

—

broken up by the retiring colored troops (who rushed through their lines), and retired in confusion, with the exception of three companies, which stood their ground. It now devolved upon the 3d New Hampshire regiment to push forward, and, led by General Strong and Colonel Jackson in person, they dashed up against the fort. Three companies gained the ditch, and, wading through the water, found shelter against the embankment. Here was the critical point of the assault, but the second brigade, which should have been up and ready to support the leading troops, were, for some unknown reason, delayed. General Strong, finding that he was not sup-

under a heavy fire. General Strong was wounded. Finding that the supports still failed to come up, lie gave the order to his brigade to retire, and the movement was effected in good order. Soon after this the other brigade came up, much impeded by the retreating troops; but they made up for their tardiness by position,

their valor, rushing in impetuously, undeterred by the fury of the enemy, whose fire had continued without intermission. Several of the regiments succeeded in crossing

the ditch, scaling the parapet, and getting inside the fort. Here a terrible hand-tohand conflict ensued; the Union troops fought with desperation, and were able to drive the enemy from one side of the work to seek shelter between the traverses, while the former held possession for something more than an hour. This piece of gallantry was, unfortunately, of no avail. The enemy rallied, and, having received reinforcements, made a charge, and, by the force of numbers, drove the Union troops from their position. One of the regiments engaged in this brilliant dash was the 48th New York, Colonel Barton, and it came out of the con-

decimated. The 48th was enter the fort, and was fired upon by a Union regiment that had gained the parapet, under the impression that it was the enemy. About midnight, seeing that it was impossible to hold what had been gained of the fort, an order was given to the Union troops to retire, and they fell back to the rifle-pits outside their own works, with a loss, in killed, wounded and missing, of 1,630 men. After this most gallant but unsuccessful attack, General Gillmore came to the conclusion that Wagner could not be taken in that way by his depleted forces, and he decided to bombard that fort. Fort Sumter, and even Charleston, to either cause a surrender or to lay them in ruins. Had the enemy been in great force at that moment, they could have massed all their troops, landed them on Morris Island, and captured Gillmore's army and everything belonging to it. But they were quite satisfied with the position as it was; they held the great chain of works which blocked the way to Charleston, and were verv glad to see the Federals apparently wasting their strength in futile efforts to obtain possession of their strongholds. In this last dreadful assault on Wagner, the ground in and around the fort was covered with the Union killed and wounded, and the naval force could not continue the fire the following day, nor until they were flict

almost

among

the

first to

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

Rear-Admiral Dahlgren sent a communication to the commander of Fort Wagner, offering to bury the dead and to remove and care for the wounded. This

removed.

proposition was politely declined, the Confederate commander sending word that he would bury the dead and see the wounded cared for. Judging from the manner in

which he had defended his fort, his chivalric character no doubt caused him to keep his word.

The first thing General Gillmore did toward securing possession of Morris Island, which he determined to hold, was These extended to construct parallels. from the beach on the right to the marsh on the left. The first was distant from Wagner 1,200 yards. The second, and principal one, was so constructed that its left was 600 yards from the fort, and its right 750 yards. The third parallel was 425 yards from Wagner. The parallels were built in a direction diagonal to the length of Morris Island, having the highest points resting

on the marsh.

The

foundation of the

rifle-pits,

first parallel,

forming the were thrown

up shortly

after the troops gained posthe lower part of the island. These pits were thrown up in a single night, and were first used on the 17th of July in the attack on Wagner. The interstices were subsequently filled, and the The moment first parallel constructed. this parallel was finished, the enemy were preparing to make a sortie on the work; but Rear-Admiral Dahlgren got underway with the iron-clads, assisted by the gunboats at long range, and opened fire on Wagner, soon silencing that work and driving the men to cover. At that time General Gillmore reported his advance position had been secured. The length of this parallel was 220 yards. The length of the second parallel was 325 yards. The siege-guns used for the offensive were mounted in the rear of this parallel. Its distance from Sumter was 3,350 yards. The third parallel was 100 yards in length. On the left, earth-works were constructed containing some of the heaviest siege -guns. Their mean distance from Sumter was 4,100 yards. Still further to the left, on the marsh, was another earthwork, facing Fort Sumter. On this work was mounted that celebrated gun, called the "Swamp Angel," which sent its shells into the city of Charleston a distance of

session of

—

five miles.

This work was built on a spot inaccessible to the enemy's troops. At low water it was a deep bog; at high water the tide covered the ground to a depth of four feet, enabling scows to approach the spot and supply all the material necessary for the Sand-bags, and erection of earth-works.

439

everything else used in the construction of the work, sank out of sight in the soft ooze, at first, until a good foundation was secured. At each succeeding tide the scows brought their loads of material, which produced, in the end, a great mound above the marsh. This was an engineering feat worthy of the clever officer, General Gillmore, who executed it. Strong traverses were erected on this bank, and, after due time given everything to settle, the " Swamp Angel " was floated to the point on one of the scows, and mounted. The work was all done at night, as it was in full view of Fort Johnson and the James Island batteries. In reference to the last two engagements with Wagner, Rear-Admiral Dahlgren does not speak of any casualties or damage to the Monitors or other vessels of the fleet, and it is presumed that the cross-fire from shore and afloat drove the Confederate gunners to cover before damage could be inflicted.

Rear-Admiral Dahlgren had a

great adjunct in these affairs in the staunch " New Ironsides," Captain Rowan, whose 11-inch guns, rapidly flred, did more to silence Wagner than any three Monitors in the fleet. While General Gillmore was perfecting his plans, the vessels of the fleet were not idle. smart affair came off in the Stono River, in which the " Pawnee" (Commander Balch), "Marblehead" (Lieutenant-Commander Scott), and the "Huron" were

A

The "Pawnee" and "Marblehead" were at anchor near Fort Grimball, when they were hotly attacked by batteries of the enemy posted six hundred yards away, the first shot striking the "Pawnee," and the others admirably directed by the enemy. The position of the "Pawnee" was such that she could bring no guns to bear, and she engaged.

was obliged to drop down stream until a point was reached whence the guns could be trained on the enemy. The "Marblehead " was requested to do likewise, and, meeting the "Huron" in this position, they opened fire on the hostile batteries, which had been cutting them up severely

all

while shifting their

berths, resulting in the retreat of the enemy. The "Pawnee" was struck thirty-three times in the hull, three times in the smoke-stack, had three boats damaged, and six shot in the rigging. Fortunately, the "Pawnee" had chain-cables triced up and down her sides, or the boilers would have been perforated. Those South Carolina artillerymen were just as spunky and annoying as were those on the Mississippi, and never lost an opportunity to attack the wooden gun-boats, frequently with effect. There were but four persons wounded in this affair, and it is remarkable that a number were not killed, considering the precision of the enemy's fire.

±

14tU

ijLiii

4.

y '"1

f

.^^ -i^

Commander Balch, the senior officer on the Stono River, speaks in the handsomest terms of the conduct of Lieutenant -Commander Bacon

for his unremitting attention to duties in that locality, where, for a period of five months, he had been co-operating with the Army. On the 16th of July

the Confederates commenced an artillery fire on General Gillmore's pickets at Secessionville, but were speedily silenced by

Lieutenant-Commander Bacon moving up the river with the "Commodore McDonough," and firing into their camp with his rifled gun. In a report by Lieutenant A. S. McKenzie, referring to the landing of the brigade, which was transported, under his charge, on the boats of the " Weehawken " for the assault on Fort Wagner, he mentions the fact that Lieutenant H. B. Robeson, of the " New Ironsides," was the first to plant the American flag on Morris Island, BrigadierGeneral Strong landing with him. During the operations for the possession of Morris Island, Commander Balch, with the " Commodore McDonough," LieutenantCommander Bacon and Lieutenant F. M. Bunce, in charge of boats with howitzers mounted, were employed in landing troops on Folly Island, which had to be done at night. By the inost active exertions of these officers the duty was fully accomplished, every effort being made to effect a successful landing and the Army was in a great measure indebted to them for the perfect manner in which all the troops were debarked. While part of General Gillmore's forces were being landed on Folly Island, General Terry, commanding a division, was dii-ected to proceed up the Stono in transports, preceded by the "Pawnee," " Nantucket " and the " Commodore McDonough," and make a landing on James Island, which was done. This manoeuvre a part of the programme of attack on Morris Island was successfully accomplished under cover of the vessels mentioned. While General Gillmore was making his advances the Confederates were increasing and improving their defences, and among other things were laying torpedoes and planting obstructions to prevent the advance of the fleet, and the greatest watchfulness was required to avoid them; but these measures did not affect the movements of General Gillmore, who, on August ;

—

17th,

opened

guns, over

fire

—

on Sumter with

Wagner and

the

all his

intervening

space.

About the same time Rear-Admiral Dalilgren, with the "Weehawken," carrying his flag, moved forward with the entire naval force. The " Catskill," " Nahant " and "Montauk" following the flag -ship, the

±±±t^

J.

\^ ±\.j.

"Passaic" and "Patapsco" being held in-, Thefor an attack on Sumter. "New Ironsides," Captain Rowan, moved up abreast of Wagner, and the following reserve

long range: Green, "Mahaska," Commander J. B. Creighton, "Cimmarone," Commander A. K. Hughes, " Ottawa," Commander W. D. Whiting, "Wissahickon," Lieutenant - Commander John L. Davis, "Dai Ching," Lieutenant - Commander J. C. Chaplin, " Lodona," ActingLieutenant E. Broadhead. sloops

and gun-boats

fired at

"Canandaigua," Captain

J. F.

As the tide rose, the " Weehawken" closed to four hundred and fifty yards from Wagner; the other three Monitors followed, and the " New Ironsides " lay as near as her great draft of water would permit. Tlie fort was silenced after a steady and welldirected fire.

General Gillmore had opened with his batsoon after daylight, in answer to afire from Wagner, Battery Gregg and Sumter, which was continued with great vigor for several hours. A 200-pounder rifled guu was brought to bear on Sumter for the purpose of testing the powder intended for usein these guns. Seven shots were fired, the distance being two and five-eighths miles. The first three fell short, but, of the remaining four, two went directly through the gorge wall a short distance above the sallyport, and two struck the parapet, sending a large amount of brick and mortar into the teries

ditch and into the fort. The solid shot that passed through made holes from four to five feet in diameter. General Gillmore had sixty guns of different calibres mounted, and with these he kept up an incessant fire on Sumter, while the fleet kept its guns playing rapidly on

Wagner until there was no answer from that work. Then the flag was shifted tothe " Passaic," that vessel and the "Patapsco " having rifled guns, and these twa steamed up the channel to within twa thousand yards of Sumter, when fire wasopened on the gorge angle and southeast front of the work. The guns of the "Patapsco" were well aimed, and their projectiles struck the southeast front nine timesin succession. To all this fire Sumter only-

replied now and then Wagner was silenced, and Battery Gregg alone kept up an obstinate fire on the "Passaic" and "Patapsco." At noon the iron-clads drew off to let the men go to dinner. This was, no doubt, a deliberate movement; but a better one would have been to have divisions of the fleet relieve each other, and never to cease fire on Wagner, even at night, until it lay a heap of ruins. The fertility of the Confederates, and their pertinacity in repairing damages, were too well known to suppose ;

OF THE CIVIL WAR.

441

that they would lose an opportunity to act when the guns stopped firing on them. All the afternoon of the 17th the shore

all the difficulties, and, if the American flag did not float over it, it would remain but a heap of ruins a mere memento of the

batteries continued to fire upon Sumter, with little or no reply. The " Passaic " and "Patapsco " were sent up again in the af-

past.

ternoon to open on Wagner, and prevent the repairing of damages. The fort answered actively for awhile, but in a short

time ceased its fire. On the whole, the day's work was

satis-

factory to the combined forces. The Army had demonstrated the feasibility of reaching Sumter and inflicting serious damage on the work ; the Navy had shown that it could silence Wagner whenever it pleased to do so. It was not possible yet to ascertain

what damage had been done

to

Sumter by

the combined fire, but enough was known to assure the respective commanders that they had not yet demonstrated their full power, and that the enemy's works would be so seriously damaged in a short time that they woiild not be able to repair them.

The bombardment of Fort Sumter may be said to have commenced in earnest from this date, August 17th, with what result can be better judged from the bulletins that were issued day after day in Charleston, as the following:

Charleston, Thursday, August 30tli, 1863. The firing of the Parrott guns on Sumter to-day was exceedingly heavy, but not so accurate as heretofore. About noon the flag was shot away, but soon replaced; no casualties are reported. Col. Alfred Rhett is commanding, and the garrison is stout-hearted.

The battery

of Parrott guns is distant from SumThe missiles used aie 300 - pdr. bolts, ter %% miles. eight inches in diameter and two feet long, with flat heads of chilled iron. Shells of the same dimensions are also used. Up to Wednesday night, the third day of the attack, 1,973 of these missiles struck Sumter, and, including to-day, 2,500 have struck. The damage is, of course, considerable, and for the last two days all the guns on the south face of the fort have been disabled. Yesterday the iron-clads formed in line of battle to renew the attack, but the fort opened at long range from the east face, and they retired without attacking.

To-day the "Ironsides" and two Monitors kept up a flre on Wagner at intervals, and the Yankee sappers have begun to make approaches on that battery from the nearest work. A shot from Wagner disabled one of the Parrott guns and the James Island batteries, under Lieutenant-Colonel Yates, exploded two of the enemy s ammunition chests. Thus, at last, Charleston was reaping some of the whirlwind it had sown, and retribution came for the dishonor it had done the flag that had once waved on Sumter. ;

Through Sumter, the Union was being avenged for the flrst blows the Confederates had struck. This once sturdy old fort, in a few days after Gillmore opened his batteries, began to show signs of great weakness. Its great distance from the Federal batteries could not save it; science had surmounted

—

Charleston, Friday, August

21st, 1863.

the enemy's land batteries has been heavier to-day than ever. A new battery of Parrott guns opened on Sumter this morning, and the fire has been concentrated upon the east battery audits guns. The south side of the fort is now a pile of rubbish. On the south the wall is also cruinbling into a heap of ruins. The flag has been shot away twice to-day, and six times during the attack. The flagstaff is shot off, and the flag flies from the ruins of the south wall. Just before sunset Sumter fired several shot at the iron-clads which were engaging Wagner. A Monitor this morning fired at Sumter while making a reconnaissance, but was not replied to. There is no report of casualties. The sappers are making a regular approach on Battery Wagner.

The

fire of

Charleston, Saturday, August

Prom

32d, 1863. 5 o'clock A. M. until 7 o'clock p. m. the ene-

my's fire on Fort Sumter was very heavy 923 shots were fired, and 704 struck the fort, either outside or inside. The eastern face of the fort was badly battered some guns on the east face and on the north end were disabled. The flag was shot down four times. Five privates and two negroes were wounded. The enemy's flre on Wagner caused five casualties, including Captain Robert Pringle, killed. Last night a communication from the enemy (unsigned) was sent to General Beauregard, demanding the surrender of Sumter and the Morris Island batteries, with a notification that the city would be shelled in four hours if the demand was not complied with. General Beauregard was on a reconnaissance, and General Jordan returned it for the ;

;

signature of the writer.

About 3 o'clock this afternoon the enemy began throwing shells into the city from a battery on the marsh between James and Johnson's Islands, and distant five miles from the city. Twelve 8-inch Parrott shells fell into the city, but caused no casualties. The transaction is regarded as an outrage on civilized warfare. The shelling had a good effect in hastening the exodus of the non-combatants. At daylight this morning the enemy opened again vigorously on Sumter. The " Ironsides " has since opened on Wagner. Sumter is replying. Wagner is firing briskly on the enemy's advance works, four hundred and fifty yards from the battery.

Charleston, August

32d.

The fire of the enemy's land batteries has been kept up on Sumter, and more guns disabled. There was only one casualty. There was also a heavy fire opened on Battery Wagner from the fleet also on Battery Gregg. The casualties at Wagner were one officer and five privates. General Gillmore's demand for the surrender of Sumter and Morris Island was a threat to shell Charleston in foui- hours from the delivery of the paper at Wagner. It was signed and returned at 7 o'clock this morning. General Beauregard, in his reply, charges inhumanity and a violation of the laws of war, and affirms that, if the offence be repeated, he will apply stringent measures of retaliation. Up to this time the threat to shell the city has not been executed. ;

There seems to be a discrepancy between these two bulletins about General Gillmore shelling the city.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

443

ChabJjBSTON, Friday, August 23d. To-day the land batteries opened from south to north, and the Monitors from east to west, coming close up the fire was very damaging. The east wall was crushed and breached, and the shot swept through the fort. A shell burst, wounding Lieutenant Boylston, Colonel Rhett and three other ;

officers.

fort (Sumter) is now in ruins. Colonel Rhett ordered to hold this outpost, even as a forlorn hope, until relieved or taken. Colonel Gaillard was killed. General Gillmore sent a communication at 11 o'clock, giving notice that at 11 o'clock to-morrow he would open fire again on Charleston.

The

is

I fire I

deem it unnecessary at present upon the ruins of Fort Sumter.

to continue the

have also (under a heavy flre from James Island) established batteries on my left, within effective range of the heart of Charleston city, and have opened with them, after giving General Beauregard due notice of my intention to do so. My notification to General Beauregard, his reply thereto, with the threat of retaliation and my rejoinder, have been transmitted to Army headquarters. The projectiles from

my

batteries entered the

and General Beauregard himself designates them as the most destructive missiles ever used in city,

war.

*

Very

* * * respectfully,

your obedient servant,

Charlbston, August 34th. on Sumter slackened to-day.

The enemy's fire The fleet has not participated. At 12 o'clock last night the enemy's guns opened on the city, firing fifteen 8-inch Parrott shells. No

Q. A. GXLLMOBE. Turner, Chief of Artillery, reports to General Gillmore as follows: The gorge wall of the fort is almost a complete

casualties resulted. Non-combatants are leaving the city in continuous streams.

mass of ruins for the distance of several casemates about midway of this face, the ramparts are re-

Colonel John

W.

APPEAEANCE OF FORT SUMTER AT THE CLOSE OF THE ATTACK.

On the 24th of August General Gillmore wrote the following dispatches to Washington: n.

Headquarters, Department op the South ,/^.°^^^^ Island, S. C, August 24th, 1863.

'

ToMajor-GeneralH. W. Halleck, Qeneral-in-chief Sir— I have the honor to report the practical demohtion of Fort Sumter as the result of the seven days bombardment of the work, during two days of which a powerful northeasterly storm most se-

verely affected the accuracy of our flre. Fort Sumter is to-day a shapeless and harmless mass of rums. My chief of artillery, Colonel J Turner reports its destruction so far complete that It IS no longer of any avail in the defence of Charleston. He also says that by a longer flre it could be made more completely a ruin and a mass of broken masonry, but could scarcely be made more powerless for the defence of the harbor. My breaching batteries were located at distances

W

varying froni between 3,320 yards and 4,240 yards Irom the works, and now remain as efficient as ever

moved

nearly, and in places quite to the arches, for the sand-bags with which the casemates are filled, and which has served to sustain the broken arches and masses of masonry, it would have long since been entirely cut away, and with it the arches to the floor of the second tier of case-

and but

mates.

The debris in this point now forms a ramp as high as the floor of the casemates. The parapet wall of the two northeasterly faces is completely carried away, a small portion bemg left at the angle made with the gorge wall, and the ramparts of these faces are also a total ruin. The ruin extends around, taking in the northeasterly face as fax as can be seen. The ramparts in this angle, as well as in the southeasterly face, must be ploughed up and greatly shattered, the parapet in this latter face being torn off, as could be seen and it was thought that the platforms of these remaining faces could not have escaped the universal .

.

.

.

.

.

destruction.

With

the assistance of powerful glasses

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

the damages could be accurately ascertained, even to the injury done to the guncarriages. Colonel Turner ends his report by recommending that no more shot be wasted on Sumter, as it was practically of no further use in the defence of the harbor. When all these facts were fully ascertained to the satisfaction of General Gillmore, that officer wrote to General Beaureall

gard demanding the

immediate evacua-

and the surrender of Sumter, otherwise he would proceed "to open fire on Charleston from batteries al-

tion of Morris Island

ready established within easy range of the city." To this, General Beauregard replied, using the following language, which may be interesting from the fact that he tries to place the Federal soldiers in the light of barbarians, while, at that very time, the harshest treatment was imposed upon the Union prisoners of war, and the Confederates themselves did not in all cases observe war's amenities. "What General Gillmore proposed to do was according to the rules of war, he having given notice that he was about to bombard the city, six hours in advance quite time enough for the noncombatants, women and children, to leave

—

the place. cut

We

down General Beauregard's

let-

owing

to its length, but the following gives the substance of it Among nations, not barbarous, the usages of war prescribe that, when a city is about to be attacked, timely notice shall be given by the attacking commander in order that non-combatants shall have an opportunity for withdrawing beyond the limits. Generally, the time allowed is from one to three days. That is time for the withdrawal in good faith of the women and children. You, sir, give only four hours, knowing that your notice, under existing circumstances, could not reach me in less than two hours, and then, not less than the same time would be required for an answer to be conveyed from this city to Battery Wagner. With this knowledge, you threaten to open Are on the city not to oblige its surrender, but to force me to evacuate those works which you, assisted by a great naval force, have been attacking in vain for ler

—

more than forty days. Battery Wagner, Gregg and Port Sumter are nearly due north from your batteries on Morris Island, and in distance therefrom varying from half a mile to two and a quarter miles the city, on the other hand, is to the northwest, and distant quite five miles from the battery opened on us this morning. It would appear, sir, that, despairing of reducing those works, you now resort to the novel measure of turning your guns against the old men, the women and children and hospitals of a sleeping city an act of inexcusable barbarity from your own confessed point of sight, inasmuch as you allege that the complete demolition of Fort Sumter within a few hours, by your guns, seems to you " a matter ;

of certainty." I am only surprised, sir, at the limits you have set to your demands. If, in order to attain the abandonment of Morris Island and Tort Sumter, you feel authorized to fire on this city, why did you not also include the works on Sullivan and .Tames Islands nay, even the city of Charleston in the

—

—

fame dispatch

?

443

Since you have felt warranted in inaugurating this matter of reducing batteries in your immediate front, which were found otherwise impregnable, and a mode of warfare which I confidently pronounce to be atrocious and unworthy of any

now solemnly warn you that if you fire again from your batteries upon this city without giving a somewhat more reasonable time to remove non-combatants, I shall feel compelled to employ such stringent means of retaliation that may be available during the continuance of this attack. Finally, I reply that neither the works on Morris Island nor Port Sumter will be evacuated on the demand you have been pleased to make. However, I am making preparations to remove all non-combatants, who are now fully alive to what they may expect at your hands. Respectfully, your obedient servant, soldier, I

G. T. Beauregard. General Gillmore answered the different points of this letter, and concluded with the following pertinent remarks: If, under the circumstances, the life of a single non-combatant is exposed to peril by the bombardment of the city, the responsibility rests with those who have first failed to apprise the non-combatants, or secure the safety of the city, after having held control of all the approaches for a period of two years and a half in the presence of a threaten-

ing force, and who afterwards refuse to accept the terms on which the bombardment might have been postponed. From various sources (official and otherwise) I am led to believe that all the women and children of Charleston have long since been removed from the city; but, upon your assurance that the city is still full of them, I shall suspend the bombardment until 11 o'clock P. M. to-morrow, thus giving you two days from the time you first acknowledged to have received my communication of the 31st inst.

Very

respectfully, etc., etc., Q. A. Gillmore,

Brigadier-Qeneral,

etc., etc.

In the naval bombardment of the 17th, the Navy lost the services of a brilliant young officer through the death of Commander George W. Rodgers, commanding the Monitor " Catskill." Commander Rodgers had more than once asked the rearadmiral if he should go with him as usual or take command of the "Catskill." In each instance the commander-in-chief answered, "Do as you choose." Rodgers finally concluded to go in the "Catskill." He got his vessel underway, and, while endeavoring to get a berth closer to the enemy, and inside the " Weehawken's " position, the "Catskill" was struck by a snot from Wagner, and Rodgers was instantly killed. This shot first struck the top of the pilothouse, fracturing the outer plate and tearing off an irregular piece of the inside plate about one foot in area, and forcing out several of the bolts by which the pieces were held together, fragments of which struck Commander Rodgers and Acting- Assistant Paymaster J. G. Woodbury, killing both instantly, besides wounding the pilot, Mr. Penton, and Acting-Master's Mate Trescott. When the commander fell, Lieutenant-Commander Charles C. Carpenter hove up the

THE NA VAL HISTORY

444

anchor, steamed down to the tug "Dandelion." and, depositing the bodies in her, returned to his station and continued the action.

Rear-Admiral Dahlgren pays the highest tribute

Commander

to

death was regretted by

Rodgers,

all

whose

who knew

him.

latter's relations to the commander-inchief (as fleet-captain) were so close that the rear-admiral felt his loss very sorely, and could ill supply the place of so efficient

The

an officer. He was one of those to whose gallantry there were no bounds. In the action of August 17th, the ironclads, though frequently hit, suffered no The " Catskill " was material injury. struck thirteen times, with the casualThe '-'Ironsides," ties already mentioned. Captain

S.

C.

Rowan, was

hit

thirty-

Ensign James Wallace and Acting-Ensign Owens, who deserve great credit for the work they performed for fifteen hours under a burning sun. Though great efforts were made to reduce Wagner. Sumter and Gregg, these strong works stood apparently as defiant as ever, notwithstanding the great shot seams that could be seen in Sumter's side. It was pretty well ascertained from Gillmore's batteries, bv the aid of good glasses, that it had been rudely dealt with; yet, though sixty more heavy guns were brought against it than were used in DuPont's attack, the Federal naval forces did not seem any nearer to the attainment of their wishes than DuPont was. The effect of the fire on Charleston had not, up to the 24th of August, proved of a serious nature. Twelve 8-inch shells had fallen into the city, thirteen having been These shells fiew in the fired altogether. direction of St. Michael's steeple, and fell either in the vacant lots in the burnt district on King Street, or in Queen and Rutledge Streets. Some loose straw was set on fire by them, and the firemen turned out to extinguish the flames. The pieces of shell picked up in the city caused great curiosit j and wonder, that such large missiles should have been thrown to such a distance from the point where the Federal battery was located in the swamp.

On August

2.3d,

Rear-Admiral Dahlgren

got underway and moved the Monitors to within eight "hundred yards of Sumter, and opened fire. During a portion of the time a clear sight of the fort was prevented by fog. When the Monitors opened, Sumter only replied with six guns; but Moultrie,

with its extended lines, opened heavily, according to reports, and struck the MoniThe tors frequently with heavy shot. COMMANDER GEORGE

W. EODGEES.

one times, exclusive of some shots supposed to have struck her under water.

Most of the hits were from 10-inch solid shot, which seemed to have been fired with extra heavy charges and, when the shot struck, they cut and broke everything to There are no reports of damage to pieces. other vessels, hence it is probable that the enemy concentrated their fire on the " Iron;

sides

"and

"Catskill."

No mention

is

made

in

Rear-Admiral

Dahlgren's report of the establishment of a naval battery against Sumter, but there was one under command of Commander Foxhall A. Parker, and it performed good service. That battery fired, on the 17th of August, 170 shells and 125 solid shot against the exposed face of Sumter, doing much

damage.

Commander Parker .was

in this service

assisted

by Lieutenant E. T. Brower,

"Weehawken" received two heavy and damaging blows on the pilot-house. There was a good deal of difficulty in working the Monitors in the narrow channels, and they drew off under the fire of Moultrie, which being as yet intact was more than a match for them. No casualties in the fleet were reported in this action. In this reconnaissance which it will be well to call it the injuries to Fort Sumter were clearly observed, but it did not yet come under the head of "useless ruin." Fort Wagner is spoken of in the reports as being "quite as strong as ever, perhaps more so;" so that in this state of affairs the naval forces were about as far from the central prize as ever.

—

—

Sumter was now considered "useless to the Confederate system of defence," only it yet remained to be turned fully to account as a Union acquisition, and this advantage could not be realized because the Federal

OF THE CIVIL WAR. forces could not occupy the work. Such occupation, if possible, would have made a great difference in the plans of the besieging forces, but could not be likely to occur until the works on Sullivan's Island were invested simultaneously with those on Morris Island, and here was the great defect in the plan of this campaign. There was, no doubt, good engineering skill displayed, as far as it went, but what use could Sumter have been to the Federals while Moultrie one of the heaviest woi-ks in Charleston harbor and others stood ready to drive out of Sumter any Federal force that might undertake to enter it, which could only be by assault? It was, we may say, a heap of rubbish that had all fallen inside, but which could still afford a tremendous defence against any assaulting party brought against it. The true plan would have been for our forces to land on Sullivan's Island and Morris Island at the same time, and pursue the same methods that had been carried out at the latter. Of course, this would have required a greater number of troops and guns, but it was the only way to take Charleston. While the Federals were making the most assiduous efforts to get into Sumter by the way of Wagner and Gregg, they overlooked entirely the obstacles still remaining on Sullivan's Island to prevent their holding it after capture; while Fort Johnson, Fort Ripley, Castle Pinckney and the iron batteries stood ready to pour in their cross-fire, as they had done when their attack on Sumter opened the Rebellion. The capture of James Island and the occupation of the

—

works upon it, which was feasible, would have been a greater military feat than the capture of Wagner. In such event, Charleston would have been obliged to surrender or be destroyed, and, in consequence, its forts would have been obliged to follow her

example. The engineering work accomplished was of a splendid order, and the greatest bravery was displayed in its performance; yet engineers often become so absorbed in some favorite plan, which seems to promise all they desire, that they overlook other points which are the real keys to the situation. So it was at Sebastopol: all the best Russian, French and English engineers had overlooked the hill on which the Malakoff Tower stood, until the great Todelben appeared, and with his practiced eye disIf either the covered that to be the key. French or the English had seized it, Sebastopol would not have stood a day before the fire of

the allied batteries.

Four months had now passed since the first attack on Charleston, and many hundreds of heavy shells had been fired, without any great advance of the Federal forces

445

toward their objective point; and this not from any want of skill in the naval or military commanders, but from the fact that the authorities at Washington did not have a comprehensive idea of what was required to carry out so great a work, and from their absurd supposition, in the first instance, that the whole net-work of forts could be taken by a small fleet of Monitors, armed principally with guns of small penetrative power, when, moreover, the endurance of these vessels had scarcely been tested. It is very easy, though, to see all that was required when what was considered to be the best means had failed but herein lies the ability of the engineer and the naval officer co-operating they should be able to see the best points ere the operations have advanced too far to allow of ;

:

retraction.

General Gillmore was of the opinion that Sumter could not be taken possession of until Wagner was subdued, and all his siege-guns were advanced as close as possible to the north end of Morris Island, while Rear- Admiral Dahlgren thought he could pass the batteries with his fleet, and go on to Charleston. Here the naval officer and the military commander began to differ. Gillmore desired that the Monitors and the " Ironsides" should move pari passu with him. Dahlgren thought he could go alone, regardless of the obstructions which had to be forced, and which were defended by at least seventy guns, under the full range of which the fleet would be exposed, even as far as Sumter, which fort might or might not still have guns mounted upon it that would do

Under the circumstances. General Gillmore deemed that the assistance of the Navy, in all its strength, was indispensable to success. serious injurj^ to the vessels.

At midnight

of

September

1st,

and

just

before slack high water, the "Ironsides" and the Monitors were moved up the channel. The primary purpose of this movement was to make certain that Sumter had service. It was believed that the Confederates had remounted a few guns on the northeast and northwest faces. On the same evening. General Gillmore's batteries had opened fire on Sumter, and the general had informed Rear-Admiral Dahlgren that he had knocked down some four or five pieces that were observed on the more remote fronts, and this encouraged Dahlgren to attack. The nearest approach of the Monitors to Sumter was five hundred yards, the flag being carried on the "Weehawken;" but the ebb-tide was now so strong that it was nearly 12 o'clock before the first shot was fired from the flag-ship. Two shots were fired from the fort, when the "Weehawken" was laid off the angle

no guns remaining in

THE NAVAL HISTORY

446 of the northeast

and southeast

fronts.

The

more made the following report

to General

"Ironsides" was brought up to an easy

Halleck

range, and joined in the action which followed, the vessels all firing steadily and Meanwhile, Moultrie opened accurately. a rapid and well-sustained fire from its extended lines, which told on the vessels, though the obscurity of the night interfered with the accuracy of the enemy's aim at such small targets as the turrets of the Monitors. The fire of the Monitors was also directed against the floating obstructions which had been reported from day to day. At daylight the fleet withdrew without being able This to ascertain the effect of their fire. engagement lasted five hours, during which time the fleet fired 245 shots, and received in all 71 hits, of which numbers the " Ironsides " fired 50 shots and received 7 hits. From all accounts there was no serious damage done to the vessels, notwithstand-" ing all the pounding, and the " Ironsides stood the brunt of the battle as well as the Monitors. Fleet-Captain Badger was struck by a fragment of the turret knocked off by one of the enemy's shot, and his leg broken by it. This was the third fieet- captain Dahlgren had had injured or killed in the short space of two months. He speaks of Captain Badger in the warmest terms of praise, and as an officer whose place it

report that Fort are ours. Last night our sappers mined the counterscarp of Fort Wagner in its sea-point, unmasking all its guns, and the order was given to carry the place by assault at 9 o'clock this morning, that being the hour of low

would be very difficult to fill. The commanders of the iron-clads, Captain S. C. Rowan, Commander T. H. Stevens,

Commander Andrew Bryson, Commander E. R. Colhoun, Lieutenant Commander Edward Simpson, Lieutenant-Commander -

John

L.

Davis and Lieutenant-Commander

Cornwell, are spoken of in terms of high commendation for their gallantry and the ability they displayed in handling their vessels in the narrow channel on an obscure night. J. J.

On September 7th, arrangements were made to open fire upon Wagner from the and from all the iron-clads, which was to be followed at 9 o'clock at night by an assault. A steady cannonade had been maintained against the work on the 6th from the trenches and from the " Ironsides;" but in the meantime a deserter had trenches, fire

to General Grillmore with the information that the Confederates were evacuating the works; they had stood the siege as long as they could, had gone through fire enough to drive out any but American troops, and now evacuated to escape the assault which they knew would come at night. We cannot help but admire the courage of these brave fellows, though they were fighting against us in a bad cause. We cannot help thinking how those men would fight against a foreign foe! On the 7th of September, General Gill-

gone over

:

Genbral— I have the honor to

Wagner and Battery Gregg

tide.

About 10 o'clock last night the enemy commenced to evacuate the island, and all but seventy -five of them made their escape from Cumming's Point in small boats. Captured dispatches show that Fort Wagner was Col. Keitt, of South Carolina, and garrisoned T)y 1,400 effective men, and Battery Gregg by from 100 to 200 men. Fort Wagner is a work of the most formidable kind. The bomb-proof shelter, capable of contaiaing 1,800 men, remains intact after the most terrible bombardment to which any work was ever sub-

commanded by

jected.

We have captured nineteen pieces of artillery and a large supply of excellent ammunition. The city and harbor of Charleston are now completely covered by my guns. I have the honor to be, etc., etc., Q. A. GiLLMORE, Brigadier-Qeneral, Commanding. After the evacuation of Wagner and Gregg, Rear -Admiral Dahlgren, having ineffectually demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter, on the ground of its indefensibility, determined to try a plan by which that work might be captured and, as a preliminary, ordered the "Weehawken" to pass in by a narrow channel winding about Cumming's Point, so as to cut of all communication in that direction. In so doing, the "Weehawken" grounded, and, though at low water, did not succeed in floating on the next high tide. Later in the day, the rear-admiral moved up in the "Ironsides," with the Monitors, to feel and, if possible, pass the obstructions north of Sumter. Moultrie, Battery Bee and Fort Beauregard quickly opened on the ironclads, which returned the fire very warmly, and continued to do so until it becanae necessary to pay attention to the "Weehawken." Steam-tugs and hawsers were provided for getting her off. but without success, even at high water, as already ;

At 7 a. m. the enemy perceived her condition, and began to fire upon her from Moultrie, about 3,000 vards distant. The iron-clads were ordered up to cover the grounded Monitor, which meanwhile replied to the enemy's fire, and, in less than half an hour, blew up one of the Confederate rhagazines. At the next high water the "Weehawken" was fortunatelv floated, after the most strenuous efforts" of Commander Colhoun, officers and crew. The only casualties on board the "Weehawken" on this occasion were three men wounded by a shot from Battery Bee. Up to this time the operations of the Navy had been well conducted. There was stated.

OF THE

CIVIL -WAR.

447

a perfect co-operation between the com-

whether the military etiquette properly obmanders of the respective forces; and, as servable on such an occasion was not violated in attempting to take possession of a the Army advanced its parallels and breachIronwork destroyed principally by army guns, ing batteries toward Wagner, the without extending an invitation to the gensides" and the Monitors advanced on the eral commanding to participate in the prowater, keeping up a well-directed fire, the jected assault. effect of all which is shown by its evacuaDahlgren claimed that, if successful, the tion on the 7th of September. General Gillmore and his chief of artillery assault would enable him to pass the obhad given the most satisfactory account of structions in the main channel with his fleet. He therefore directed that a stormthe damage done to Sumter by the breaching of the gorge wall and the dismounting ing party should be formed, and called for volunteers. No matter what may be the of most of the guns, and had also asserted " that it was no longer of any practical danger for officers and sailors to face, there use to Charleston harbor as an offensive is never any difficulty in getting volunteers work." This was pretty well demonstrated in the American Navy, and such was the when the " Weehawken" got hard and fast case on this ocasion. The following offiaground in the channel, between Sumter cers came forward and offered their services and Cumming's Point, and Sumter could at once: Commander T. H. Stevens, Lieunot fire upon her for lack of guns. Sumter tenant Moreau Forrest, Lieutenant -Comwas now, in fact, nothing but an outpost to mander E. P. Williams, Lieutenant George C. Remey, Lieutenant S. W. Preston, Lieube held by the enemy as a matter of pride and without power to in- tenant F. J. Higginson, Ensign Charles H. nothing more Craven, Lieutenant -Commander F. M. flict a particle of injury on any one, unless Bunce, Lieutenant E. T. Brower, Ensign it might be a party that attempted to gain admission over the debris that blocked the James Wallace and Ensign B. H. Porter; also the following officers of the Marine entrances, and afforded no footing for a party of boarders. A small party within, Corps Captain C. G. McCawley, First'

'

—

:

however, could easily bar the

way

or inflict serious injury upon an attacking-party that might attempt to take the work by assault. AH these matters had been very fully discussed, but it does not appear that General Gillmore was consulted as to the feasibility of an attempt to take Sumter by assault, or applied to for the assistance of his steady and practiced assaulters, who had had considerable experience in attacking forts. Brave and dashing as sailors may be, for this kind of business they lack that steady

movement and

discipline

which makes an

attacking force a unit, and carries everywhile sailors, drilled to thing before it board a ship with a cheer and a rush, have a less methodical way, which may succeed; if checked for one moment by regulars and steady troops in an operation of the kind on shore, the chances are that they will be driven back and cut to pieces or captured in the retreat. Whether Rear- Admiral Dahlgren considered these matters or not is not known, but he nevertheless determined to make a naval assault on Sumter on the night of September 8th, The supposition is that he did not requisite. military assistance consider Viewed as a military move, the attempt to assault Sumter was a grave mistake; there was no necessity for it, and General Gillmore was already moving forward his heavy breaching-guns to cover Charleston and all the forts in the upper harbor; and would, in a few days, have made Sumter a still more useless heap of rubbish than it was already. Again, it is questionable ;

Lieutenant Charles H. Bradford, FirstLieutenant John C. Harris, Second -Lieutenant R. L. Meade, Second - Lieutenant Lyman P. Wallace and Second-Lieutenant L. E. Fagan. Of these officers. Commander T. H. Stevens was selected to command the expedition, while the following were appointed to

command

divisions of tlie assaulting force: First division. Lieutenant-Commander E. P.Williams; 2d division. Lieutenant George C. Remey; 3d division, Lieutenant S. W. Preston 4th division. Lieutenant F. J. Higginson; and 5th division. Ensign Charles ;

H. Craven. Upon applying to General Gillmore for more boats to carry the sailors and marines. Rear- Admiral Dahlgren learned/or the first time that Gillmore was about to make an assault on Sumter the same night. It is stated that when this information was received by Dahlgren it was late in the evening, and, owing to the want of interservice signals, there was no concert with the Army contingent in the further movements. It was 10 o'clock at night when the boats started off for Sumter in tow of a tug. On the way, the party communicated with the " Passaic " and " Montauk," giving orders to their respective commanders to move up to their support. When within eight hundred yards of the fort, the tug cast off the boats, and the orders regarding the operations of the night, as well as the watchword, were given out Lieutenant Higginson was ordered to move up to the northwest front of the fort,

THE NA VAL HISTORY

448

with his division, for the purpose of making a diversion, wliile the remainder of tlie divisions were ordered to close up and wait for the order to advance upon the southeast point.

The intention

of

Commander

Ste-

vens was to wait until he had the full benefit of Lieutenant Higginson's diversion; but mistaking his movement, no doubt, as a general one, and with a true spirit of emulation and gallantry, many of the other boats dashed on to the fort. Finding it impossible to stop them, the order was given along the line for all to advance. The Confederates were quite prepared for this adventure, as was natural for good soldiers who had received orders to hold Sumter at all hazards, and as soon as the boats came within good range they were met with a fire of musketry and handgrenades, lighted shells and grape and canister; and simultaneously, at a signal from Sumter, Moultrie, together with the gunboats and rams, opened fire on the base of the fort, where all the boats were landing Eell-mell, each man of the crew wantmg to e the first to scale the walls. This is exactly what ought to have been anticipated under the circumstances, for to suppose that the Confederates, having such a commanding position, with all the means of offence and defence for such an occasion, would' not avail themselves of them, would be underrating that gallantry,

energy and fertility of purpose for which they had been remarkable in defending these fortifications from the very beginning. It must have been mere sport to the Confederates to see those boats rushing on heedlessly to destruction or capture, for only a miracle something that never occurs in war could save such an assault from anniliilation. That there was great gallantry exhibited in this attempt to capture Sumter no one will deny; but there was not a ghost of a chance of success from the

—

—

very commencement. Several of the boats, among them two from the "Powhatan," had gained a landing; but the evidences of the garrison's preparation were so apparent, as well as the impossibility of scaling the walls or even effecting a permanent landing, that orders were given for the boats to be withdrawn, which was done under a withering All who succeeded in leaving the fire. boats were either killed or taken prisoners; boats were smashed by the fire of the enemy's batteries and gun-boats, and it was as much as the survivors could do to get clear of the base of the fort. In this affair there was naturally great confusion when the officers and men discovered that a fort they had been led to believe lay a heap of ruins and powerless was

with men armed with breech-loading plenty of hand-grenades and shells ready for lighting, besides having grape

filled

rifies,

and canister to fire from selected positions into crowded boats. The defences only required a dozen or more Gatling guns to make them complete.

As it was, all the sailors in the fleet could not have taken Sumter, even with the assistance of the contingent General Gillmore know that now; intended to supply. we ought to have known it then. But, with all the disaster which followed this unfortuate assault, there was exhibited the most unflinching courage, the sternest devotion to a duty which, at the outset, must have seemed to many beyond the possibility of ex-

We

ecution.

To show the difficulties attending night operations of this kind, we will give part of the report of Ensign Wallace, in which that officer explains how, in the meUe, he followed the leading boat around the fort, pulled back and examined the sea-face in search of a landing; then, on coming to the right bastion of the sea-face, he found the marines firing from boats. He could find no officer to report to, and no one could tell him whether the men had landed, or where they were. Seeing a sinking boat, he pulled toward it, but found that all its crew had been removed or were drowned. ITpon returning to the fort, he examined the seaface and gorge wall; he observed all the boats retreating, and, on inquiring from one of them, was told that Commander Stevens had given the order to retreat. Ensign Wallace could obtain no information upon which to act, and seeing no boats between him and the fort, he pulled back to the flag-ship, where he first learned that Lieutenant Remey, with his boat's crew, had landed on Sumter. This report is a fair example of all. and the affair was like many night expeditions, which generally end unfortunately, especially when not well planned beforehand. further unhappy feature of this expedition was the delusion, under which the assaulting party labored, that it was going to an easy victory. Instead, a well-manned fort was found, supplied with all the disagreeable missiles known in war, and well supported by powerful batteries within easy range. The less said about this expedition the

A

better

and

;

it

was a most unfortunate

failure,

acts of gallantry and daring cannot compensate for the repulse. Certain it is, its

however, that no blame could attach to the members of the expedition, who could not be expected to achieve success under conditions so adverse, and who could not for the darkness even see the difficulties they were obliged to contend with. The Coii-

•

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

it appears, knew all about the attempt that was to be made on Sumter, and met it with every precautionary measure

federates,

that ingenuity could devise. Had the army of General Gillmore joined in the assault there would have been the same result, with the addition of a longer list of casualties.

A flag of truce notified Eear- Admiral Dahlgren on the following morning that "there were one hundred and thirty prisoners in the enemy's hands, besides three of the Among tne prisoners were the folkilled. lowing officers: Lieutenants S. W. Preston and E. T. Brower, Ensigns B. H. Porter and Charles H. Craven, Third- Assistant Engineer J. H. Harmany, Sail-maker D. C. Brayton, Acting-Master's Mates E. Butler, C. P. Hovey and C. S. McCarty. Captain McCawley, of the Marine Corps, reports that there were two lieutenants (C. H. Bradford and R. L. Meade), two sergeants, two corporals and twenty-six privates missing, and that great confusion existed

at the

landing.

Thus ended, for the time, the offensive operations against Charleston, with the exception that the vessels of the fleet remained at their posts, ready for any service required of them, and in no way disabled from continuing the attacks in conjunction with the Army or otherwise. The iron-clads had bravely sustained their reputation as good fighting machines, and all the officers had fairly earned the title of gallant men and able seamen, which was demonstrated time a,fter time in the shallow and difficult channel leading up to Wagner and Sumter. Among the vessels of the fleet, the "New Ironsides," which was not considered comparable with the Monitors in invulnerability, took more than her share of the pounding, and came out of the contest with Wagner with as many honorable scars as any veteran in the fleet could boast of. The handsome manner in which her gallant commander. Captain S. C. Eowan, handled her and took her into action, always elicited the applause of the fleet; and it was only necessary for her to get her broadside guns properly ranged on the enemy's ponderous earthworks for their defenders to go to cover after a few well-directed shots, only to

renew

their

flre,

however, when her bat-

were silent. It was remarkable how much hammering this good old ship could bear, even from the heaviest of the enemy's batteries. When the "Weehawken" went ashore in the channel, between Sumter and Cumming's teries

Point, Captain Rowan placed his ship right between the batteries of Moultrie and the

Monitor, on which they had opened fire. As Rowan anchored and swung head-on to the fort, the enemy opened a rapid fire upon

449

him, which was soon replied to from the "Ironsides'" port battery. By this time the enemy had succeeded in getting the ship's range. The sturdy old "Ironsides" opened slowly at first for range, but soon increased the rapidity of her fire, until its spirit forced Moultrie to slacken. Two guns from each of the 10-inch batteries between Moultrie and Beauregard, however, still caused the "Ironsides" to suffer, and only after one of the heaviest guns was seen to be dismounted did the forts slacken their Having quieted her enemies, fire again. the "Ironsides" now fired an occasional gun to keep them under cover. This cessation, however, immediately brought them from behind their sand-bags to their guns, from which a rapid flre was opened, showing that the "Ironsides'" practice was too Rowan then reaccurate to suit them. newed his rapid fire, and the forts were silenced again it was but a repetition of what had been done at Wagner. By this time there were but thirty shells left in the ship, and the order was given to weigh the Under a rapid flre, the "Ironanchor. sides" quietly went out of action, after having been engaged two hours and a half in an artillery duel such as was never sustained by any ship in the Navy, and against batteries that would have sunk the heaviest three-decker then afloat. In this action Lieutenant H. B. Robeson, Acting - Masters George W. Domett and John M. Skillings, Ensign B. H. Porter and Acting - Ensign Charles W. Howard are spoken of in terms of the highest praise for their coolness and manly bearing; while Lieutenant-Commander George E. Belknap, the executive officer of the "Ironsides," is highly lauded for his zeal and ability in putting the vessel in such an efficient fighting condition, and for the hearty manner in which he had carried out Captain Rowan's orders as commander of the gundeck during the /owr^eew times the "Ironsides " had been under fire. Encounters of this kind were well calculated to develop the highest qualities of young officers, and the names of those above mentioned will be found prominent wherever an opportunity to distinguish themselves was offered. There was no vessel in the fieet the enemy so heartily dreaded as the "Ironsides." Her well-drilled crew and expert gunners made her anything but welcome when she brought her broadside to bear upon any of the forts. The Confederates made several attempts to destroj' her with torpedoes, but without effect. On the night of the 5th of October, 1863, however, they very nearly succeeded. An ingenious torpedo-boat for the day was fitted out at Charleston, and placed in charge of Lieutenant W. T. Glassell, of the

—

—

THE JSAVAE m^blUlil

450

Confederate navy, with orders to operate against and destroy as many of the ironclads as possible. Glassell was assisted by Captain Theodore Stoney as first-officer, J. H. Toombs, engineer, and Charles Scemps and Joseph Abies as assistants. The vessel belonged to a class known as "Davids," and was shaped like a cigar, being supplied with a small engine and propeller, and was of the following dimensions Length, fifty For feet; beam (or diameter), nine feet. offence, a torpedo was carried at the end of :

threw a large column of water into the air, whence it descended upon the spar-deck and into the engine-room. Acting-Ensign Howard was mortally wounded by a shot from the torpedo-boat, dying five days The proximity of the " David " and later. the limited target presented by its only visible part— a hatch ten feet by two—precluded the use of great guns upon it; but a brisk musket fire was kept upon it by the marines until it drifted out of sight. Two of the Monitors soon came under the stern of the "Ironsides" in pursuit of this new device of the enemy, but, although two boats were lowered to assist in the search,

nothing was seen. Fortunately, no

damage

to the "Iron-

from this explosion, and her salvation was, no doubt, due to a miscalculation of the distance of the torpedo from the hull. Lieutenant Glassell was afterward picked up by a coal schooner, and stated that the explosion had swamped the torpedoboat, and that he and the two officers with him had been obliged to leave her and swim, sides " resulted

for their lives.

Here was a new danger for the fleet to contend with, and even more than the customary watchfulness would have to be observed. The North, with all its resources, had not then developed a torpedo-boat (nor are we yet, in 1886, possessed of an efficient one), while the fleet at Charleston should have been supplied with at least twenty of them T/ie?/ would have removed all obstructions much faster than our energetic I

enemy

way the

fleet.

The 5th

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER (NOW COMMODORE) GEORGE E. BELKNAP, EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE "IRONSIDES."

a stout spar, extending some fifteen feet ahead of the sharp bow. When the attempted destruction of the " Ironsides " occurred, that vessel was anchored off Morris Island, and the time, 9:15 p. M., was one at which a ship's deck is apt to be deserted except by the look-outs. A small object on the dark water, close at hand, was suddenly discovered by the sentinels, and hailed by them, and the officer of the deck, Acting-Ensign C. W. Howard. No response being made, the officer of the deck ordered the sentries to fire into the ob-

The sentries delivered their fire, and, simultaneously, the ship received a severe shock from the explosion of a torpedo, which

ject.

them down, and the would have been open to

could have put

to Charleston

of October

was memorable

for

the advent of this new device of the enemy, and we were no nearer Charleston than we were on April 7th, when DuPont attacked the circle of forts without success. Wagner and Gregg had, indeed, been taken, but Sumter, that had been pronounced a harmless heap of rubbish, had not only repulsed the naval assaulters, but had captured one

hundred and thirty prisoners, whom, under the circumstances, the Confederates dealt with very tenderly, considering the fact that they had them in a trap, and might have destroyed the whole of them. This leniency gives a proof that, as the war continued, both sides were learning to conduct it on civilized principles, and the bitterness with which it had commenced was subsiding, so far that it was not considered unwarlike to capture prisoners instead of killing them, and that it was to the advantage of all concerned to observe the amenities of war as practiced by all civilized nations. In considering the attacks of Dahlgren with his little fleet of iron-clads on Charleston's defences, too much cannot be said in

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

praise of the persistent gallantry and untiring energy of the commander-in-chief and his officers; but in the work accomplished there was the strongest endorsement of Rear- Admiral DuPont and of the views of his officers that the naval force was not strong enough to contend successfully with the well-built and formidable forts included in the great " circle of fire," to say nothing of the submarine and other obstructions barring the way to Charleston. With all Dahlgren's incessant fighting, from the time of his first attack to the 8th of September, 1863, he had not advanced beyond the line whence DuPont had engaged the batteries on the 7th of April previously. True, some of the Confederate force had been broken in the fall of Wagner and Gregg, but only after the junction of Gillmore's sixty guns with those of the ironclads in cross-fire. It was the same result that obtained on the Western rivers, success always attended a hearty co-operation be-

—

tween the military and naval

forces, and failure as surely met the single - handed siege operations of either.

Too much was expected of the Monitors in the first instance. The conception of such vessels was a grand one, and for it the inventor and his supporters will live long in the memory of the American people; but the vessels did not possess all the qualities required of them, since much had to be sacrificed in their design. Against wooden ships or vessels more lightly clad than themselves, they would have proved perfectly

— —

destructive premising equality of speed for all but against forts they lacked qualiThey ties possessed by the "Ironsides." could not concentrate the rapid fire possible for a broadside-ship upon the enemy's embrasures, and while they were slowly loading harmless for five or more minutes at a time the guns of their opponents could be concentrated upon them with destructive effect, as on the 7th of April. It was a matter of frequent observation during the attacks on the batteries, that the rapid fire of the " New Ironsides " always relieved the Monitors after she had settled into position, and fairly obtained the range. There was one great mistake made in the armament of the Monitors they should have been armed throughout with the heaviest rifled guns they could carry. With these they could have taken position between four and five thousand yards from Sumter and cut it down at their leisure, without receiving a shot in return. This was exactly what Gillmore did with his sixty breaching-gunSjlodging over three thousand shells in the devoted fort, and making it a ruin in seven days. The 15-inch guns of the Monitors would, no doubt, have breached the walls and have effected the same results.

—

—

:

451

but the short range necessary would have subjected these vessels to a combined fire of all the batteries, which they were not fitted to endure for any protracted period. The disappointment felt at the Navy Department over the failure of the first attack, and the resulting controversies, no doubt, prevented a calm investigation of the facts, from which the iron-clads might have profited. If a careful study of the case had been made by unprejudiced men, or if DuPont had been listened to, the Monitors would have had their batteries changed for the 200-pounder rifles. The author saw enough of. the firing of the Monitors at pretty short ranges at sand-bags, to know that the effect was trifling compared with the more rapid flre of the " Ironsides' " flinch guns with their higher velocity, and these were greatly exceeded by the larger rifled guns made for the Navy. The age of smooth-bores departed with the advent of iron-clad vessels, and the most probable reason for their retention during the war was the treacherous character of the rifled substitutes of large calibre, besides the fact that the Dahlgren shell-guns were favorite weapons, the 11-inch standing next in efficiency to the heavy rifles. The earlier use of rifles might have followed from the example shown at Pulaski, a fort built by Colonel Totten, a veteran chief of engineers, to resist any fleet that could be brought against it. With a few 30-pdr. and 60-pdr.

—

—

rifles,

the

through

its

work was bored through and masonry until honeycombed,

when a few

shot from 10-inch guns brought the disintegrated structure down about its defenders' ears. The naval historian Boynton attempts to show that the 15-inch guns of the Monitors had great smashing eff ect.because two of the shells passed through the walls of Sumter, " one exploding in a casemate, another exploding on the parade ground; other lo-inch shells exploded against the wall, making great craters." And this, the historian thought, settled the point that these guns were of great smashing power. He, however, fails to mention what number of the many that struck the walls did not go through, and how little damaged Sumter was when the iron-clads drew off. Mr. Boynton, though a very pleasant historian, was not good authority upon the matter of which he wrote, and, with all his desire to do justice, he allowed himself to be guided in his opinions by those riding a hobby, and, unfortunately, a defective one. Concerning the siege of Charleston at this day, when men can sit down coolly, and untrammeled by prejudice, read over'all the operations of the naval force, there can be but one conclusion resulting there was too great a hurry in the effort to capture a posi:

—

THE NAVAL HISTORY

453

tion particularly strong, and in which all the arts of war had been exercised for ability to hurl defiance at the Federal forces. Notwithstanding the actual strength of

Charleston, exaggerated accounts have been given out stating the number of guns to be as high as three hundred and thirty. The Confederate accounts, which there seems no reason to doubt, gave the armament of the woj-ks as follows: Sumter 44, Moultrie

Battery Bee G, Fort Beauregard 3, Cumming's Point 2, and Wagner 19; total 94. To these must be added the batteries at Fort Ripley, Castle Pinckney, Mount Pleasant, Fort Johnson, Battery Gregg, and the Creek

21,

batteries.

Altogether, the naval commanders, and with them, deserve high commendation for accomplishing what they did before Charleston; their efforts, though not successful in capture, rendered the place of not the slightest use to the Confederacy even as a resort for blockade-runners, whence supplies from abroad could be received. On the contrary, its possession was a drawback to them, for its defence necessitated the retention there of a large number of troops, elsewhere sadly needed by the enemy in the field, and it may be said that the place was only held as a matter of pride, that the spot where secession first took root and sprouted should be the last to surrender. By some persons the conduct of the war by the naval commanders has been criticised, on the ground that they did not rush through the obstructions and go right on to the wharves of Charleston. As if, indeed, the Confederates would plant obstructions without due care that they should stop any vessel attempting to pass them under the guns of the forts What a predicament for the commander of a squadron to be in, to get his vessels entangled in a network of piles, ropes, chains, and torpedoes all the while all

!

—

—

under a terrific cross-fire and then to be blamed for his stupidity! Mr. Boynton admits that, on the 7th of April, DuPont's fleet " was huddled together helplessly in the very focus of a hundred guns, and held there during the stress of

the fight." How it was to be otherwise the historian does not say, but further along remarks: " short time only was needed to show that Admiral DuPont was mistaken in all his main opinions; the subsequent use of the Monitors by Admiral Dahlgren proved that they could safely have endured another fight with the forts. He found that the broadsides of the "New Ironsides" could sweep the Confederates from their guns whenever she was brought in proper range, and that she was a valuable co-worker with the Monitors. Dahlgren also demonstrated that the " Ironsides " and Monitors could

A

safely within the bar, and that with his iron-clads the harbor of Charleston was effectually closed." The iron-clads, under Dahlgren, never came within the "great circle of fire of the forts," and though it is true that the fire of the "Ironsides" would silence Wagner's guns, yet she was not brought into close contact with that fort until she had the assistance of Gillmore's batteries. Firing at Wagner, and forcing the passage of all the forts entangled in obstructions, are two different things altogether, as would have been ascertained by a practical comparison. lie

Fortunately, the representations made at the close of the war have been carefully examined, and, in most cases, found unworthy of record. In this case, for instance, how could it be expected that a man who had no naval training, and had failed to post himself from official documents, could write a true history of naval operations ? Throughout his account of the naval work before Charleston he has labored most arduously to take from a gallant ofiicer the high reputation he had so fairly won, while endeavoring to elevate another at his expense.

Dahlgren himself must have seen, from DuPont's first attack, that all efforts in that particular direction would be futile he wisely concluded to avail himself of the advantages to be gained by a close co-operation with the Army. If he did not succeed in all he hoped for, he at least demonstrated that a naval force alone could have no ef;

fect on the capture of Charleston.

The most remarkable piece of assurance in connection with the Charleston affairs was that of an engineer in the Navy, who, in view of DuPont's failure, addressed the Navy Department, and criticised the conduct of the fleet in a manner that should have brought him before a court-martial.

How

could any commander-in-chief hope

to possess the confidence of his Government while officious subordinates were allowed to give their views directly in opposition to his plans, and suggesting what, in their

opmion, should be the mode of attack ? Yet man not only stated that the passage of the forts was possible, but that the squadron could go up to the Charleston wharves. Again, we say, that the best endorsement of DuPont's opinions is the hard work of Rear-Admiral Dahlgren from the first cooperation with General Gillmore, July 10th, to the unfortunate assault of September 8th on bumter, two months in which the fleet never succeeded in passing the fort that was '• useless for all offensive purposes " With this chapter ends the operations of the Navy before Charleston to October, this

1863.

CHAPTER XXXVIl. OPERATIONS OF THE EAST GULF SQUADRON TO OCTOBER,

1863.

—

Acting-Rear- Admiral Bailey Appointed to Command East Gulp Squadron. Vessels Captured or Destroyed. Places of Safety. Destruction of Confederate Salt Works A Necessity. Attempt to "Cut" out Schooner in Mosquito Inlet. Expedition up Indian River and other Points. Capture of Schooner and Sloop. Lieutenant - Commander English in Gun-boat "Sagamore" Explores Coast. Value of Property Seized. Violation of Blockade. The Sloop " Helen " Burnt. Brisk Engagement with Confederate Batteries. Destruction op Schooner. River Expeditions under Lieutenant-Commander McCauley. Disastrous Reconnaissance at St. Andrew's Bay. Flag of Truce used as Decoy by the Natives. The " Tahoma" Shells a Town. Boat's Crew from Bark "Amanda" Cut out Schooner " Forward." Loss of Prize." Heroic Conduct of Master Hoffneb and Men. Tribute to Gallant Volunteers. Destruction op Important Salt Works by Boat's Crew from Steamer "Somerset." "Tahoma" AND "Adela" Shell Confederate Batteries. Destruction op Two Blockaderunning Steamers in Hillsboro River. Blockade-running Broken Up. List of Vessels Composing East Gulf Squadron under Acting- Rear-Admiral Bailey. List of Officers.

—

— —

—

—

—

—

Rear -Admiral ACTING Bailey was appointed

Theodorus comof the East Gulf squadron to the

on the 4th of June, 1862. The Navy Department had found an opportunity to reward this gallant offi-

New

Orleans,

— —

—

—

cer for his services at

—

—

— —

—

mand

—

—

and

although no important military or naval movements were going on within the limits of this command, it was the only way in which the Secretary of the Navy could show his high appreciation of Bailey's gallantry and devotion to his country's service. The limits of this command extended along the Florida Peninsula from Cape Canaveral on the east, to Pensacola on the west.

Up to December, 186.3, the little squadron under Bailey had exercised the greatest watchfulness along the coast, had captured many prizes, and had apparently broken up the illicit traffic by which the Confederates had been supplied with munitions of war. Lying adjacent to Cuba, and at no srreat distance from the Ene-lish

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

possessions of Nassau and Bermuda, the coast of Florida presented many available points for the introduction of all kinds of material by means of small vessels that could enter the shallow harbors, streams and inlets with which this State

abounds. But notwithstanding the advantages these small craft possessed for eluding the blockaders, they could not carry on their trade with impunity. From the time that Bailey took command, up to the end of the year, more than 100 vessels were captured or destroyed by the squadron. From Cape Canaveral, all along the eastern shore of Florida to Cape Sable, are numerous passages and inlets where vessels could with safety land their cargoes of amis or provisions in a night and be out of sight of the blockaders when daylight came. Following the coast up to the northward were the Ten Thousand Islands, Charlotte Harbor, Tampa Bay, Crystal River, Cedar Kevs. Suwanee River. AoDalache Bav. St.

454

THE NA VAL HISTORY

George's Bay, Appalachicola, St. Andrew's Bay, and a thousand other places of refuge too numerous to mention. Arms and munitions of war of all kinds could have been landed but for the watchfulness of the naval vessels.

Florida, with its inaccessible and tortuous channels, and numerous islands surrounded by impenetrable swamps, was just the place to tempt smugglers, they being led there by the quantity of game and the romantic scenery, and a delicious climate that harbored no diseases and rendered the shelter of houses unnecessary. It was a hard place to find smugglers, and the Federal sailors had great difficulty in breaking up the traffic; but it was done in spite of all obstacles, and no more disagreeable and at times dangerous duty was per-

formed anywhere. Florida (especially the west coast) was one of the great depots where the Confederates made their salt. This was an article without which they could not exist, and it

could only be made in certain localities near salt water. It may have been noticed in the naval reports of the war that certain vessels were mentioned as having destroyed salt works, and persons may have exclaimed, "Why distress the poor by destroying their salt works? What good can it do to destroy salt?" It was the life of the Confederate army which they were destroj-ing. They could not pack their meats without it. A soldier with a small piece of boiled beef, six ounces of corn-meal and four ounces of salt, was provisioned for a three days' march. And though we might have pitied the Confederate army in the straits to which it was often reduced, yet the Federal officers, by way of shortening the war, did all they could to destroy salt works wherever they found them. This distressed the soldiers more than the loss of blockade-runners, for although these vessels generally brought plenty of guns and powder, their owners were rarely thoughtful enough to lay in a supply of salt. The history of these saltdestroying expeditions may appear tame, but they are part of the history of the war, and if possible a place must be found for them. Early in the year 18G3, Acting-Master J. A. Pennell reports the destruction of large salt works near St. Joseph. He commanded the bark " Ethan Allen " (a sailing vessel), and, on the morning of the 9th of January, got underway and stood up St. Joseph's Bay. He anchored at daylight abreast of where he supposed the saltworks to be, and sent three armed boats (in charge of ActingMaster A. Weston, his executive officer), witJi forty men, to destroy them. The men in charge of the works fled when the boats

landed, and everything destroyed.

was

set

on

fire

and

This establishment could make 75 bushels and it was the fourth of the kind that Master Pennell had destroyed within a short time. At the same rate of doing work, these four manufactories could have turned out for the Confederate army 110,000 bushels of salt in a year. (The Confederates had their agents in every State where salt could be made, and in those days the wants of the Army were first considered.) Sometimes the boats of the squadron of salt daily,

would have something more interesting

to

report than the capture of a salt crop.

Late in February, Lieutenant-Commander Earl English, in conmiand of the gun-boat "Sagamore," received information that a schooner was in Mosquito Inlet, Florida, loading up with cotton, the captain being of the opinion that there was no blockading vessel in the vicinity. English proceeded to that point at once, arriving there on the 28th, when the schooner was discovered inside. An expedition was organized to cut her out or

burn

her.

was placed under the command of Acting -Master's Mate J. A. Slamm, a very young officer, but one who was full of It

He

took the ship's launch, with Assistant Engineer F. G. Coggin, thirteen men and a howitzer; the first cutter in charge of Acting-Master's Mate Frank E. Ford with seven men; the second cutter in charge of Acting- Master's Mate C. R. Fleming with eleven men, and the gig in charge of Acting-Master's Mate George B. Sidell, five men; in all, forty -one officers zeal.

Third

-

and men. The boats proceeded up the river and sighted the schooner without meeting any resistance, when suddenly she was set on fire by a party that ran "on board of her. The cutters were then ordered to board, extinguish the fire and bring the schooner out, while the launch shelled the banks and bushes with her howitzer. While boarding, the sailors were fired upon by a party of twenty-five men concealed in the bushes behind the embankment. Finding that the schooner was hard and fast on the bottom, and that it was impossible to extinguish the

fire,

the young

having accomplished the object of the expedition, determined to return to his officer,

vessel.

Unfortunately, while in the act of board-

ing,Hugh Maguire, a seaman, was shot dead, and most of the crew of the first cutter were wounded. Acting-Master's Mate Ford, of the first cutter, though wounded himself, shot one of the enemy who was in the act of firing upon the boarding party. While the boats were returning, the enemy

OF THE fire upon them, but a heavy return fire of musketry and shrapnel was kept up by the men, and some punishment Avas, no doubt, inflicted. The schooner was of 150 tons burden, all ready to sail, but instead was given to the flames by the advent of this brave little

continued to

which lost one killed and five wounded. So it will be seen that this affair, which lasted only twenty minutes, was gallantly managed and was not withparty,

out danger.

On March 4th

,

Acting-Master's Mate Henry

A. Crane reports the results of an expedition up Indian River, under the instructions of Lieutenant-Commander Earl English. On the morning of February 33d, he started in a boat and reached a cove five miles above the mouth of St. Sebastian River, and at 3 o'clock p. m. discovered a schooner

CIVIL WAR.

455

mined to run into and capture, but was informed by one of his prisoners that she had no crew and was full of cotton. He placed two men in her, tlius reducing his party to five, and ran down for the inlet (some eighteen miles), reaching there on the morning of the 27th, having been seventy-two hours on the expedition with no sleep and very food. He took his prizes off to the of the Sea," where he obtained assistance to secure his prisoners and take care of his vessels. This was a small party, but of inflexible firmness, to which they were indebted for securing two vessels that netted them a Even so nice little sum in prize-money. little

"Gem

small an

affair,

when

well executed,

is

more

creditable than a great one poorly managed. The only way of reaching the Confederates up the crooked and shallow streams in Florida was by boat expeditions, and Rear- Admiral Bailey kept his officers and men well employed, giving all those who deserved it an opportunity to distinguish

themselves.

On March 24th, 1863, he directed Lieutenant-Commander Earl English to proceed to Cedar Keys with the gunboat " Sagamore," taking with him two armed launches from the fiag-ship "St. Lawrence," under the im-

mediate command of Acting - Lieutenant E. Y. McCauley, for the purpose of scouring the coast between the Suwanee River and the Anclote Keys, where it was reported a number of small craft were engaged in violating the blockade.

There was no end to this kind of traffic wherever there was a slip of land to haul a boat upon, or a shallow stream where a

LIEUTENANT-COMJMANDEE (NOW EEAB-ADMIRAL) EABL ENGLISH.

"bearing down, apparently filled with men. Prom their number and appearaiice it was supposed that they were Confederates prepared to act on the offensive. Mr. Crane's boat was so disguised as to look like a boat from a merchantman, so that the Confederates passed him unsuspiciously and went

on down the

river.

He

allowed the schooner to get well ahead and then followed in her wake, until night came on and she got into shoal water. While her crew were employed in getting her over the bar, the Union boat dashed alongside and captured her. There were twelve men on board, who no doubt would have made a good fight if they had not been

taken by surprise. Ordering the schooner's sails hoisted, Mr. Crane started down the river, when he discovered a sloop ahead, which he deter-

schooner could scrape her keel over the sandbar and proceed inland. When one considers that this was going on all along 3,000 miles of coast, it will appear wonderful how, even with the force the Federals had on hand, they were able to put a stop to the traffic which alone kept the Confederate armies in the field. During the war, over $30,000,000 worth of this kind of property was seized and turned into the Treasury not a tithe of its value, for a large portion of it went into the possession of land -sharks, who rarely gave a fair account of the money which passed through their hands. But when the big holes and the small leaks on the blockade

—

were all closed up, the tale was told at Appomattox, where General Grant had to serve out rations to Lee's soldiers and give them enough to enable them to reach their homes. A launch and cutter from

more

the

" Saga-

and others from the "Fort Henry," including an ambulance boat, were added to this expedition and the whole force pro"

ceeded direct to Bavnort.

-whilft

tho "

Sao-a.-

456

THE NA VAL HISTORY

more" remained

Wakassa—beautiful Indian names, that sig-

out.

anything rather than the lawless, scenes that were carried on in their waters. The expedition had, however, been so delayed by head-winds and currents, and by the sluggishness of one of the launches, that they only made seventy-five miles in. five days, so that the news of their coming preceded them, and, on the appearance of the boats, everything had been moved out of the way. This expedition was well man-

in the offing to prevent the escape of Confederate vessels. Great difficulties attended this expedition, as the weather was very imfavorable, but the main object was handsomely carried

The sloop "Helen," of Crystal River,loaded with corn, was burnt, and the boats pushed on for a large schooner on the inside, loaded with cotton and said to contain three hundred bales. As they pulled for the schooner the boats were opened upon by a battery of two guns on shore, and by quite a number of riflemen concealed in the woods. A brisk engagement of half an hour ensued and the bushwhackers were driven from their works and rifle-pits, with one killed and three wounded. Unfortunately, the howitzers in the launches were partly disabled, by their recoil, from rapid use, but they kept up such a fire, while they could, with shrapnel and

nified

aged by Lieutenant-Commander McCauley. An expedition fitted out on March SOtli by Acting-Master John Sherrill, commanding bark " Roebuck," did not fare so well. Sherrill sent a launch up St. Andrew'sBay on a reconnaissance; but, on the return of the boat, they were attacked by a party of fifty men, with rifles, one man killed and six severely wounded, including the officer in charge, Acting-Master Jas. Folger. Two brave seamen, Thomas Wylie and James Kitchen, brought the boat off, all the rest being killed or wounded. The fire from the bushwhackers was very severe, and most of the men shot were mortally wounded. These were dangerous enemies to encounter. They were not soldiers, but,

more properly speaking, smugglers. There was not a particle of loyalty in these parts and the only object of the inhabitants was gain. They were fighting, not to preserve the independence of the South, but to make rich harvests by smuggling and to set the laws at defiance. Thisregion at that time could boast of the worst and most reckless set of men in the South, and they would have been just as willing to put to death a Confederal e party as a Union one, if it should attempt to interfere with their vocation.

LIEUTENAl^T-COMMANDEB (NOW EEAR-ADMIBAL) EDWARD YORK MoCAULEY.

grape, that the enemy's flre was very wild, and went over the boats. This little afl'air was conducted with coolness and judgment, and also with the right spirit.

When the Confederates found that the boats could not be driven off, they set fire to the schooner. The engagement was still continued from the boats until there was no chance of extinguishing the flames, and it is quite probable the Confederates were delighted to think the attacking party would secure no prize. The object of the expedition having been effected, the party in the boats returned, after seeing the vessel and cargo totally consumed. This boat expedition then proceeded to the Chassahowitzka, thence to Crystal River, the Homosassa, the Withlacoochee and the

They had no military notions of honor, and would not respect a flag of truce if the bearer of it had anything on his person worth taking. As a proof of this we relate the following incidents, which are officially reported: On the 27th of March, as the bark " Pursuit " was lying in Tampa Bay, a smoke was discovered on the beach and three persons made their appearance with a white

The commanding officer, supposing them to be escaped contrabands, sent a boat flag.

charge of Acting-Master H. K. Lapham with a flag of truce flying. On nearing the beach, two of the parties were seen to be clothed in women's apparel with their faces blackened and seemed to be overcome with joy at the idea of obtaining their freedom, exclaiming, •' Thank God, thank God, I am in

free!"

When the boat touched the beach the female apparel was thrown off. and it then became evident that these were white men disguised, and using a flag of truce to decoy

OF THE CIVIL WAR. Immediately after, a hundred armed men rose from the bushes where they had been concealed, and demanded the surrender of the boat, which being refused, the enemy opened fire, wounding the officer in charge and three of the crew. But the brave fellows who were left unwounded returned the fire and the attack-

the boat on shore.

ing party took to the trees. Some of the men in the boat kept up a rapid fire with their breech-loading guns, while the others pushed oflf the boat, and they finally got out of range. As soon as the first volley was fired, the broadside of the " Pursuit" was opened on the bushwhackers, and the shells bursting

among them sent them scampering away. Next day the gun-boat "Tahoma" arrived, and her commander, having heard of the outrage committed, brought two vessels up and threw some shells into the town, which called barbarous at the time, but it was the only way to prevent the indiscriminate slaughter that would have been inflicted on a boat's crew that attempted to land on any part of that coast unsupported by gun-

was

boats. It is dreadful to think of the bitter feeling that sprang up among the lower classes of men against the flag which they once thought they honored; but the rough life led in that section of the country, the years spent in hunting the Indian in dis-

mal swamps and

forest fastnesses,

had

pro-

duced a class of people far more barbarous than the Indians themselves men without any sentiment but a love of plunder, who placed no more value on human life than on the life of a dog. Yet they were in-

—

trepid and defled all laws, human and divine, and the only way to touch their un-

derstanding was by the most severe retaliation.

On

Friday, March 20th, an expedition the United States bark "Amanda," for the purpose of proceeding to the Ocklockonnee River, to cut out the schooner " Forleft

ward," supposed to be loaded with cotton. The expedition was under the charge of Acting-Master R. J. Hoffner, and consisted of two boats and twenty-seven men, with a boat howitzer.

Great

difficulty

was encountered

in find-

ing the mouth of the river, and the boats constantly grounded on oyster beds, over which they had to be hauled in the night for fear of discovery, but at daylight the entrance of the river was found and the boats proceeded up. At 8 a. m., of the 33d, a dismasted schooner was discovered lying close to the starboard bank. At the same time the expedition was discovered by some people on the schooner, who jumped into the small boat and made their escape, no doubt carrvinar

news

of its arrival.

457

The boats boarded the schooner and took up the anchor and commenced towing her down the river, having two hours' tide left. They anchored when the tide was too low to proceed, got underway again at 5 o'clock in the morning, and by 8 o'clock were clear of the entrance to the river. They steered for the bay channel, and again grounded when nearly over all the difficulties of the navigation. Again the tide served and the vessel was got underway, but this time they followed the wrong channel and grounded again, and all their enpossession, hove

deavors to get her afloat proved unavailing. These brave fellows had worked for twenty-four hours with an energy unsurpassed, hoping to receive a large share of prize-money, but now they saw that all their work had been in vain, and prepared to set flre to the vessel. The arms were all put in order in case they should be

needed suddenly; the howitzer was loaded with canister and every preparation made to repel the attack which Mr. Hoffner confidently expected. At about noon, a party of forty horsemen was discovered approaching at some distance. They turned and appeared to be going off, but soon re-appeared with some squads of infantry (about 200 in all) jumping from tree to tree, and taking position to attack the sailors. The boat howitzer was brought to bear upon the Confederates, and fired with grape and canister, but without marked effect, as the

enemy was

protected by the trees.

same time ten

At the

with muskets (behind such defences as they could throw up on board the vessel) kept up a continuous fire whenever anything could be seen to shoot at. Once a squad of twenty exposed themselves, and a shrapnel was exploded in their midst, and a number of them seemed to have been hurt. A rapid fire was kept up on both sides, each party protecting themselves behind their barricades, until the tide began to run flood, and the boats floated. Then Mr. Hoffner determined to fire the vessel, as an attempt to save her would involve too great a loss of life. The schooner was only two hundred yards from the shore, and directly under a galling fire from the enemy's rifies. The howitzer was hoisted into the boat, while the enemy fired rapidly (though not accurately), and the boats were kept on the off-side until the sailors were able to shove off with safety. In an hour and a half the tide was supposed to be high enough, and the boats' crews embarked and shoved off; but, with the weight of the crews, the boats grounded, and the enemy opened upon sailors

them again. The

sailors jumped overboard, and, taking hold of the boats, commenced dragging them over the bottom slow work

—

under a heavy

fire.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

468

James Mooney, a seaman, was

killed in-

through the heart.

At the

stantly, shot

same moment, the

officer in charge, Mr. Hoffner, received a rifle-ball in the right side of the neck, passing around the back and lodging in the left side, deeply imbedded the muscles. Other men were struck at the same time, but only one of them so seriously that he could not work. Every one was doing his best to get the boats over the bottom, or else firing at the pursuers, who were keeping up with them along the banks. Mr. Shaffer, the second officer, was conspicuous in setting an example of gallantry very much to be

m

commended. At length, after being nearly exhausted by the hard work, the sailors got their boats afloat in deep water, jumped in, and, giving the enemy a parting volley and a cheer, they sprang to their oars, and soon put

time. Its object is to bring about law and order, and the most stringent measures are those most likely to succeed. There was no way of arresting this war but by sacrificing every object that would tend to keep

going on. Let it be understood that most of these little expeditions, which were fitted out and it

did so well, were commanded and officered by those gallant volunteers from the merchant marine, who, sacrificing all their interests in commercial affairs, joined the Navy to devote life and all they held dear to the defence of their country's rights and honor. They gave such a guarantee, by their matchless adaptation to the rules and

themselves out of range.

The bushwhackers had kept themselves so well protected by the trees that they could be detected only by the flashes of their guns. Under such circumstances and with so greatly a superior force, some officers would have felt themselves justified in surrendering to save the lives of their men. But there was not a word said about surrendering in this party. The commanding officer, Mr. Hoffner, though dangerously

wounded, stuck to his work like a hero and brought his boats off safely, with one man

and six (besides himself) seriously wounded. During this engagement, which lasted several hours, some heroic acts occurred, which would have done credit to any service, and the determination shown not to be captured proved the stuff the officers and men were made of. These gallant fellows abhorred the idea of letting their flag (which killed

was kept flying in the boat all the time) fall into such an enemy's hands, for though the people, who performed the part of soldiers on shore, were at the farthest extreme of the Confederacy, and not inspired by the exciting scenes which were daily taking place between the Federal and Confederate forces, yet they were as bitter in their hostility to everything Union as

if they had received some great injury at the hands of the Government. These people, no doubt, considered it an

outrage for the Federal naval forces to interfere with their smuggling articles contraband of war, but they never stopped to reflect that war could not be ended merely by the Navy sailing up and down the coast of Florida and looking at them violating the laws. Hence all this talk of the Confederates about the inhuman treatment to these

smugglers (for they were nothing more) is simply absurd. War is not a pleasant pas-

LIEUTENANT (AFTERWAEDS COMMODORE)

A. A.

SEMME3.

regulations of the Navy, of their ability to learn the science of war from officers edu cated for tlie naval service, that the country must not forget, while awarding credit to the Navy proper, to allow a full share of the honor to fall upon the volunteer oflficers from the American mercantile marine. On July 6th, Rear- Admiral Bailey reports the destruction of important salt works, under the direction of Lieutenant - Commander A. F. Crosman, of the steamer

"Somerset." This duty was well performed by ActingMaster Thomas Chatfield, who landed in boats under the guns of the "Somerset," and, with sixty-five sailors and marines,

OF THE CIVIL WAR. destroyed four distinct stations. Sixty-five salt-kettles were demolished, over two hundred bushels of salt destroyed, and thirty houses, with all their appurtenances, were burned. The whole establishment was completely blotted out without the loss of a man, in which these expeditions were not

always so fortunate. On the 16th of October an expedition was fitted out to destroy two blockade-running steamers in Hillsboro River. Lieutenant-Commander A. A. Semmes, in the gun-boat "Tahoma" (assisted by the "Adela"), was directed to divert attention

from the expedition by shelling the town and fort and to land men under cover of the night at a point in Old Tampa Bay, some distance from the fort, to proceed overland to the point on the Hillsboro River where the blockade-runners lay, and destroy them.

On

the date mentioned, the

"Tahoma"

and "Adela" ran in abreast of the batteries, and shelled them slowly during the day, their fire being unusually accurate. As soon as the moon went down that evening, a force of sixty men, under ActingEnsigns J. P. Randall and J. G. Koehler, from the " Tahoma," and forty men, under Acting-Ensigns F. A. Strandberg and Edward Balch, and Acting- First -Assistant Engineer G. M. Bennett, from the "Adela,"

with Acting-Master's Mate Crane and Mr. A. Thompson as guides, was landed at Ballast Point. The whole expedition was under the immediate command of ActingMaster T. R. Harris, executive officer of the J.

"Tahoma." The line of march was quietly taken up under guidance of Mr. Thompson (who, being too ill to walk, was carried in a litter). A march of fourteen miles brought the party, before daylight, to the river-bank. As soon as it was light the two steamers were discovered on the opposite side. The force was assembled abreast of the steamers, and those on board brought under aim of the rifles, and ordered to send a boat, which was done. detachment was then sent to bring over the vessels and to make prisoners of their crews. At this time two men succeeded in escaping from the steamers, and carried the alarm to the garrison. The prizes were meantime set on fire effectually, and the Union force set out on its return.

A

Encountering an armed party near the beach, a charge was made and two of the The beach Confederates were captured. was finally reached without loss, pickets were stationed, and the party rested, waiting the arrival of their boats. While so resting (after a twenty-eightmile march), word was brought the comTna.ndfir of thf> fixnfidition that a detach-

459

ment

of cavalry and one of infantry were advancing, and the party was formed to resist an attack; the boats, however, having arrived, the embarkation commenced and while this was going on the Confederates opened fire. The first and second divisions of sailors, with seven prisoners, proceeded in an or;

derly manner to the boats; the third division deployed as skirmishers and returned the fire of the enemy with great spirit the " Adela" in the meantime shelled the woods and drove the Confederates from cover. The first two divisions having embarked, the rear guard followed, after having stood at their posts and protected the retreat with the coolness of veteran soldiers. Finally, they, at the order, entered the boats, taking ;

wounded with them. The Confederate troops were under the command of Captain Westcott, and were

their

the so-called regulars, who could act as smugglers or bushwhackers as suited their purpose; but they did not seem inclined on this occasion to come out boldly and " try conclusions" with the sailors. The retreat to the boats was conducted by Acting-Master Harris, with the most admirable coolness, and the expedition throughout was characterized by a degree of discipline, courage and energy not often met with even among the best trained troops. It shows how carefully the men of the Navy were drilled and how well commanded. On this occasion, although the Union force suffered a good deal while on the beach, they never swerved for one instant. Three of the sailors were killed, and their names are mentioned as an inducement for others to show an equal bravery.

They were James Warrall, John Roddy and Joseph O'Donnell, all seamen. Ten men were wounded severely, and

we

are sorry not to be able to chronicle names also, for no seamen ever deserved better! Acting Ensigns Randall and Koehler were wounded, and four men were

their

made

prisoners.

This is the last of Rear-Admiral Bailey's operations up to October, 1863, and although they were not remarkably important, they show a determination to break up the blockade-running, and it was done effectually. Of fifty-two vessels that attempted to run the blockade, only seven succeeded, the rest being taken into the port of Key West. Nearly one hundred were captured in the space of six months. The command of this station, although a compliment to Admiral Bailey, was scarcely a reward commensurate with his character and services. He was not a man whose appearance would attract attention, except from those who could appreciate tJie honest and simnle character of an old-time nava.l

THE NA VAL HIS TOR V

460

but he was a

officer,

rior in the

man who had no

supe-

Navy in point

courage, and, if he had tunity of commanding

of dash, energy and ever had the oppora fleet in action, he

it with the coolness and bravery of Nelson. No higher compliment could be paid

would have done him.

COMPOSING THE EAST GULF BLOCKADING SQUADKON.

LIST OF VESSELS

Under Acting-Rear- Admiral Theodorus Bailey; Lieutenant-Commander William G. Temple, Fleet-Captain. as obtained from the

navy register of JANUARY, 18G3, with names of commanding AND OTHER OFFICERS.

FRIGATE "ST. IjAWEENCE — FLAG-SHIP. F. Schenck; Fleet Surgeon, G. R. B. Horner Paymaster, Washington Irving Assistant Surgeon, W. K. Van Reypen ActingAssistant Paymaster, A. B. Poor; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, A. Shirk; Acting-Masters, Wm. H. Smith, John Puller, Chas. DeBevoise and George J. Murray; Acting-Master's Mates, E. Pavys, E. S. D. Howland, John Boyle, V. W. Jones and T. W. Jones Marine Corps Second - Lieutenant, R. S. CoUum; Boatswain, J. A. Briscoe. STEAMEE "SAN JACINTO." Commander, Wm. Ronckendorff LieutenantCommander, Ralph Chandler; Assistant Surgeon, I. W. Bragg; Paymaster, Cramer Burt Marine OflBcers.Capt. J. Schermerhorn; Second-Lieutenant, L. W. Powell; Acting-Masters, D. G. McRitchie, H. J. Coop and John Baker, Acting-Master's Mates, H. H. Fuller, H. T. Keene, J. D. Weed and T. C. Jones; Engineers: Chief, Mortimer Kellogg; Assistants, H. S. Davids, H. C. Mcllvaine, Edwin Wells, H. W. Scott, Edmund Lincoln and N. P. Towne Boatswain, John Marley; Acting-Gunner, C. A. Stevenson Carpenter, R. A. Williams SaUmaker, J. H. North. STEAMEB "PENGUIN." Commander, J. C. Williamson Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. B. Higginbotham; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. C. Cook Acting-Masters, T. Durham, S. B. Rathbone, G. V. Cassedy and C. H. Rockwell; Acting-Master's Mates, W. E. Anderson,

Commander, James ;

;

;

:

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

E. Poote, W. A. Beattie and W. A. Randlett; Engineers, F. W. Warner, M. P. Randall, A. B. 8.

Kinney and John Webster STEAM GUN-BOAT "SAGAMOHE." Lieutenant-Commander, Earl English; Assistant-

W. K. Scofleld; Acting- Assistant PaymasF. Wood; Acting-Masters, Wm. Fales and

Surgeon, ter, J.

Edwin Babson Slamm,

;

Acting- Master's Mates,

C. R. Fleming, F. E.

Ford and G. B.

J. A. Sidell;

Henry Snyder, W. H. Harris, F. G. Coggin and G. J. Lamberson. STEAM GUN-BOAT " TAHOMA " Lieutenant-Commander, A. A. Semmes; Assistant Surgeon, J. H. Gunning; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Wm. Hennesy Acting Ensigns, W. H. Harrison, D. W. Jackson and J. C. Hamlin Acting-MasEngineers,

;

-

;

Mates, J. G. Koehler, C. H. Tillinghast and R. G. Richards; Engineers, J. N. Cahill, J. K. Botsford, John Fornance and A. M. Rankin. STEAM GUN-BOAT " POKT BOYAL." Lieutenant- Commander, George U. Morris; Lieutenant. C. J. McDougal; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. P. Randall; Assistant Surgeon, H. D. Burlingham; Assistant Paymaster, Geo. A. Sawyer; Acting-Masters, Edgar Van Slyek and L. D. D.' Voorhees Acting-Master s Mates, Wm. F. Reynolds, B. V. Tyson, H. D. Baldwin and Wm. A. Prescott; Engineers, Wm. C. Selden, E. M. Breese O. C. Lewis, F. B. Allen and Henry Snyder. ter's

;

'

STEAMEB "SOMERSET." Lieutenant-Commander, A. F. Crosman; Acting-

James Mecray, Jr. Acting-AsW. Adams; Acting-Masters, Dennison, J. S. Higbee, E. C. Healy and

Assistant Surgeon,

;

sistant Paymaster, S.

W.

E.

Acting - Master's Mates, C. H. Brantingham, T. M. Toombs and J. H. Stotsenburg; Engineers, W. D. Peters, W. H. Smith, E. Choppell and John Doyle. STEAMEB " IiODONA." Acting-Lieutenant, E. R. Colhoun; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, T. W. Meckley Acting-Assistant Paymaster, A. M. Stewart; Acting-Masters, Lewis West and J. P. Carr; Acting-Ensigns, H. G. McKenna and N. W. Rathbone; Acting-Master's Mates, Le Grand B. Brigham, W. A. Byrnes and F. E. Brecht; Engineers, F. A. Bremen, I. B. Hewett, S. D. LorThos. Chatfield

;

and James Mollineaux. STEAMEB "FOET HENET." Acting-Lieutenant, Edward T. McCauley; ActingAssistant Surgeon, Joseph Stevens Acting-Assist-

ing, O. B. Mills

;

ant Pajinaster, Daniel Whalen Acting-Masters, R. B. Smith, P. W. Partridge and Geo. Leinas; Acting-Ensign, Geo. W. Bogue Acting-Master's Mates, John Hancock, W. J. Haddock and W. E. Rice; Engineers, F. H. Fletcher, James Ward and Chas. Minnerly. ;

;

STEAMEB " HUNTSVILIiE.'' Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, Wm. C. Rogers, Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. J. Sweet Acting-Assistant Paymaster, E. M. Hart Acting-Masters, T. R. Harris, J. H. Piatt and G. A. Smith; ActingMaster's Mates, E. B. J. Singleton, Charles Labden and C. R. Seoffln; Engineers. J. L. Parry, N. N. ;

;

Buckingham, W. A. Leavitt and John Kaiiealy. BAEK "PURSUIT " Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, David Gate; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, H. K. Wheeler, Acting As sistant Paymaster, D. P. Shuler; Acting-Masters, Robert Spavin, H. K. Lapham and C. R. Harris Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Barry and Van Buren ;

Blum.

BAEK " GEMSBOK

'

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Edward Cavendy; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Thomas Welsh; ActingAssistant Paymaster, E. H. Roberts Acting-Masters, O. Thatcher and Theo. Werlhop ActingMaster's Mates, T. J. Pray, M. W. Stone and N. W. Wait. ;

;

SLOOP-OF-WAB "DALE." Acting-Master, J. O. Barclay Acting-Assistant Surgeon, F. B. Lawson; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, R. B. Rodney; Acting-Master, B. F. Cook; Acting-Ensigns, J. A. Denman and J. T. Mendall; Acting-Master's Mates, D. C. Kiersted, M. Jackson and ;

Wm.

Morris.

STEAMEB "MAGNOLIA." Acting- Master, Chas. Potter; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, E. D. G. Smith; Acting-Assistant Paymas-

OF THE ter,

W.

J. Coite

;

Acting-Masters, Francis Burgess

and Alex. Wallace Acting-Master's Mates, David Scyler, Peter McGuire and 0. Sundstroin; Engineers, Edward Eldridge, E. D. Leavitt, Jr., and R. ;

H. Shultis.

STBAMBB " STABS AND STBIPBS." Acting- AssistActing-Master, C. L. Willcombe ant Surgeon, Benj. Marshall: Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. J. Pratt; Acting-Masters, L, W. Hill, Geo. Ashbury, Thomas Smith and Gr. H, Cole Acting-Master's Mates, H. B. Conklin, C. P. Turner and Alex. Cushman; Engineers, John Briggs, T. D. Coffee, John Burns and H. F. Brown. BABE "JAMBS Ii. DAVIS." Acting-Master, John West; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, E. B. Jackson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, B. S. Price; Acting-Masters, Alex. Waugh and Geo. F. Hammond; Acting-Master's Mates, A. J. Lyon, S. E. Willetts and G. H. Disley. BABE " EOEBTJCE." Acting-Master, John Sherrill; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, M. G. Raefle Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Wm. Sellew; Acting-Masters, H. F. Coffin, Jas. Folger and A. M. Newman; Acting-Ensign, Timothy Delano; Acting- Master's Mates, W. H. Bradford and C. F. Dunderdale. :

;

BABE "JAMES

S.

CHAMBERS."

Acting- Master, Luther Nickerson; Acting- AssistActing-Assistant ant Surgeon, Wm. Clendaniel Paymaster, C. H. West; Acting- Masters, A. B. ;

CIVIL WAR.

461

Pierson and Wm. H. McLean; Acting-Master's Mates, W. J. Eldredge, W. A. Smith and David Axe.

BAKE "AMANDA." Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenants, Geo. E. Welch and Samuel Howard: Acting-Assistant Surgeon, A. H. Hershey Acting- Assistant Paymaster, E. B. South worth; Acting-Masters, R. J. Hoffner and J. B. Jones Acting Master's Mates, G. C. Campbell and N. L. Ledyard. BABE "BTHAN ALLEN." Acting-Master, J. A. Pennell Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J. M. FUnt, Acting- Master, Alfred Weston; Acting-Ensign, Samuel McCormick ActingMaster's Mates, J. E. Stickney, John Wilcox and E. R. Davidson. ;

;

;

;

BABE "HOUOHTON." Acting-Master, Newell Graham; Acting Assistant Paymaster, O. F. Browning.

SCHOONEB "EUGENIE."

Wm. McClintock; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. C. Blackwell. SOHOONEB "BEAUEEGABD." Acting-Master, Wm. A. Arthur Acting-Master's Mate, W. H. Melson. Acting-Master,

;

SCHOONEB "WANDEBEE." Acting-Master, E. S. Turner Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Thomas McHenry; Acting-Master's Mates, L. H. Livingston and Ezra Robbins. ;

CHAPTER XXXVIII. EEVIEW OF THE WORK DONE BY THE NAVY

SUMMARY may

their munitions of war, amounted to at least 180 in number. Thus the Navy had to guard a line of coasts and rivers over 7,500 miles in extent,

a task compared with which the famous blockade of the French coast by the British, during the wars with Napoleon, was a mere bagatelle.

Day by day

THE YEAR

1863.

steamboats; and these aided in transporting the Army from one point to another whereever the enemy showed himself. The operations of the Navy up to the end of the year 1863 had borne with great severity on those who had risen in arms against the National Government, and the idea has been suggested that the almost superhuman efforts of this arm of the service to crush the Rebellion has been a serious embarrassment to its advance since the close of the civil war; that the Southern influence in Congress has, in a great measure, prevented the rebuilding of the Navy and bringing it to a condition befitting a great nation. Certain it is, the Navy has been brought to so low an ebb that it almost seems as if this state of affairs had been produced by some concert of action. The best "^illustration of what the Navy had accomplished up to the close of the year 1863 is afforded by the official reports of the commanding officers of squadrons and single ships; but, as these cannot be embodied in a narrative of this kind, we must content ourselves with an abstract from the

of the events of 18C3 serve to keep in mind the details of the several squadrons that were operating along a sea-coast of over 3,500 miles in extent, and in the Western rivers, a further distance of The harbors and indentations 4,000 miles. of the Atlantic coast, which afforded refuge for blockade-runners, or points for landing

A

IN

the blockade of the Southern

became more stringent, and as Congress was made to feel the urgent ap-

sea-coast

peals of Mr. Secretary Welles for an increase of the Navy, and became aware that the resources of the enemy diminished in proportion as those of the Navy increased, and realized that, without an adequate force of war-vessels, the Rebellion would never be

conquered, it showed due liberality, and success began to attend the Federal arms in all quarters. By increasing the stringency of the blockade, the enemy were driven from the coast, as they realized the uselessness of contending against combined military and naval operations. The great rivers and their tributaries were no longer safe resorts for marauders, as the capture of the principal towns in the West, and the occupation of the surrounding country by the Union forces, had relieved a large number of troops from siege-duty, who could now be employed from Tennessee to Louisiana. The power of the Navy at the same time was largely increased on the Western rivers by the addition of some 800 guns mounted in war-vessels improvised from merchant

records.

Acting-Rear-Admiral S. P. Lee, in comthe North Atlantic squadron, ably seconded by the zeal of his officers, had penetrated the waters of Virginia wherever his gun-boats could reach, and had occupied the sounds of North Carolina to such an extent that the Confederates could be said to have no foothold in that quarter. Wilmington, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, was really the only point in North Carolina where the enemy could boast that they had defied the Federal arms, and this point was found extremely diffi-

mand of

(462)

cult to close owing to two separate entrances to the river some thirty miles apart, both protected by the heaviest description of land defences and obstructed by shallow bars. These obstacles at the time were

THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE considered such as to preclude any attempt to capture Wilmington from the sea. Many reasons existed why the Army could not co-operate in an attack upon Wilmington, which thus remained upwards of a year longer than it should have done the great depot of supplies for the Confederate armies. Many fast steamers from the Clyde, and other parts of Great Britain, continued to elude the utmost efforts of the blockading squadron, and reached Wilmington with valuable cargoes of arms and munitions of war, though numbers were captured or driven on shore and destroyed. all the operations of the North Atlansquadron its officers and men exhibited bravery and zeal second to no other organization in the Navy. There was no field for great achievement except the capture of Fort Fisher and the other defences of Wilmington, which might have been taken earlier in the war, but the task was postponed until it required nearly half of the Navy to overcome the obstacles then pre-

In

tic

sented.

The South Atlantic squadron, during the 1863, had performed most valuable

year

service in blockading the Southern coast, and had succeeded in maintaining a force in Charleston harbor which completely closed that port as a refuge for block-

ade-runners, and prevented the Confederates from obtaining further supplies in that quarter.

The Navy Department had made great capture the heavy defences inside Charleston bar, and Rear- Admiral DuPont had made a vigorous attack with his ironclads and Monitors on the heaviest line of works but, owing to the destructive fire of the enemy and the insufficiency of his efforts to

;

of vessels, DuPont very properly withdrew. The wisdom of his course was subsequently shown during the combined Army and Navy operations against Charleston, under Rear - Admiral Dahlgren and Brigadier-General Gillmore. On the later occasion, sixty siege-guns were brought to bear on the enemy, and Fort Sumter was "reduced to pulp," yet the difficulties of an advance of the naval vessels were so great

force

owing to the obstructions in the channel, that notwithstanding the energy and bravery of the commander-in-chief, his officers and men, at the end of 1863 Charleston still remained in possession of the Confederates, although practically useless to the latter. If the Federal Government could not boast of having captured the hot-bed of secession, it had at least the satisfaction of knowing that Charleston was only held at vast expense to the enemy, merely from a sentiment of pride, and a wish to keep the Federal soldiers and sailors ignorant of the suf-

CIVIL WAR,

463

ferings the citizens had undergone in their mistaken zeal for a desperate cause. As Charleston was the first place to take up arms against the Union, its leading men

considered that it should be the last to lay them down. Their gallantry was unquestionable, but their policy, in a military point of view, was open to criticism, and the city had finally to surrender on the approach of General Sherman's indefatigable soldiers, who did not always extend to conquered cities that consideration they would have received from the Navy. The Eastern Gulf squadron had no important military operations to co-operate with, Acting-Rear Admiral Bailey being engaged in blockading the entire east and west coasts of Florida, capturing many prizes, annihilating the illicit traffic in that quarter, and preventing all supplies from reaching the Confederate armies by way of the Florida coast. The duties of Rear- Admiral Farragut, in command of the West Gulf squadron, had been extremely harassing, but they gave that gallant officer an opportunity to exhibit the highest qualities as commander-inchief.

Soon after the memorable battle below

New

Orleans and the surrender of that city, Farragut made a junction with the squadron of Flag-officer Davis above Vicksburg, and, had the Army contingent that was sent to support him been as large as it should have been, Farragut would have had the satisfaction of capturing Vicksburg. The military part of the expedition, however, though commanded by a most able and gallant

general,

was

too small to effect

anything by an attack on the city; and Farragut, after subjecting his squadron to the fire of the enemy's guns, which were daily increasing in number and power, and finding it was a mere waste of tinae and strength to lay before the city, returned to New Orleans to co-operate with the Army in maintaining order in Louisiana. This omission of a proper military force to co-operate with the Navy gave the Confederates time to render Vicksburg the Gibraltar of the West, and for a long period it bade defiance to the Army and Navy combined. The Vicksburg miscarriage enabled the enemy to fortify Port Hudson and Grand Gulf, which thus became two formidable barriers against the advance of the Navy. When Vicksburg was invested in 1863 by the Army under Major General Grant, and a large naval force under Rear- Admiral Porter, many efforts were made by the latter officer to send vessels down to blockade the mouth of the Red River, and thus cut off supplies from Port Hudson and Vicksburg; but, owing to casualties in the

IHK

464

1\A

VAL UISIUKr

vessels sent on this duty, there was a failure to bring about the desired result.

Rear-Admiral Farragut tlien attempted push up past Port Hudson with his squadron, and met with serious loss. However, with the " Hartford" and "Albatross," he reached the mouth of Ked River, and established so stringent a blockade that the to

Confederates in Port Hudson and Vicksburg could no longer obtain supplies from

Farragut was engaged a part of the season with his ships below Port Hudson in bombarding that place. In these operations the Mortar vessels bore a conspicuous part, until Port Hudson fell, with Vicksburg, on the 4th of July, 1863,

was once more opened

—

—

performed a conspicuous and essential part. For forty-two days, without intermission, the mortar-boats were throwing shells into all parts of the city, and even the works beyond it. Heavy guns mounted on scows commanded the important water batteries, and for fourteen days Thirteen maintained an incessant tire on them. heavy guns were landed from the vessels [the Secretary should have said twenty-two], and oflaoers and men— when they could be spared were sent to rily

that quarter.

sissippi

intercepting him and his band -when attempting to escape, naturally attracted the attention of the country. But the great and important exploits of this squadron were in the vicinity of Vicksburg, where the main strength of the naval as well as the military forces were centred. The magnitude of the defences of the place which were intended to repulse any force, naval or military, that could be brought made the siege formidable, and against them seemed for a time to defy all attempts at their reduction. In overcoming them, the Navy necessa-

and the Misto the sea.

The blockade of the Southern coast, within the limits of Admiral Farragut's command, had, in the main, been efficient and successful, although reverses at Galveston and Sabine Pass gave the enemy something on which to congratulate themselves. These reverses, however, of the Union arms were of no permanent advantage to the Confederates, as the whole coast, from the mouth of the Mississippi to that of the Rio Grande, was so closely guarded by the Union Navy that blockade-running was reduced to very insignificant proportions. The Mississippi squadron, under RearAdmiral Porter, had been actively engaged in the work of suppressing the Rebellion, and co-operated zealously with the Army whenever its services were needed. The capture of Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas River, and the constant effective attacks on the batteries of Vicksburg, the bombardment of the city and its defences, the battle of Grand Gulf and the landing of Grant's army at Bruensburg, and the final reduction of the great stronghold on July 4th, 1863, are among the successful achievements of the Mississippi squadron in co-

operation with the Army. It is simple justice to the officers and men of this squadron that their heroic exertions should receive proper credit, and we cannot better do justice to the occasion than by repeating the eulogistic terms in which Mr. Secretary Welles speaks of them "In the appendix to this report (1863) -will be found correct records of the extraordinary adven:

tures attending the efforts to get control of the Yazoo, by sweeping from the channel the net-work of torpedoes, explosive machines, and contrivances of submarine warfare, near its confluence with the Mississippi. These efforts were followed by the novel and singular Yazoo Pass expedition and the expedition of Steele's Bayou and Deer Creek. On the right bank of the Mississippi scenes of Interest were enacted by the hardy sailors and boatmen in the rivers of Arkansas and northern Louisiana. The Cumberland and Tennessee have been actively pa-

by our vigilant and skillful naval ofBcers and the exciting chase of Morgan, by our steamers on the Ohio, over a distance of five hundred miles, trolled

;

—

man

them. The gun-boats below the city, in co-operation with the Army, were continually engaged in shelling the place. During the siege sixteen thousand shells were thrown from the mortars, gun-boats and naval batteries upon the city and its defences before it capitulated. The creation and organization of this huge squadron, which has done such effective service on the upper Mississippi and its tributaries, extending over a distance of more than 3,500 miles, may justly be considered among the most wonderful events of the times. It is but little over two years since we had not a naval vessel on all those waters, where we now have a squadron of 100 vessels, carrying 463 guns, with crews amounting, in the aggregate, to about 5,500 men.

Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, the upper portions

of

Mississippi

and Louisiana, and the

southern portions of those States which border on the Ohio River on the north, have been relieved and liberated through the instrumentality of the gun-boats, acting by themselves or in earnest and cordial co-operation with the armies. Rear-Admiral Porter has well sustained the renown which the gallant and lamented Foote so nobly earned, and has carried forward to successful results a larger and more powerful force than was ever at the disposal of that heroic ofiflcer. [The Honorable Secretary does not make his meaning quite clear at this point, but it is presumed he wished to be complimentary.] In creating and organizing this squadron, and arming and manning the vessels, it must not be forgotten that the service labored under many and great disadvantages, for the Government had no Navy Yard or establishment of its own on which the Department could depend. In the absence of any

Government shops, yards, store-houses, and other necessary facilities and aids for a naval establishment, and also of mechanics and laborers,

it

became

necessary to collect and send out and receive supplies from some central and secure position. This work has been chiefly performed at Cairo," etc., etc.

The Honorable Secretary might have

said

that the then commander-in-chief of the Mississippi squadron, finding only the ghost of a squadron and the skeleton of a Navy yard in the West, had built up a naval station, with shops and machinery, to meet the wants of the occasion, had increased the squadron from 21 vessels, all out of repair, to 121, mounting 680 guns, with which force, co-operating with the Army, the Mis-

OF THE

CIVIL

WAR.

465

sissippi was opened to the sea, and all its tributaries brought under control of the

ber, 1862, and shows capable of achieving

Federal Government. Mr. Welles, in his official report, is almost as chary of praise for the services of the Navy before Vicksburg as was the military commanding officer in the West, who, only in his last days, in the year 1885, in a few words, gave the officers and men of the Navy full credit for their services on that

would have almost crushed any other na-

occasion.

The result of the herculean efforts of the Mississippi squadron was the establishment of Federal rule along the banks of the The Conf;reat river and its tributaries. ederacy was cut in twain, never to be reunited and from this time the cause of the Rebellion began rapidly to sink. ;

While the Federal Government was supposed to be almost overwhelmed with the severe pressure brought to bear on it at home, the Navy was sustaining its reputation abroad, and closely guarding American interests whenever an opportunity offered. The Confederate cruisers were still pursuing their destructive career but ships-ofwar had been sent in pursuit of them in every direction, and their end was near. In the East Indies and the China seas, the respect due to the American flag was exacted by Commander David McDougal, commanding the IT. S. S. " Wyoming," who, learning of some injustice suffered by an American vessel at the hands of the Japanese, repaired to the locality (Simonosaki), and inflicted severe punishment on some ;

forts

and vessels-of-war.

These people were taught that while the Federal .Government had a gigantic task to perform at home in putting down the Rebellion, yet its naval officers were just as ready as ever to resent an insult to the flag. This prompt vindication of the honor of the country abroad had the happy effect of convincing people tliat the strength of the American Republic only increased when it seemed to be threatened with destruction, and that it was quite competent to guard its interests abroad as well as at home. It will be remembered that, at the commencement of the civil war, the naval force consisted of about forty-two effective vessels, scattered over the world, with about thirty-four more at the Navy Yards available for service after undergoing extensive repairs. Up to the end of 1863 the

Navy Department had exhibited great energy, and, for the first time in its history, the United States had a Navy commensurate with its importance as a maritime power.

The following table exhibits the progress in increasing: the Navy since Decem-

made

tion

what the country was under a pressure that

:

COMPAEATIVE EXHIBIT OF THE NAVY, DEC,

1862,

AND

1863.

THE NA VAL HISTORY

466

proclamation did not at the issue affect the Confederates,

the Rebellion, but to resent any outside in-

While

terference.

time of

The year 1804 opened hopefully for the success of the Union arms by land and sea, and it will be seen that the history of the American Navy was enriched by many brilliant actions, which stand high in the annals of maritime war. It must not be supposed that during the year 1 863 the Navy Department was indifferent to the ravages committed by the Confederate cruisers fitted out in England for the destruction of Federal commerce. The prompt recognition of the Confederates as belligerents by foreign powers, on the breaking out of the Rebellion, gave to the insui-rection a character and strength it It could never otherwise have obtained. encouraged the Confederates to persevere, and assured them of support abroad in any measures they might think proper to undertake, and gave them an opportunity to strike a blow at the most vulnerable point of the North its commerce. The apparent intention of the declaration of neutrality by the powers of Europe was to exhibit a semblance of fairness, a deception of which the Confederates naturally took advantage, and which operated very unjustly against the United States. The Government was obliged to acquiesce in

for the simple reason that they had then no vessels afloat, it excluded the naval ships of the United States from the principal ports As to the fairness which asof the world. sumed to be the motive of the proclamation of neutrality, that must be judged from the history of the times, which will show that

—

acknowledgment of belligerent rights, and assume all the consequences resulting this

therefrom. While the United States had a large mercantile marine scarcely second to that of Great Britain, the Confederates had actually none whatever. In a short time the latter were able by various means to get afloat and at sea several very formidable

The United

States had squadrons on every foreign station representing a bona fide Government, while the insurgents, at the time of their receiving belligerent rights, had not a single man of-war, a fact well understood by the Governments which, in proclaiming their "neutrality" and desire to treat both parties alike, seriously crippled the American Navy and well-nigh cruisers.

destroyed its mercantile marine. The cruising of Federal ships-of-war was limited and all sorts of obstacles thrown in the way of their capturing the Confederate cruisers. The maritime powers of Europe, after granting belligerent rights to the Confederates, declared that both belligerents should be treated alike in their ports, that the public armed vessels of neither should remain longer than twenty-four hours in their harbors, nor receive supplies or assistance except such as might be absolutely necessary to carry them to their own coasts, and for three months thereafter they should not again receive supplies in any of the ports of those Governments.

this its

these proclamations were merely excuses to allow Confederate cruisers to prey upon American commerce and then find protection from United States vessels - of - war within the jurisdiction of the great European powers that were professedly in close amity with the United States. y'

The "Sumter," the very

first

Confederate

a fair sample of how this acknowledgment of belligerent rights operated, and how much fairness there was on the part of Great Britain in cruiser fitted out, affords

carrying out the proclamation she claimed to have issued to insure equal treatment to both the contending parties. The " Sumter," after escaping to sea from New Orleans through the carelessness of the officer on blockade, and capturing many American merchant-vessels, was chased into the harbor of Gibraltar, where she was permitted to remain twelve months instead of twentyfour hours under the protection of British guns. Not daring to venture to sea, as she was closely watched by several Federal

—

—

the "Sumters" officers finally transferred the vessel to an English subject, who took her to another British port, cruisers,

where she was refitted, loaded with a contraband cargo, and ran the blockade, carrying supplies to the Confederates.

The "Alabama," "Georgia" and "Florida" were fitted out in England, and supplied with an English armament. Their crews Avere mostly Europeans, and they sailed sometimes under the British, sometimes under the Confederate, flag, dealing destruction to Federal commerce wherever it could be found. As soon as the existence of these Confederate cruisers was known to the Secretary of the Navy, ships were sent in pursuit. While in the West Indies, the Confederate cruisers were protected whenever they were able to escape into a " neutral port " an opportunity which was offered on every hand —or get within a marine league of a neutral island. Strange to say, most of the colonial authorities in various parts of the world were in sympathy with the Confederates and hostile to the war-vessels of the United States; and, while giving aid and comfort to those quasi vessels-of-war, threw every obstacle in the way of Federal cruisers obtaining supplies of coal and provisions. Not only that, the "neutrals" all through the West Indies furnished the commanding offi-

—

OF THE CIVIL WAR. cers of the Confederate cruisei-s (by means of the mail-steamers plying between the different ports) with information of the intended movements of every United States vessel-of-war in those waters. Worse than all, the most unfriendly feelings were manifested by the officials generally, from governor down to the lowest subordinate, in regard to the lawful operations of United States vessels.

467

It can easily be imagined, under such circumstances as these, how difficult it would be for a United States vessel-of-war to capture one of these sea-rovers, especially in the West Indies. The islanders, not satisfied with transmitting information to the

Confederates, in some cases assumed an intimacy with the commanders of United States vessels, and deceived them with false reports.

CHAPTER XXXIX. —

—

Successful Military Operations. Prospects of Southern Independence. Confederate Commissioners. Completeness and Discipline of U. S. Navy, 1863. Position and Strength of Opposing Forces. Combined Army and Navy Expedition UP James and Nansemond Rivers. Destruction of Blockade-runners "Bendigo," 'Ranger," '"Venus" and "Dare." Capture and Destruction of U. S. Steamer "Underwriter." Destruction of Blockade-runners "Wild Dayrell," "Nutfield," "Dee," "Emily," and "Fannie and Jennie." Boat Expedition up Cape Fear River to Smithville. Joint Army and Navy Expedition up Pamunky River. Boat Expedition up Chuckatuck Creek. Attack on "Minnesota" by Torpedo-boat. Landing of Army at City Point and Bermuda Hundred. Destruction OF U. S. Gun-boat "Commodore Jones." Confederate Torpedo Defences. Monitors ENCiAGE Howlett's Battery. Picking up Torpedoes. Repulse OF Attack on Wilson's Wharf by Gun-boats. Confederate Iron-clads and Gun-boats below Drury's Bluff. Sinking of Obstructions in James River. Letter from General Butler to Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee. Grant's Operations. Hulks Sunk at Trent's Reach. Attack on Petersburg. Engagement WITH Confederate Iron-clad at Mouth of Cape Fear River. Daring Adventures of Lieutenant Cushing.

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—

— —

—

—

— — — —

—

—

—

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year 186-1: opened with flattering prospects for the Union cause, owing to the important successes gained over the enemy in 1863, and tlie constantly increasing losses in material by the Confederates in consequence of the stringent blockade of the coast. The Federal Navy had been so far strengthened with a class of vessels superior to anything of which the powers of Europe could boast, that it was no longer

—

—

—

—

;

ting into Wilmington or Mobile— the two principal ports where these illicit traders congregated. The Southern coast was so closely invested by the Navy that it was with great difficulty the blockade-runners could get in or out. although a certain proportion of them managed to elude pursuit, and carry out cargoes of cotton, which served to keep up the financial credit of the Confederacy abroad. The Confederates, as a matter of course, felt the want of the munitions of war they had been accustomed to receive in such quantities through the blockade-runners, particularly great guns and small arms

England or France would

interfere in our domestic affairs. The battle of Gettysburg, which caused General Lee to fall back upon Richmond, and the surrender of Port Hudson and Vicksburg, which opened the Mississippi to

the sea, were the severest blows the Confederacy had received. In the opinion of many persons well qualified to judge, the possession of the Mississippi and its trilDutaries by the Federals was the death-blow to the Southern cause, and the final collapse of the Rebellion was simply a matter of time, and a short time at that. The Northern people gave the Administration continued support, while the Confederates could not repair the rapid waste

—

of their armies, notwithstanding their most vigorous efforts. In Washington the opinion prevailed that, before the year had elapsed, the authority of the Government would be everywhere restored. This opinion also prevailed in the Navy, which had been strongly reinforced by a class of vessels able to overhaul the swiftest blockaderunners built on the Clyde so that hardly one out of three vessels succeeded in get-

THE

anticipated that

—

,

manufactured in England. Every port, from Virginia to Texas, was watched with a zeal that had never before been exerted

(-168)

THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE for it was felt by the the Navy that this watchfulness would be well rewarded, and the information gained from the crews of the captured vessels confirmed them in the opinion that the end was not far off. Meanwhile the Confederate authorities Erofessed to think that the prospects for outhern independence were brighter than ever, and that, before the end of the year 1864, their object would be accomplished, and the following year see them acknowledged as a separate Government by all the world. Upon what such an opinion was founded is not clear, and it seems impossible to account for the confidence which existed in the hearts of the Southern leaders, and with which they entered so confidingly on the campaign of 1864. Any other people in the world, under the circumstances in

on such an occasion

;

officers of

which they were placed, would have

down

their arms,

laid

and accepted terms from

their conquerors. It was pitiable to witness the distress of the

Southern people which came under the notice and which was caused by the determination of their leaders to continue the contest to the bitter end for a of naval officers,

;

large proportion of them felt that there was no hope of their succeeding. It was plain to them all that tliere was no hope of assistance from the Democratic party of the North. The re-election of President Lincoln convinced many, who had been hitherto blind to the state of affairs, that the Union cause was as heartily supported by the Democrats as by the Republicans. Even while the Confederacy was in the throes of dissolution, the mass of the Southern people had been hugging the delusion that there was a strong peace party in the North that would make itself felt in the that there Presidential election of 1864 was such a feeling of impatience at the prolongation of the war that no Administration could stand up under it. All that was required of the South, therefore, was ;

make one final effort, and they would gain the rights for which they were contending—exactly what those rights were, the majority of "the people seemed to have to

little idea.

It was proclaimed in Richmond that the impatience and dissatisfaction of the North were so great that the people of that section were determined to have peace on any terms. All that the South had to do was and, merely by simply to hold its own securing negative results in the ensuing campaign, the Democratic party would be able to overthrow the Administration, and open negotiations for peace with the Con;

federacy.

In accordance with this idea. President Davis nrenared to open communication

CIVIL WAR.

469

with the Democratic party of the North, and to conduct political negotiations with that party in accordance with the military movements in the coming campaign. The commissioners appointed for this purpose were Messrs. Thompson, of Mississippi, Holcombe, of Virginia, and Clay, of Alabama, who were to proceed to a convenient spot on the northern frontier of the United States, and to use whatever political opportunities the military events of the war might disclose. The commissioners succeeded in running the blockade from Wilmington, and reached Canada, only to find that the Northern sentiment in regard to the Confederacy was practically unanimous, and that all parties were determined to bring the seceding States back into the

Union. The Federal Army and Navy in the West maintained the superiority they had won, and kept open the rivers the enemy had fought so hard to close against them. By the possession of the Mississippi, the Confederacy was cut in twain. The Union Army was constantly increasing, and, in place of the raw volunteers of 1861, who could hardly handle a musket, the Union could boast of nearly a million of veteran soldiers.

Grant was now called East to

command,

as Lieutenant - General, all the armies of the United States; while his most able coadjutor. General Sherman, with an army of veterans famous on many a field, was to commence his march through the South, and join Grant before the defences of

Richmond.

The military history of the year 1864 will show the delusion under which the Southern leaders rested that it was "only neces-

—

sary for the South to remain in statu quo, winning no victories in the field, and to demonstrate their endurance, to gain the desired end." The Federal Army was most complete in all its equipments, and its discipline was established. How, then, could the South hope to contend against such an organization? The Navy was in no respect behind the Army in completeness and discipline. At the end of the year 1863, the number of guns afloat amounted to 4.443, the tonnage of the vessels to 467,967, manned by 50,000 Among the vessels already built or in process of construction, in 1864, there were 75 iron casemated and turreted vessels, carrying 303 powerful guns, that could destroy any fortress the Confederates could build on the sea-coast, and bid defiance to any force sent by foreign powers to their assistance. It may have been chivalric in the South to attempt a contest with such a power as

seamen.

was brought against them, but

it was hardly wise or just to the people on the part of

470

THE NAVAL HISTORY

those who ruled the Confederacy. It cost great waste of life, with no gain in the end to the South, except the satisfaction of feeling that they only submitted when overcome by greatly superior numbers. The whole country, although it lost men enough to have made a dozen large armies, gained greatly in prestige, and taught Europe that our people united were a for all their powers combined. In February, 1864, Acting-Rear- Admiral S. P. Lee, commanding the North Atlantic squadron, was in co-operation with MajorGeneral B. F. Butler, who commanded the army of the James with his headquarters at Fortress Monroe. General Meade commanded the Army of the Potomac, with his headquarters south of the Rapidan, while the headquarters of the Army of the Shenandoah, under command of Major-General Sigel, were at Winchester. An important part of the North Atlantic squadron, under the immediate command of Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee, was at Hampton Roads; some of the vessels were on the James, others on the York River, ready as heretofore to co-operate with the Army when the great movement on Richmond should be made, which was to bring the civil war to a termination. The available strength of the Federal army on the Potomac, including the Ninth Corps and the reinforcements that were held in Washington, was not less than The force which the Confed170,000 men. erates had to oppose was much inferior, according to their own account. The Confederate Army of the Rapidan, at the begin-

match

ning of the campaign of 1864, consisted of two divisions of Longstreet's corps with 8,000 men, Ewell's corps of 14,000, Hill's corps of 13,000, three divisions of cavalry, and the artillery. So that, according to Confederate historians, Lee's effective force of infantry did not exceed 40,000 men. The cavalry divisions did not each exceed the roper strength of a brigade, and the artilIery was in proportion to the other arms, altogether not over 80,000 men of all arms. But it will not do to rely upon Confederate figures, and General Grant's estimate placed Lee's force at 130,000 men, including the militia and local forces in and about Richmond and Petersburg. This was the condition of affairs when Grant assumed command of all the armies of the Union, when

move was being made upon Richmond, and Lee was collecting all his available forces to meet the emergency. The battles of the Wilderness were fought and a terrible resistance was made by the Confederates, but in vain, and the great Union column, after overcoming the greatest obstacles, marched on its way towards Richmond. a

While General Grant was occupied on the Rapidan he had not lost sight of other forces which were to be used in combination with the Army of the Potomac, which forces were to operate in conjunction with the Navy as near Richmond as it was posThis was the Army of the sible to get. James, under Major-General Butler, numbering 20,000 men. General Grant directed Butler to operate on the south side of the James River in conjunction with the Army of the Potomac, the objective point of both

being Richmond.

To Butler's force was to be added ten thousand men from South Carolina under Major-General Q. A. Gillmore, while MajorGeneral W. F. Smith was ordered to report to General Butler to command the troops sent into the field from his Department. General Butler was directed, when his forces were able to move, to seize and hold City Point. Grant intended that, in case the Confederates should be forced by his advance into their intrenchments at Richmond, the Army of the Potomac should follow them up, and by means of transports the two armies would become a unit. It would seem from this that Grant expected to fight Lee between Culpeper Court House and Richmond, and in case he should not defeat him he could make a junction with Butler, already established on the James, and be in a position to threaten Richmond on the south side, with his left wing resting on the James, above the city. In accordance with his instructions. General Butler moved his forces up the James River, where he had the assistance of the Navy to cover his landing, which was accomplished without diflficulty. Having been joined by General Gillmore on the 4th of May, Butler occupied City Point and Bermuda Hundred on the 5th on the 6th he ;

was

with his main force and intrenched, and on the 7th made a reconnaissance of the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad, and destroyed a bridge a few miles from Richmond. From this. General Butler formed the opinion that he had succeeded in getting in in position

the rear of the Confederates, and held the key to the back-door of Richmond. He accordingly telegraphed to Washington: have landed here, intrenched ourselves, destroyed many miles of railroad, and got a position which, with proper supplies, we can hold against the whole of Lee's army." Butler was. in fact, under the impression that he could capture Richmond before General Grant arrived. General Butler's dispatch caused great satisfaction

"We

Washington, which was soon by an unforeseen occurrence. in

dispelled

In the month of April General Beauregard had been ordered to proceed from

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

Charleston to strengthen the defences of Eichmond. He passed through Wilmington with a large body of troops, receiving constant accessions on the march, and assumed command of the district on the south and east of Richmond. On the 16th of May Beauregard attacked Butler's advanced position in front of Drury's Bluff, and Butler was forced back into his intrenchments between the James and the Appomattox Rivers; thereupon Beauregard intrenched himself strongly in his front, covering the city of Richmond from any further attempts of Butler in that direcThis predicament of Butler gave rise tion. to the celebrated letter of General Grant, in which he speaks of Butler's being as completely h,ors du combat as if he were enclosed in a bottle with the cork in. General Butler held his position, although he had the naval vessels on the James and Appomattox Rivers to cover his retreat to his transports, in case of further molestation from Beauregard. These military movements are mentioned merely to show the position of affairs in May, 1864, when the Army and Navy were brought into co-operation before Richmond, and not with any intention of criticising. The operations of the North Atlantic squadron in the beginning of the year 1864, although not brilliant, were none the less important, as tending to cripple the Confederacy. The blockade of the Southern coast had "been closely maintained, and many blockade-runners captured or destroyed. On the 3d of January, while the " Fah Kee " (temporary flag-ship) was standing up the coast from Little River Inlet towards Wilmington bar, a steamer was discovered at the entrance of Lockwood's Folly Inlet, apparently ashore. Smoke was issuing from the vessel, and she was evidently abandoned. Boats were sent from the "Fah Kee," and great efforts made to get the vessel off, under an incessant fire from sharp-shooters on the shore. Finding it was impossible to get her afloat, she was riddled with shot and shell to destroy her boilers and machinery, and abandoned. This vessel had been a successful blockade-runner, and was called the '"Bendigo." On the 11th of January another blockaderunning steamer, the "Ranger," was chased on shore by the "Daylight" and "Aries," and was set on fire by her crew after landThe coming her passengers and mail.

manding oflScer of

the "Governor Buckingham," aided by the "Daylight" and "Aries," attempted to extinguish the flames and haul the "Ranger" off, but the enemy, posted in force behind the sand-hills, kept up such an incessant fire that the boats' crews could not work. The "Ranger" was therefore

471

riddled with shot and shell, and destroyed. In the meanwhile, black smoke was seen in the direction of Topsail Inlet, and the "Aries "was ordered to chase. She soon returned, and her commanding officer.

Acting -Volunteer- Lieutenant Edward F. Devens, reported a fine-looking double-propeller blockade-runner, called the "Venus," beached and on fire, between Tubb's and Little River Inlets. The enemy's sharpshooters prevented the "Aries'" boats from boarding the vessel, which had been beached and set on fire to prevent her capture. This was the twenty-second steamer lost to the Confederacy and the blockade runners within the last six months, representing a loss to the enemy of five and a half millions of dollars.

These mishaps of the blockade-runners greatly lessened the means of the Confederates, and increased the difficulties of exporting cotton the Confederate sinews of war and obtaining arms and equip-

—

—

ments in return.

On

the 9th instant the blockade-runner

"Dare" was chased on shore and destroyed by the "Aries" and "Montgomery," as the surf was running so high on the beach that there was no chance of getting her

On these occasions many acts of gallantry were performed. Acting-VolunteerLieutenant Devens mentions, in his report of the Dare " affair, that, while in the breakers, his boat capsized, and the crew were washed on shore and fell into the hands of the enemy. Acting Master J. W. Balch, seeing his commanding officer struggling in the water, swam ashore, with two off.

'

'

men, and brought Lieutenant Devens off on his back, and placed him in the "Montgomery's " launch. Twenty-five officers and men on this occasion, after having a hard struggle for their lives in the breakers, fell into the hands of the enemy. The service in which the blockaders were

engaged was arduous and dangerous, but both officers and men performed their duty unflinchingly. In the latter part of January the "Iron Age," one of the gun -boats, got fast aground while attempting to get afloat the hull of the blockade-runner " Bendigo," and, through a mistaken order, was blown up and destroyed. She was, however, no great loss, being a poor vessel. It could not be expected that, operating along such an extensive line of coast and confronted by an active and intelligent enemy, the North Atlantic squadron could be invariably successful. On the night of the 2d of February the U. S. steamer "Underwriter" was lying in the Neuse River above the line of army works, when several boats filled with men were seen coming down the stream towards her. Th'e night

ma

472

was very dark, and the boats were

i\i/±y^j-j

close on

they were discovered and The crew'sprang to quarters, and hailed. made a stout resistance but the enemy, with great gallantry, boarded the vessel, and overpowered the crew, driving part of them below, where they were obliged to surrender, as there was no longer a chance

board

before

;

The officers and of successfully resisting. crew were ordered into the boats, the vessel was stripped of everything portable and set on fire, when the enemy their prisoners and plunder.

departed with

This was rather a mortifying affair for the

Navy, however fearless on the part of tiie Confederates. The most pleasant circumstance connected with the affair was the conduct of Acting-Third-Assistant Engineer G. E. Allen. The captured crew of the " Underwriter" were in the enemy's boats, and proceeding up the stream, when Mr. Allen discovered that, in the hurry to get away from the "Underwriter," on which the Federals on shore had opened fire, the enemy had left but two guards in his boat. One of the other boats was turning back to assist their comrades in Mr. Allen's boat, when the latter snatched a cutlass from one of the guards, and told the men to pull for their lives. Some of the men, including the other guard, jumped overboard, and swam ashore, while Allen headed the boat towards the river-bank, landed at the foot of the line of breastworks, and delivered his one prisoner to the commanding officer of the fort. short time afterwards, the fire reached the " Underwriter's " magazine, andshe blew up. This gallant expedition was led by Commander John Taylor Wood, of the Confederate Navy, who was accompanied by Lieutenants Gardner, Hogue, Carr, and Wilkinson. Acting-Master Jacob Westervelt, commanding the "Underwriter," was killed on board that vessel, as also several of his crew. In this expedition fifteen boats, including three large barges, with three hundred men, came down the river with the intention of making a simultaneous attack on the forts and the gun-boat but, finding the latter above the forts, where she ought not to have been, she was boarded and captured, witli little loss to the enemy. It was to be expected that, with so many clever officers who had left the Federal Navy and cast their fortunes with the Confederates, such gallant actions would often be attempted. They frequently failed, as they would in this instance, in all probability, had the "Underwriter" been anchored below the forts. Had the enemy attacked the forts, the chances are they would have been successful, as the garrison were unprepared for an attack from the river, their most vulnerable side.

A

;

j^i,3

i.\ji\.

jl

About the middle of February the destruction of tlie blockade-runners, " Wild Day"Nutfield," "Dee," "Emily," and "Fannie and Jennie," was reported. All these were fine vessels, and their cargoes, rell,"

consisting of munitions of war, etc., were worth at least a million of dollars, a sum which by no means represented their loss Many of the vessels to the Confederacy. destroyed would have made valuable additions to the Navy for the purpose of catching blockade -runners, as they were very fast; but their commanders, rather than be captured, ran them ashore, after throwing overboard what munitions of war they had on board; and the Federal officers, finding it impossible to get them afloat, set them on fire to prevent the enemy receiving any

from them. The officers who made themselves particularly active in the performance of blockading duties, and who aided in the desti'uction of these steamers, were Commanders Pierce Crosby and William F. Spicer, and Lieutenant-Commander Francis A. Roe.

benefit

Now and then, amid these exciting scenes, the indomitable Lieutenant Gushing came forward with some remarkable feat, more daring than important. Cushing was brave to recklessness, not seeming to care for danger, and his superior officers rather encouraged his wild adventures. In the month of February an idea struck Cushing that he would make an expedition to Cape Fear River, and capture the Confederate commander at Smithville, where there was a strong fort and a garrison of a thousand men. On the night of the 29th Gushing passed the forts at the south inlet of Cape Fear River under cover of the darkness, and proceeded to Smithville, about six miles above, his force consisting of two boats and twenty men. Smithville was a famous resort for blockade - runners, and Cushing intended, if he found any of these vessels at anchor, attempt their capture.

Finding no vessels at Smithville, Cushing landed directly in front of the hotel, which was the headquarters of the commanding officer, concealed his men under the bank, captured some negroes, and obtained from them such information as he required. Leaving some men in charge of the boats, Cushing, with Acting-Ensign J. E. Jones, Acting - Master's Mate W. L. Howorth, and one seaman, proceeded to the headquarters of tlie commanding officer of the defences, General Herbert. Cushing captured the chief-engineer, but ascertained that the general had gone to Wilmington. Tlie adjutant-general was slightly wounded, and made his escape to the woods, without stopping to put on his clothes, under an im-

pression that the garrison had mutinied. Cushing s boats were about fifty yards from

OF THE the regular landing-place at the fort, and not so far from the sentinel on the wharf, yet he succeeded in carrying off his prisoners. By the time the alarm signal-lights were shown Gushing was abreast of Fort Caswell, on his way back to the squadron. The blockade-runner " Scotia" passed from the anchorage just before Gushing got into the river, or he might have made a good night's

work

of

it.

Cushing's hazardous undertakings were sometimes criticised as useless, but there

was more method in them than appeared on the surface, and important information was sometimes obtained, to say nothing of the brilliant example of courage and enterprise which they afforded to others. On March 8th Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee accompanied General Butler to Yorktown to arrange a joint military and naval expedition, to operate, first, up the Pamunky River against the Confederate forces near King and Queen Court House, which had attacked the party under command of Colonel Dahlgren, and killed that officer; and, second, against a force of the enemy reported as about to make an expedition from the peninsula. Owing, however, to constant fogs, the gun-boats could not cooperate with the Army, and the Confederates, finding themselves about to be surrounded, retreated from the peninsula. few nights later, a boat expedition, under Acting-Masters Williams and Wilder,

A

of the "Commodore Barney" and " Minnesota," respectively, ascended the Chuckatuck Creek, and captured a party of twenty

Confederate soldiers. While these small affairs were being transacted, the Confederate naval officers were preparing to retalia.te on the vessels of the North Atlantic squadron lying in Hampton Roads. Lieutenant Hunter Davidson, of the Confederate navy, had given much study to the subject of torpedoes, and had perfected what he considered an excelIt was a small steamlent torpedo-boat. launch, with a torpedo on the end of a pole projecting some twenty feet from the bow of the vessel. Up to this time both the Union and Confederate Governments had been singularly oblivious to the torpedo as a means of offence and defence. Had the Federal Government made proper use of the torpedo, it would have soon put an end to the business Electric batteries of blockade - running. could have been established, if necessary, three or four miles outside the entrance to a harbor, and the majority of blockaderunners would not have ventured to run the gauntlet of such dangerous affairs. There would have been no difficulty in planting any number of torpedoes in the channels, made to explode on contact with a vessel.

CIVIL WAR.

473

Humanitarian ideas probably had origingood deal to do with the neglect of the Federal Government to avail them-

ally a

selves of these frightful adjuncts

but the Confederates were not governed by any such sentimental feelings. Later in the war they used the torpedo freely, and blew up a number of Federal vessels-of-war whicli was as justifiable as any other hostile act. On the night of April 8th, 1864, while the "Minnesota," flag-ship of Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee, was lying at anchor off Fortress Monroe, a dark object was seen, about two hundred yards distant, slowly passing the ship. It was thought to be a row-boat; and, in reply to the hail from the " Minnesota," the answer came, "Roanoke." By this time the object was nearly abeam, and appar;

—

ently motionless. The officer of the deck sent orders for a tug, which was lying astern, to go and examine the floating object ; and while he was endeavoring to get the men in the tug to attend to his orders, the torpedo-boat struck the ship, exploded a torpedo, and made off in the direction of Nansemond River. Several shots were fired at the torpedo vessel, but she escaped in the darkness. The concussion caused great excitement on board the frigate. The drums beat to quarters, and the men hurried to their stations, and stood by to lower the boats but it was soon found that no serious damage had been done. But for the fact that the torpedo, which weighed fifty pounds, was not placed in contact with the ship, but was prematurely exploded, the "Minnesota's" bottom would have been shattered, and the Federals would have lost one ;

of their finest frigates. This daring exploit

was performed by Lieutenant Hunter Davidson, who has, no doubt, since rejoiced that he did not succeed in sending many of his old friends and shipmates to the bottom. It demonstrated the necessity of keeping a brighter look-out for the enemy's torpedo corps, and it also showed the determination with which the Confederates carried on the war. They were first in the field with this

new method

of warfare, and managed it with great dexterity. It was not until they had blown up a dozen or so Federal vessels that the Government undertook to employ torpedo boats but this was at so late a period in the war as to be of comparatively -

;

little use.

One torpedo-boat, under cover of the "Monitor," would have settled the " Merrimac " in a very short time, and a Monitor fitted with a torpedo would have destroyed the "Tennessee" with equal facility. But it requires time to become reconciled to a system that was looked upon with horror for many years after its invention.

474

J.

1211,

l\/±V.n.J^

the progress of ideas that, now-adays, so far from being struck with horror at the idea of knocking a hole in a vessel's bottom, all Christian Governments are seeking with avidity the most powerful submarine weapons of destruction.

Such

is

Early in April, Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee wascalled upon by General Butler to co-operate with him in putting down what he called the "pirates of the creeks," which were, in fact, the

irregular forces of

the

enemy

employed along the river to inflict all possible injury on Union vessels, and keep the Federals from landing along the rivers and Various capturing Confederate property. expeditions were fitted out, consisting of forces from the Army and Navy, but no great results were obtained. It was not the kind of warfare calculated to be of any permanent benefit to the Union cause and it demonstrated the fact that only large bodies of troops could break up the system adopted by the Confederates of harassing Federal Army posts with constant attacks. Some boat expeditions were undertaken, in which great gallantry was displayed and a few men killed, terminating in a retreat ;

from under the enemy's fire, after inflicting the usual damage on him. The only satisfaction gained on the expedition to Pagan Creek was a temporary scattering of the Confederate troops, and the fact ascertained that the Davidson torpedo-boat had arrived at Sraithfield on the 9th inst., and had gone thence to Richmond. On the 6th of May, the army, under General Butler, landed at City Point and Bermuda Hundred, covered by five iron-clads and ten other vessels, without opposition. The river had been carefully dragged for torpedoes, to assure the safety of the gunboats and transports; but, notwithstanding all the care taken, the gun-boat " Commo-

dore Jones" was blown up while dragging for these hidden enemies. The vessel, it seems, rested directly over an infernal machine, which was fired by a galvanic battery hidden in a pit on the shore. The destruction of the steamer was complete, as the torpedo, supposed to have contained four hundred pounds of powder, was exploded directly under her bottom. So great was the concussion that the vessel was lifted bodily out of the water, and her crew hurled into the air, killing and wounding more than half of the ship's company. This shocking casualty demonstrated the power of the torpedo, when properly nianThe arrangements in this quarter aged. were under the direction of Lieutenant Hunter Davidson; and the man who ignited the torpedo which blew up the "Commodore Jones" was killed by a musket-ball fired by the coxswain of one of the boats dragging for these infernal machines.

XJ.Jj various ingenious contrivances. All of them could be put' down in one day by a torpedo-boat arranged for the purpose by Lieutenant Davidson, who had been watching the movements of the Federals since the transports first assembled in Hampton Roads. The investigations of the naval officers soon disclosed a system of defence embracing all the navigable rivers. The torpedoes were followed up, their positions located, and, wherever practicable, they were destroyed, making the waterways tion;

comparatively safe, and enabling General Butler to reoccupy his line from Trent's

Beach

to

Appomattox.

the 18th of May the enemy commenced fortifying the heights about Hewlett's House, commanding Trent's Reach, on the James and although the gun-boats kept up a steady fire on their position, thej' persevered, and that night mounted a sufficient number of guns to keep the Federal gun-boats in check. The charts indicating less water in the channel than the Monitors drew, it was not considered advisable to move them too close to the batteries.

On

;

The enemy seemed to be prepared all along the river to meet the advance of the Navy. The pickets of the latter were driven in at Dutch Gap heights, and the Army pickets at City Point and ActingRear- Admiral Lee considered that his communications were seriously threatened. By the 19th the Monitors were advanced nearer Hewlett's Battery, on which they opened Avith seemingly great accuracy of fire, but with no appearance of arresting the progress of this formidable work. The artillery practice was kept up until the 24th, without any result except that for a time the enemy stopped working. On the y4th the enemy made an attack on a body of troops stationed at Wilson's wharf, which attack had been anticipated by the naval commander-in-chief, who had placed the ;

OF THE CIVIL WAR. following vessels in position to meet

it

Lieutenant - Commander S. P. Quackenbush "Dawn," Acting-VolunteerLieutenant J. W. Simmons; "Atlanta "(ironall unclad), and tug "Young America" der Lieutenant-Commander Quackenbush. At 12 30, on the 34th, the enemy made a vigorous attack at the wharf the movement was, however, supposed to be a feint to draw the Union forces from Fort Pow"Pequot,"

;

—

:

;

hatan. The enemy were met by the fire of the gun-boats, particularly the "Dawn"; and although their decks were swept by musketry, such was the terrible effect of their shells on the Confederates that the latter were obliged to retreat. But for the service rendered by the "Dawn," Lieutenant Simmons, the Confederates would have, no doubt, accomplished their object and

475

James River by sinking vessels a mile or so below Hewlett's Battery. This would make his positions at Bermuda Hundred and at City Point perfectly secure. Part of the vessels to be used for this purpose were received by Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee on the 2d of June, consisting of a bark and three large schooners loaded with shingle ballast. It is due to Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee to say that he objected to this plan of obstructing the river, as the force of vessels at his disposal was stronger than had been originally proposed. General Grant had only asked for two iron-clads, but the Navy Department furnished Acting - Rear - Admiral Lee with four, although one of them, the " Tecumseh," was soon to leave the James River for other service. Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee took the ground that it was not the duty of the Navy to protect itself in this manner; on the contrary, where obstructions existed, they should be removed, if possible; any other course would be admitting the superiority of the enemy and a On the other dread of his naval force. hand, it was argued that obstructing the river would lessen the chance of injuring the Federal vessels, on which depended the security of the Army at the points below. The obstructions would keep off fire-rafts and infernal machines, and a smaller force of vessels would be required in Trent's Reach to prevent the advance of the Confederate iron-clads. This latter view of the case was accepted for, as the operations against Richmond would be altogether military, and as the naval forces could not get to that city with the land and naval batteries opposed to them, the obstruction proposal was decided upon. At that time General Grant was expected to cross the James and operate against Richmond from the south side, and, under the circumstances, it was absolutely necessary to hold the river secure against the contingencies of a naval engagement. There were many reasons why it was not desirable to bring on an engagement with the enemy's squadron, the strength of which was unknown. The river was too narrow to manoeuvre in, and the channel was very shoal in places. If a battle was won, the Army would be no nearer Rich;

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDEE (NOW EEAR-ADMIEAL) QUACKENBUSH.

carried the ment lasted

S.

P

Union position. The engageupwards of five hours, and de-

monstrated the value of the Navy in protecting the fl-anks of the Federal Army. About the 30th of May, the Confederate naval forces came down below Drury's Bluff, and prepared to attack the Union squadron. Their plan was to send down fire-ships with the current, and, following with their vessels, attack those of the Federals. The Confederate squadron consisted of three iron-clads, with batteries of heavy guns, and six gun -boats partially plated with iron. For some reason, no immediate onset was made by the Confederate rams, which caused them to lose the opportunity of seriously damaging the Federal squadron, and perhaps driving it away. In the meantime. General Butler, as part of his campaisrn, proposed to obstruct the rifled

mond than before. The Navy made no headway when Hewlett's Battery had but four guns, and it was not likely that, with the addition of the works at Drury's Bluff, armed with the heaviest ordnance, and with the river guarded by lines of torpedoes, that the squadron could force its way up the James River. There seems to have been a little diplomacy as to whether General Butler or Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee should assume the responsibility of placing the obstructions in

THE NAVAL HlHTUlir

476

Cold Harbor, in which he found General Lee's army less weakened than had been expected by its losses in the battles from the Rapidan to the James.

Trent's Reach, although why there should have been any dispute in such a matter it is It was certainly distasteful difficult to see. to the Confederates, who saw all their schemes of fire-rafts, torpedo-boats and ironclad raids completely circumvented. The following letter from General Butler to Acting Rear -Admiral Lee will show the General's views on the subject: Headquarters in the Field, \ June 3d, 1864.

the battle of

Admiral

though at first successful, was finally repulsed, and Warren and Burnside were brought to a stand at the edge of the enemy's rifle-pits. In writing of this battle General Grant says: "Our loss has been heavy, while I have reason to believe that the loss of the

)

:

Your conimunioation dated June 3d, in regard to the obstructions, is received. The five vessels sent up were procured by my order for the purpose of being used as obstructions to the

river,

if,

in the

judgment of the naval commander, they would add to the security of his fleet. I have no difficulty as to the point at which we desire to secure the river. It is at the right of line, near Curtis' House, at the ravine; but whether the river should be secured by obstructions or by vessels, or a disposition of your obstructions or of the vessels of your Navy, neither myself nor my engineers haveanyrighttofeelcompetentto give an opinion. The vessels are wholly at your service, but upon your judgment, not mine, must rest their use. In accordance with your request, as I informed your officer, I will visit you this afternoon, and designate the spot we desire to be held but whether by means of obstructions or by your ships, or by both combined, must be solely for you to deter-

my

;

mine.

know you would

not undertake to give directions to my engineers as to the situation of the earth-works on land, so we ought not to presume to advise you as to your means of defending the

While

I

water.

have not consulted the War Department on the whether I should procure these obstructions. I supposed that was fairly within my discretion, and 1 venture respectfully to add that the question whether you should use them is entirely within yours. The Navy Department cannot know the emergencies as you know them, and, I am certain, must leave that question to the good judgI

subject,

of the rear-admiral commanding the fleet. of the delicacy naval gentlemen feel in depending upon anything but their ships in a

ment I

am aware

enemy and if it was a contest with the enemy's ships alone, I certainly would not advise the obstructions, even at the great risk of losing the river but in a contest against such uncontest witli the

;

;

christian modes of warfare as fire-rafts and torpedo-boats, I think all questions of delicacy should be waived by the paramount consideration of protection for the lives of the men and the safety of the very valuable vessels of the squadron. Pardon me if I have overstepped any line of duty or courtesy in this latter suggestion. I have the honor to be. Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, Benj. F. Butler,

Major Qeneral Commanding.

Rear-Admiral 8. P. Lee, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. This diplomatic communication of General Butler led to a long correspondence between Acting Rear-Admiral Lee and himself, which ended, as it should have done, in putting the obstructions in the channel. During the time this discussion of a quite simple matter was pending, from the 1st to the 15th of June, General Grant had fought

He did not feel that his own army was in condition to operate further against a wellcommanded army of veterans posted behind five miles of strong intrenchments. In the first attack on the Confederates at Cold Harbor, Grant's army was severely General Hancock's attack, alhandled.

enemy was comparatively in fact, in three

light."

The

loss,

days' operations on the

Chickahominy, was 7,500 men. No doubt Grant often wished he could have the aid of the gun-boats that had

much help in the West ; but impossibility. Realizing the fact that he could not operate with any advantage north and east of given him so that

was an

Richmond, General Grant determined to make another movement throw his army

—

across the James River, capture Petersburg, and place himself in communication with the Navy. Grant had had too much experience in the West not to know what valuable aid a naval force could afford an army under certain circumstances, not to wish to take advantage of it in the present instance. In consequence of this resolution Grant moved by Lee's right flank, and threw his army across the James River, with the hope of seizing Petersburg, while his cavalry could destroy the railroad communication between Richmond and the Shenandoah

Valley and Lynchburg. The movement was skillfully executed, and, on the 14th of June, the Army was safe on the opposite bank of the James, and in communication with the Army of the James and with the Navy. The day General Grant passed the James he gave an order to sink the obstructions in Trent's Reach, and on the 15th General Butler wrote to Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee, informing him of Grant's order, and saying that he would be glad if the admiral would assist him in carrying it out. On the 15th of June General Grant established his headquarters at City Point. The obstructions were sunk in the river, and offered a complete barrier to the enemy's fire-rafts and torpedo- vessels. "The generalin-chief had now time to breathe and look about him, and observe the new condition of affairs.

By June 20th Commander T. of the

Navy, had sunk

in the

A. M. Craven,

main channel

OF THE

CIVIL

Reach four hulks filled with stone. There was also stretched across the channel a heavy boom, supporting a chain cable, well secured on each side of the river. Across the flats was extended a heavy boom, secured by six anchors, and in the channel, along the right bank, was sunk a large schooner loaded with stone, from which a strong boom extended to the shore. The obstructions were very complete, and were intended to be under the fire of General Butler's guns as well as those of the iron-clads. The enemy probably was well pleased at the Federals obstructing the channel for, notwithstanding his forts at Howlett's and

at Trent's

;

Drury's Bluff, his fire-rafts, sunken torpeand torpedo-boats, he felt more secure when he knew that his position could not be assailed by a naval force; while General Grant was equally satisfied now that the

does,

WAR.

477

battery at Howlett's consisted of but four guns one large rifle, one large smoothbore, and two smaller pieces. Notwithstanding the general impression that the obstructions in the river were impassable, Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee judged it expedient to apply for an increase of the force of iron-clads, and that he might be authorized to detain the "Tecumseh." This is the history of the obstruction of the James River, the credit of which was

—

given to General Butler, who simply approved the proposition when it was mentioned to him, and received General Grant's order to sink the vessels. General Grant's arrival before Petersburg, which he attacked on the 14th of June, and the ci'ossing of the James by General Meade's army, gave quite a different aspect to affairs at City Point, and the time had arrived when the Navy stood a

chance of making itself very useful. Petersburg was one of the strongest outposts of the Confederate capital, and a formidable resistance in that quarter was, of course, expected. Part of General Butler's command commenced the attack on the works covering the approaches to the town, and succeeded in occupying them; but, by waiting the arrival of Hancock's division and failing to push their advantage, the Confederates were strongly reinforced, so that, when Hancock's and Burnside's divisions assaulted them, the Federals were repulsed with considerable loss. Next day another attempt was made and repulsed, with the capture by the enemy of part of a

COMMANDEK (NOW

EEAR-ABMIEAI,)

EDMUND

R.

COLHODN.

enemy's iron-clads could not get down to City Point under any circumstances. The enemy, in order to ascertain the character of the obstructions, made a reconnaissance in the neighborhood of Dutch Gap while Howlett's Battery, which had been greatly strengthened by the erection of new works, opened upon the vessels below the obstructions. These were the iron-clads "Tecumseh," Commander T. A. M.Craven; "Saugus," ;

Commander

E. R. Colhoun Lieutenant-Commander C.

"Canonicus,"

Commander

;

" Onondaga," H.,

E.

Cushman S.

Parrott,

and gun-boat "Agawam," Lieutenant-Commander A. C. Rhind. They returned the fire of the enemy's batteries with considerable effect, receiving little damage in return; while the Confederate iron-clads, from their position behind a wood, opened a straggling fire, of which no notice was taken. According to one Confederate account, the

Federal brigade. About the same time. General Butler sallied forth from his intrenchments to tear up the railroad leading to Richmond; but the enemy sent out an army corps from their capital, and Butler was defeated, after sending intelligence of a splendid victory which he had won! The result of these attempts on Petersburg, which had caused great losses to the Federal Army, convinced General Grant that his best course was to envelop the town with his forces, without attacking the outworks. Attempts were made to destroy all the railroads leading to Richmond, but the enemy was so strongly posted that these efforts were generally of no benefit

Union cause. Thus the month of June closed with no immediate results favorable to the Federals, to the

except that the Army was transported to the south of Richmond, and was in communication with the Navy; while the Confederates continued to strengthen daily the fortifications of Richmond and Petersburg. In fact, General Grant had encountered obstacles far greater than he had anticipated. large portion of the naval forces on the

A

THE NAVAL HISTOKV

478

James naturally assembled at City Point, where General Grant had established his headquarters, while other portions of the North Atlantic squadron were employed in the sounds of North Carolina and in the blockade of the coast. About the middle of May, the "North Carolina," an iron-clad resembling the "Atlanta," appeared off Fort Fisher, at the mouth of Cape Fear River, accompanied by This vessel commenced an attv/o tugs. tack at long range on the blockading vessels then employed off the north inlet, which, with the exception of the " Tuscarora," were improvised gun-boats, without sufficient strength to contend with armored The little flotilla returned the fire vessels. of the iron-clad, and after a desultory engagement which lasted two days, with little damage on either side, the iron-clad and her consorts disappeared over the bar

Cape Fear River. was doubtless the intention of the Confederates to disperse the few Union vessels then off the entrance to Wilmington, and start the cry of " raised blockade," as had

of

It

been attempted on a previous occasion at Charleston but in this design they failed, and the iron-clad returned to Wilmington, where her career soon afterwards ended. ;

The vessels that stood their ground so faithfully, in presence of this apparently formidable iron -clad, were the " Tuscarora," Commander W. A. Parker; "Britannia," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenants. Huse;

Mount Vernon," Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant James Trathen "Houquah," Acting-Master J. W. Balch, and " Nansemond," Acting-Ensign J. H. Porter. From subsequent developments, it appears that the rams " Raleigh" and " North Carolina" were constructed at Wilmington under the direction of Commodore W. F. Lynch, but were hardly considered fit to go into battle, although they served to keep the blockaders '

'

;

on the look-out. Lieutenant W. B. Cushing, with his usual zeal and enterprise, volunteered to attempt the destruction of the vessel that came out to attack the blockaders, and at the same time make a reconnaissance of the defences of Cape Fear River a very desirable project, as an expedition for the capture of Wilmington was then in contemplation.

—

Cushing was always attempting what no one else would think of, and in this case it seemed that he was almost certain to be killed or captured.

Obtaining permission from Acting-RearAdmiral Lee to attempt the destruction of the "Raleigh," Cushing proceeded in the "Monticello" to the western entrance of Cape Fear River. On the night of June 23d he left the vessel in the first cutter, accompanied by Acting-Ensign J. E. Jones,

Acting-Master's Mate William L. Howorth, and fifteen men, crossed the western bar, and passed the forts and town of Smithville without discovery. Near the Zeke Island batteries, Cushing came very near being run down by a steamer doubtless a blockade-runner, bound out, with a load of cotton and also narrowly escaped the notice of

—

—

a guard-boat.

As Cushing came abreast

of the Brunsbatteries, fifteen miles from his starting-point, the moon came out from the clouds, and disclosed the party to the sentinels on the river-bank, who hailed the boat, and then opened fire upon her. The people in the fort were roused, and the confusion seemed to be general. Cushing pulled for

wick

the opposite bank, and along up the other When shore, until he got out of sight. within seven miles of Wilmington both men and boat were secreted in a marsh. When the sun rose, Cushing watched for to capture some one from he could obtain information. Nearly a dozen steamers passed, three of them fine blockade-runners, and one of them Commodore Lynch's flag-ship, yet there was no suspicion of Cushing and his men hidden within a stone's throw. The Confederates felt so secure in the river, with its powerful defences, that they never dreamed of the possibility of a boat's crew running the

an opportunity

whom

gauntlet. Just after

dark two boats were seen rounding a point near by, and, supposing it to be an attacking party, Cushing prepared for resistance. It was simply a fishing party returning to Wilmington. Both boats were captured, and the necessary information obtained from them, and the occupants were made to act as guides for a further exploration of the river. Cushing made mental notes of all the obstructions, forts and guns he met along the Cape Fear River, which were useful at

a later date, when Fort Fisher and the other defences at the entrance of the river were attacked. Coming to a very narrow creek, Cushing poled his boat along through it for some distance, till he reached a road,

which was the main highway from Fort Fisher to Wilming:ton. Here he divided his little party, leaving half of them behind, and marching the rest two miles further on

the main road, where they halted and concealed themselves. About noon, a mounted soldier, with a mail -bag from Fort Fisher, came along, and was much astonished when halted by

Cushing, and ordered to dismount and de-

up his mail. Two hundred letters were captured, and much information obtained in regard to the enemy's plans. Cushing then waited for the mail-carrier from Wilmington to appear with dispatches liver

OF THE for Fort Fisher, but, just as the courier hove in sight, a blue-jacket incautiously exposed himself, and the fellow took to flight instanter, pursued by Gushing on the captured horse; but after a chase of several miles, finding that the enemy was better

mounted, and that there was no chance of overtaking him. Gushing gave up the purAll this took place on a traveled highsuit. way, where squads of soldiers might have been expected to pass along at any moment. The party captured several prisoners, and, at length, becoming hungry, Master's Mate

Howorth dressed himself in the courier's clothes, and, mounting the horse, started After a time he reinto town to market. turned with a supply of milk, eggs and chickens, having excited no suspicion, though conversing with many persons. After destroying the telegraph as completely as possible. Gushing returned to the creek where he had left the rest of his party, reaching the river by dark. Then he attempted to land his prisoners on an .island, as he had more than he could accommodate, and a steamer coming down the river passed so close that the boat's crew jumped into the water and kept their heads under for fear of being seen. Finally Gushing put his prisoners in the small boats he had captured, and sent them adrift on the river, without oars or sails, to get home the best way they could; while he proceeded down the river with his party in the cutter, retaining one prisoner as a pilot to show him where the ram "Raleigh" lay a wreck. He hoped also to fall in with and destroy some of the Gonfederate vessels by setting fire to them. Gushing found that there was nothing left of the "Raleigh" above water like most of the Gonfederate rams, she had been

—

destroyed in a panic. As for the other ironclad, the "North Garolina," his prisoners had told him she was then at anchor off Wilmington under Gaptain Wm. T. Muse, but that little confidence was placed in her, and that she would not cross the bar. Gushing was also informed that the two torpedo-boats built at Wilmington had been destroyed some time previous in the great cotton

fire.

As Gushing neared

the forts, at the east bar of the river, a boat was seen and captured after a short chase. It contained four soldiers and two civilians, who were taken into the cutter, and their own boat sent adrift. On questioning his prisoners. Gushing found that there was a large guard-boat, with seventy-five musketeers, stationed in the narrow passage between Federal Point and Zeke Island. Notwithstanding the disparity of force, Gushing prepared to attack the guard-boat. Just then the moon shone out briffhtlv;

CIVIL WAR.

479

when a few yards from the guard-boat, three boats pulled oat from the battery and five more from the other end of the passage, completely blocking up the avenue to escape. The cutter at the time was under sail, and the helm was put down; but a large sail-boat filled with soldiers appeared on the scene to windward and close aboard. This was a trying position, but every one in the cutter behaved with the utmost coolness, relying on the bravery and ingenuity of their young commander to extricate them from the difficulty, for there was not the least idea of surrendering. Suddenly turning the cutter's head, as if for the west bar, the men shipped their oars, and, pulling vigorously, the enemy soon lost sight of the boat, but they dashed off in pursuit, expecting to intercept Gushing near the bar. The latter, however, doubled on his pursuers, and, thanks to the extraordinary pulling of liis sailors, gained the passage of the island, and dashed into the breakers on Garoline Shoal, a most dangerous place, where the enemy who doubtless thought the Federals were lost but

—

dared not follow. Fortunately, their boat, though so deeply laden, carried Gushing and his party safely through the breakers; and, just as day broke, they reached the gun-boat " Gherokee," after an absence from the squadron of two days and three nights.

There was not a more daring adventure than this in the whole course of the war. There were ninety-nine chances in a hundred that Gushing and his party would be killed or captured, but throughout all his daring schemes there seemed to be a method, and, though criticised as rash and ill-judged, Gushing returned unscathed from his frequent expeditions, with much important information. In this instance it was a great source of satisfaction to the blockading vessels to learn that the " Raleigh" was destroyed, and that the other iron -clad ram cross the bar.

Had Gushing

was not considered

fit

to

learned in time that there

was a Gonfederate war -vessel lying

at

Wilmington, he would, no doubt, have attempted her destruction, but he only heard of it when on his return down the river. This young officer was always cool and collected when in the midst of dangers, and, although they were plenty of others equally brave, there was something particularly dashing in Gushing's character. He seemed more like a free-lance than a regular officer of the Navy, educated in the school of routine, and, in fact, the restraints of discipline were irksome to him, and his career at the Naval Academy gave little promise of the fame he subsequently acquired.

CHAPTER

XL.

General Grant's Intentions.— Confederate Batteries at Four Mile Creek.—General Grant Utilizes the Navy.— The Gun-boats Engage Batteries at Wilcox's

—

—

Operations at Shelling Sharp-shooters. on Laborers at Dutch Gap by Confederate Fleet and Batteries.— Manceuvres of Generals Grant, Sherman and Butler, and of ConGeneral Grant on Necesfederate Armies. -Speech of Jefferson Davis. sity OF Retaining Ironclads on James River.— Expedition Under LieutenantConfederAttack on Plymouth, N. Commander Flusser to Windsor, N. ate Ram "Albemarle" Attacks "Southfield" and "Miaml"— The "Southfield" Sunk. — Death op Lieutenant-Co.mmander Flusser. —Capture op Plymouth by Communication of Secretary Welles on Loss op Plymouth. Confederates. General Peck to Gener.\l Butler.— Casualties at Plymouth.— Attack on Newbern.— Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee's Instructions to Captain Smith.—Capture of Confederate Steamer -'Bombshell." Second Engagement Between Ram '-Albemarle" and Gun-boats.— Appalling Scenes on Board the " Sassacus."— Incidents of Fight.— Fruitless Attempts to Destroy the '-Albemarle." Laying TorpeFlotilla in Sounds Reinforced by Addidoes AT Mouth of Roanoke River tional Vessels, etc.

Wharf and Dutch Gap.

Harrison's Landing.

— Attack

—

C—

C—

—

—

—

—

—

the time General Grant fixed his headquarters at City Point, the naval vessels in that vicinity, under

FROM

Captain Melancton Smith, were employed in guarding the river or in cooperating with the Army in raids upon the enemy along the shores of the James and adjacent rivers. it was sufficiently evident that it was Grant's intention to envelop the enemy's works, destroy his communications, and cut off supplies. Military and naval expeditions were sent to destroy all grain-fields and other sources of supply within reach, and to pick up deserters from the enemy's

Among the latter were workmen who had been employed on board the ranks.

" Merrimac," from whom interesting information was obtained in regard to that and other Confederate vessels. Signal stations were destroyed, their operators captured, and instruments brought away. In these expeditions the gun-boats were constantly exposed to the attacks of Confederate artillery, which was continually on the alert to get a shot at tJiem. So active were the enemy, that, about the middle of July, they constructed a battery

mounting 30-pounder Sawyer guns on Malvern Hill, and for a time interrupted the navigation of the James River. The Confederates were, in fact, untiring

make

the Federal troops On the 28th of July the enemy commenced the erection of batteries at Four Mile Creek, where they had assembled a large force for the purpose of covering the men at work in the trenches, and making a demonstration against General Foster's front. The gun-boats were

in their efforts to

and gun-boats uncomfortable.

brought into requisition, and the "Agawara," Commander A. C. Rhind, and the '-Mendota," Commander E. T. Nichols, shelled the enemy's works for some time, rendering very effective service in connection with General Hancock's military operations. The following night, in view of the mili-

tary movements ordered by General Grant, all the troops, except General Foster's original command, were ordered to move from Deep Bottom, under cover of the gun-boats. Here, again. General Grant had an opportunity of utilizing the Navy. As an instance of the activity of the Confederates in presence of the strong forces (480)

THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE of the Federals, which almost enveloped them, on August 3d they established a 6-gun rifled 13-pounder battery at Wilcox's Wharf, and opened fire on passing transports. The firing being heard on board the "Miami," Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant G. W. Graves, that vessel pushed ahead and engaged the battery, which was driven away after a spirited resistance, the " Miami" losing but

one

man

killed

and one wounded.

On

the 4th of August another battery opened on the transports near Harrison's Landing, which was driven away, after a sharp action, by the "Miami" and "Osceola." On the same day, the "Pequot" and the " Commodore Morris" were engaged during a greater part of the time in shelling sharpshooters out of the woods, who were engaged in picking off the men on board passing transports. These Confederate artillerymen were remarkably active and energetic, but they found the people in the gun-boats equally so ; and the light artillery and bushwhackers soon came to the conclusion that attacking gun-boats was a losing business. The gun-boats now so rigidly patrolled the James River that they were in close proximity to all transports passing up or down. So seldom did the enemy get a chance to fire unmolested on a, transport, that they even took occasion to attack a hospital steamer, without regard to her sacred character, killing one man and mortally wounding two others; hut they were soon driven away by the

watchful "Pequot," Lieutenant - Commander S. P. Quackenbush, and the "Commodore Morris," Acting-Master R. G. Lee. At this time operations were going on at Dutch Gap for the purpose of opening a

new route from below Howlett's Battery to the upper reach of the James River. This scheme was not favorably regarded by army engineers, and was not a success. The enemy planted mortars not far away, which in the course of the work killed one hundred and forty laborers, and wounded more. It also brought on a conflict with the Confederate iron-clads. which came down the river and opened upon the lahorers. A long-range battle then ensued between the Union and Confederate ironclads, which inflicted little or no injury to either side, but showed that the Dutch Gap

many

Canal, although never likely to be of any use to the Army or Navy, would be continually inviting attacks from the enemy, which would tend to divert the attention of the Army from its main object the cap-

CIVIL WAR.

faith in Butler's project to

481

open the

way

to

Richmond by Dutch Gap, he was willing that Butler should amuse himself, and thereby be kept from interfering in more important matters. On the 2d of September Sherman entered Atlanta, Georgia, as a conqueror. General Lee had made such a persistent defence against all the attacks on his lines, and had succeeded so well in keeping the railroads south of Richmond open, that Grant saw that to push him too heavily at this time would result in great loss to the Federal Army, while Lee would be ultimately forced to evacuate Richmond. Up to the 17th of July, General J. E. Johnston had severely hampered Sherman in his advance through the South but, on the above date, this able Confederate gen;

eral was displaced from his to intrigues in Richmond,

command owing and

J. B.

Hood,

who was

considered a fighting general par This circumexcellence, succeeded him. stance, though it threw a damper on the army which Johnston had so ably commanded, gave Sherman fresh spirits, and

he moved upon Atlanta quite certain of success.

Hood had now under his command an effective force of 40,000 infantry and artillery and 10,000 cavalry, not to mention other Confederate forces in the field but, in spite of all his forces. Hood was no match for Sherman, and, by capturing Atlanta, the latter had a new base from which to operate, and a certainty of cutting off the retreat of General Lee in case he should endeavor to march south with his army. ;

General Lee had escaped from Rich50,000 men, and joined his forces with those of Johnston, previous to the latter's being relieved from command, Sherman would have been confronted by an army twice the size of his own, and would have been obliged to retreat. The Confederates would then have fortified Atlanta, as they had previously fortified Richmond the headquarters of the Confederacy would have been in the interior instead of on the coast, and the war would have been continued indefinitely. This was probably the reason why Grant did not push matters more vigorously before Richmond, where he would have met with great losses, and perhaps have been unable to prevent Lee's final If

mond with

escape.

Grant had had, at Vicksburg, an example

ture of Richmond. It was evidently General Grant's design to avoid any great military movement until he heard of Sherman's arrival near the

how much cheaper it was to starve out an enemy, protected by the strongest fortifications, than to drive him out; and he had no idea of forcing Lee south into regions where he could prolong the war until the patience of the North was exhausted. The commanding general had not only to

Although Grant had no

consider the military situation, but also the

—

Southern coast.

of

THE

482

ISA

VAL lil^JUKr Grant expresses himself

The two great parties in the North were divided by distinct lines. One

subject. General as follows

party, thougli in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war, called for a strict observance of the Constitution in relation to the rights of the States, and severely criticised certain of the measures of the Government as arbitrary and unnecessary. The numerous successes of the Union arms in 1863, and the advance of the Federal Army until it almost enveloped the Confederates in Richmond, greatly increased the strength of the Administration party. JEverybody was now hopeful that the war vsrould speedily be brought to a close, particularly as the supreme direction of military affairs was now in the hands of General Grant, in whom the people had entire confidence. The Democratic party was now a war party, and the conservative or peace party was in such a minority that their utterances amounted to very little. The terrible resistance Grant had encountered on his way to Richmond had given rise to an impression that in Lee he had

During this time, Jefferson Davis made a speech at Macon, Georgia, which was reported in the papers of the South, and soon became known to the whole country, disclosing the plans of the enemy and enabling General Sherman to fully meet Mr. Davis exhibited the weakness of supthem. posing that an army that had been beaten and decimated in a vain attempt at the defensive, could successfully undertake the offensive against an army that had so often defeated it.

political one.

met an antagonist whom it would be difficult for him to overcome, and the opposition to the Government in the North was

moment emboldened. By midsummer, the numerous

for a

successes

which had attended the Federal arms, and the adherents thereby gained to the Administration, had rendered the re-election of General certainty. Grant felt that, under these circumstances, it would be unwise to do anything calcuPresident Lincoln a

lated to imperil a condition of affairs so beneficial to the country, and although he determined to leave no effort untried to capture Richmond, yet he resolved to succeed by means that would cause comparatively little loss of life. The fall of Atlanta and the dispersion of

Hood's army caused a great sensation throughout the South. The impending doom of the Confederate cause was evident to all thinking men. Hood moved his scattered forces to new lines, and Mr. Davis, anxious to prove that he had committed no mistake in removing General Johnston, repaired to Hood's headquarters in person to encourage that general and plan a new campaign that would compensate for the loss of Atlanta.

On

his

way

Hood's army, Mr. Davis made frequent speeches to cheer up the people, declaring that General Sherman could be driven back, Atlanta recovered, etc., etc. The effect of all this was to inform Grant and Sherman of the new plan of operations decided on by the Confederate President and General Hood for, of course, everything appeared in the Southern newspapers without regard to the injury it might inflict on tlie cause. In writing on this to

;

Hood comendeavor to reach Sherman's rear and cut off his communications, apparently oblivious of the fact that the Union Army could live on the country, and would be relieved from a vast deal of trouble in keeping open communications. Ascertaining that Hood had crossed the Chattahoochie River on the 29th and 30th of September. General Sherman followed him; but finding that Hood was bound for Nashville, he abandoned the pursuit and returned to Atlanta, where he prepared to march to the sea across the State Sherman's calculation was of Georgia. that General Thomas could collect troops at Nashville; which, with the two army corps sent him by Sherman by way of Chattanooga, would enable him to hold the line of the Tennessee. Everything turned out well, and General Thomas gained a victory that dispersed Hood's army in every direction, and administered another crushing blow to the Confederate cause. General Sherman was the more induced to hurry his movements from a telegram sent to him by General Grant, in which the latter says "If you were to cut loose, I do not believe you would meet Hood's army, but you would be bushwhacked by all the old men, little boys, and such railroad guards as are left at home." With the dis-

On

the 24th of September,

menced

his

new movement

to

:

positions made by the enemy. Sherman felt sure he would have nothing" in his rear or on his flank to disturb him, and so pursued his devastating march to the sea— that march which is so celebrated in the annals of the civil war. Notwithstanding all the criticisms of the press on his apparent inactivitv, Grant waited patiently until he should hear that Sherman was in a position to prevent Lee and his army from escaping southward.

When Sherman made

a junction at Golds-

C, with the forces of Generals and Terry, which had marched from Wilmington to meet him, the fate of the Confederacy was sealed, and Grant moved on Richmond. While Grant was watching the progress

boro. N. Schofield

which we have detailed above, the Federal naval vessels in the James River, under the immediate command of Captain Melancton Smith, were actively engaged in of events

OF THE CIVIL WAR. patrolling the river, guarding Trent's Reach, or in any co-operative service called for by General Grant. About the middle of August, the Navy Department wrote to Acting-RearAdmiral Lee, inquiring if he could not dispense with some of the iron-clads, on the ground that James River was effectually

blocked against the Confederate squadron. To this action General Grant interposed an objection, which relieves Acting-RearAdmiral Lee from any imputation of desiring to retain the iron-clads in the vicinity of Trent's Reach when their services were so imperatively demanded elsewhere. General Grant, in his communication to the

admiral, says While I believe we never will require armored vessels to meet those of the enemy, I think it imprudent to withdraw them. At least two such

my judgment, should be kept in the upper James River. They stand a constant threat to the enemy, and prevent them from taking the offensive. There is no disguising the fact that if the enemy should take the offensive on the water, although we should probably destroy his whole James River navy, such damage would be done our shipping and stores, all accumulated on the waters where the conflict would begin, that our victory would be dearly bought.

vessels, in

In consequence of General Grant's protest,

Acting -Rear -Admiral Lee made such

representations to the Navy Department that a sufficient force of iron-clads was allowed to remain on the James. The army had erected a strong battery at right angles with the line of fire of the Monitors at Trent's Reach. This battery had on several occasions opened on Howlett's and completely silenced it. Hence, with the obstructions under fire of the Army and Navy guns, the Army stores, etc., at City Point were perfectly secure against

any attack. While the attention of the Commanderin-chief of the North Atlantic squadron was principally directed to the security of Grant's army against an attack by the river, the enemy in the sounds of North Carolina were doing their best to make an impression on the Federal posts established along those waters.

" Great victories" over

Union forces were constantly reported, which existed only in the vivid imagination of the Confederate reporters. To show how war news was manufactured, we quote the following from the Raleigh

the

Weekly Confederate forces, telegraphed Jackson, on the 31st of January, as follows: 'Yesterday morning engaged the enemy with a force of two hundred men and a rifled field piece. After a fight of two hours, in which we engaged twelve hundred men of the enemy and three pieces of artillery, the Yankees were driven from Windsor, N. C, to their boats. We lost six men loss of the enemy not known.' /-^_,„.„ t: J r\ '\\T Tr'i,,„„„„

"Colonel

to the

Griffin,

War Department from

;

i-

J.

483

indignant at such a report, in a communication to Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee, writes as follows " The report is false from beginning to conclusion. planned the affair and we would have captured the entire party had we been ten minutes earlier. I had forty sailors and one 12-pounder howitzer, and there were three hundred and fifty infantry. We marclaed about sixteen miles. There was no fight and nothing worth reporting. The rebels ran. I fired three or four times at them at long range. We

I

held the town of Windsor several hours, and marched back eight miles to our boats without a single shot from the enemy."

In this case the Confederate commander Flusser was capital out of nothing. as truthful as he was brave, and his account He was ever on the alert to is reliable. surprise the enemy, and his escaping death for so long a period is remarkable.

made

The Confederates had been .employed in building a powerful ram, called the "' Albemarle," on the Roanoke River, and, knowing that the Federals had no vessel that could compete with her, it was arranged to fit out an expedition of Confederate soldiers, which, in conjunction with the ram, should make a descent on Plymouth. The United States Government attached considerable importance to the possession of Plymouth as a base for Army operations. Two or three fortifications had been erected and well armed, and these were connected by lines of intrenchments and

rifle-pits, cal-

culated, with the aid of the gun-boats, to repel any force likely to be sent to this point. No one took any account of the " Albemarle," then building up the river, of which vessel only meagre accounts could be learned, though frequent representations, by naval officers in command in the sounds, had been made to the Navy Department of the necessity for more troops in that quarter. It seems to have been the general impression that the Confederates were cherishing the idea of repossessing and regaining those places which had been so gallantly wrested from them early in the war by the united efforts of the Army and Navy. No doubt the Department rested under the opinion that the Confederates could not, so late in the year 1864, when they had been beaten at all points, undertake to recapture the towns in the sounds, or build a formidable iron-clad, in face of the fact that we had built numerous small Monitors, any of which, lightened of their armament and provisions, could have been floated into the sounds. There was, in fact, an extraordinary supineness manifested in certain quarters in relation to defending those sounds, for the possession of which so much time and labor had been expended. The object of the Confederates, at the

THE NA VAL HISTORY

484

.1

up victories in every quarter, which would have their effect on the peace party in the North, and influence the coming Presidenelection.

tial

Then,

too, their

victories,

much exaggerated, would sound well abroad, and perhaps bring aid from the English and French Governments. It was clearly the duty of the Federal Government never to fall back from a position so easily to be held with Monitors and gun-boats as the sounds of North ©arolina yet, for want of proper precautioils on the part of the Government, the enemy besieged Plymouth. ;

On

the 18th of April, 1864, the Confederates opened with artillery upon Fort Gray, and in the afternoon, directing a heavy fire upon the town of Plymouth, the battle became general all along the line. The enemy assaulted the works with great gal-

Almost at the same moment the ram struck the "Southfield" with her prow on the starboard bow, causof about ten feet.

ing the latter vessel to sink rapidly. Both had opened on the ram, as soon as she appeared in sight, with solid shot from their 100-pounder rifles and 11-inch Dahlgren guns, without making any perceptible impression on the " Albemarle's " armor. Lieutenant - Commander Flusser fired the first three shots himself, the third shot being a 10-second Dahlgren 11-inch shell. Directly after, Flusser was killed by a fragment of a shell whether from the ram or from one of the " Miami's" rebounding from vessels

—

the "Albemarle's" armor is doubtful— and the command of the "Miami" devolved upon Acting-Master William N. Wells. The pressure of the ram between the two vessels broke the fastenings with which they were joined, and as many of the " Southfield's " men as could do so got on board the "Miami," which vessel rapidly retreated down the river, followed by the "Whitehead" and "Ceres," the ram not appearing to make more than four knots

an hour in pursuit. The " Albemarle soon relinquished the chase, and returned to

Plymouth, where the battle was

still

in

progress.

Flusser had no superior as a gallant and energetic officer, but his arrangements for meeting the ram were certainly ill-judged. Had the four vessels been properly disposed, the "Albemarle" herself coulS have

rammed

been

while endeavoring to ram Tying two vessels together gave the enemy the very opportunity he desired. others.

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDEE CHAELES W. FLDSSER.

were driven back by the aid of "Miami" and " Southfield," under Lieutenant-Commander Flusser. A message was sent from General Wessels to Lieutenant-Commander Flusser, acknowledging the value of the Navy's services in driving back the enemy, and requesting that the " Miami " might be kept below the town to prevent a flank movement bv the Confederates. The "Southfield," Actinglantry, but

the gun-boats

Volunteer-Lieutenant Chas. A. French, anchored with the " Miami" below Plymouth, and the ram, having been reported as coming down the river, the two gun-boats were chained together to meet her. At 3 45 p.m. both steamers got underway, and stood up the river as fast as possible, and in less than five minutes the ram struck the " Miami" on the port bow, near the water line, breaking through two planks for a distance :

Either of the gun-boats was twice as fast as the ram, and there were chances of crippling her that were not improved. The "Albemarle" had with her the "Cotton Planter," a strong screw-steamer, barricaded with cotton and iron, and her presence was, perhaps, the reason why the gun-boats retreated, and left the ram mistress of the situation. The result of this unfortunate affair was the capture of the

town

of Plymouth, with its garrison, munitions of war, etc. The following were the casualties in the flotilla from the attack of the " Albemarle"

and "Cotton Planter": "Miami," commanding officer killed, eleven men wounded; "Ceres," one killed, eight wounded. Out of the "Southfield's" crew, seven officers and forty-two men escaped to the "Miami;"

the rest were supposed to have been made prisoners. After setting fire to the part of the Southfield " that was still above water, the "Albemarle" returned to Plymouth. After the gun -boats left the ram in full possession of the river, the Confederates took fresh courage, and resumed their attacks on the Federal works, from which '

'

OF THE CIVIL WAR. they had been several times repulsed with loss, and, no reinforcements arriving, the forts (on the 20th) surrendered. An attempt was made to censure the Navy for allowing the ram to come down the river; and it does seem as though obstructions and torpedoes might have been planted in the channel to prevent the "Albemarle" from reaching Plymouth; but, although piles were driven and the river partially blockaded, as events proved, the obstructions had no power to delay the advance of the Confederate vessels. In response to a resolution of the House of Representives, calling for information in regard to the capture of Plymouth through want of assistance from the Navy, the Secretary of the Navy sent to the Speaker copies of a

number

among them

the following

of

communications,

Navy Department, September 17, 1863. Sir — I have the honor to present for your consideration a subject of great importance connected with the maintaining possession of the sounds of North Carolina. Information received from time to time places it beyond doubt that the rebels are constructing, and have almost completed, at Edward's Ferry, near Weldon, on the Roanoke Elver, a ram and an ironIt is reported that these completed in the course of five or six

clad floating battery.

vessels will be weeks. It is further reported that

an attack on Plymouth is contemplated by land and water. Our force of wooden vessels in the sounds, necessarily of light draft and lightly armed, will by no means be adequate to contend against the rebel ram and battery should they succeed in getting

down the Roanoke, and, in that event, our possession of the sounds would be jeopardized. It is impossible for our vessels to ascend the Roanoke River to any great distance in consequence of the shallowness of the water, their exposed situation from the fire of sharp-shooters, and the earth-works represented to be located at different points, particularly at Rainbow Bluff. Were our iron-clads, now completed, available for service in the sounds, they could not be sent there, as they draw too much water to cross the bar at Hatteras. Our light-draft ones will not be completed for some time to come. In view of all these facts, I deem, it proper to suggest the importance of an effort on the part of the Army to surprise and destroy the rebel ram and battery referred to, or of obstructing the river by torpedoes and piles, or otherwise, so as to prevent their descent. This Department will be happy to co-operate as far as it may be able in adopting such steps as may seem practicable and adequate to secure us against threatening disaster. I am, very respectfully,

Gideon Welles. To Hon.

E.

M. Stanton, Secretary of War.

The "Albemarle" did not appear until nine months after the above letter was written, during which time no efforts seem to have been made to hasten the preparation of light -draft Monitors, that might have been floated over the bar at Hatteras at high water. The letter we have quoted shows that the

485

War

Department took little interest in the matter of destroying the ram when under construction, which could only be done by a strong military and naval force combined.

There was great excitement among all those who could by any possibility be made responsible for the capture of Plymouth. Both the military and naval authorities had full knowledge of the building of the ram and floating battery; but the naval officer commanding in the sounds remained at Newborn, and left the most important position, Plymouth, with but four vessels, only

two

of

which were of any

force, to

defend

the place against an iron-clad represented to be almost a match for the far-famed "Merrimac." Although the attack commenced on the 18th, and lasted until the 20th, no vessels were sent from the naval forces in the sounds or soldiers from the military posts at other points. Major -General Peck, commanding at Newbern, writes to General Butler as follows:

Armt of the

Headquarters, District of

Newbern,

General

North Carolina,

N. C, April 20th,

1864.

)

\ )

:

* * * # » rpjjg enemy have appeared in force in front of Plymouth, and attacked the place. The ram has sunk the " Southfield," disabled the " Mi-

ami," and passed below Plymouth. The sound is probably by this time in possession of the enemy, and Roanoke Island will undoubtedly soon be attacked, if it has not been already. Washington, N. C, is also threatened. Firing has been heard in that direction all night and this morning. Unless we are immediately and strongly reinforced, both by land and water, all of eastern North Carolina is lost to us. Immediate action is imperatively necessary. Captain Flusser, of the " Miami," is killed.

Very

respectfully,

John

J.

Peck,

Major-Oeneral Commanding. Major-General B. F. Butler,

Commanding Department and North Carolina.

of Virginia

In reply to the resolution of Congress asking for information in regard to the capture of Plymouth, Mr. Secretary Welles sent a characteristic communication, in which he says: I transmit herewith copies of correspondence on flies of this Department relating to the construction of the rebel ram referred to, and other matters connected therewith. I also subjoin a schedule of

the

iron-clad gun-boats of light draft in process of construction, which, in anticipation of the state of things now existing, were designed for service in the sounds and rivers of North Carolina, and the shallow interior waters elsewhere on the coast. These vessels were contracted for as soon as it was possible to do so after the necessary appropriations were made by Congress, and it will be seen by the date given that most of them were to have been completed last year, some of them as early as September. Not one has yet been delivered, and it will be some weeks before one can be made available for service. I have felt it duty on repeated occasions to call the attention of Congress to the necessitv for a vard

my

THE NAVAL Hl^TUKr

486

and establishment where iron and armored vessels could be constructed for the Government, but the preliminary steps tor such an establishment have not yet been taken.

In the meantime, the Depart-

ment and the Government are wholly dependent on contractors, who, if they have the will, do not possess the ability, to finish these vessels promptly. Conflicting local controversies in regard to the place which shall be selected and benefitted by the proposed important national establishment tor an iron Navy, such as the present and future necessities of the Government require, have contributed to delay action on this imijortant subject. Having in view economy as well as the public necessities, I have at no time recommended that the numl)er of our Navy Yards should be increased on the Atlantic coast; but it is my deliberate opinion that no time should be wasted in establishing, at a proper place, a suitable yard where iron ships can feel its necessity in an be made and repaired. emergency which has called forth the present inquiry, and not a single contractor is able to fulfill his engagements, even for one of this class of small

We

vessels.

In the event of a foreign war with one or more of the maritime powers, our condition would be most unfortunate, with no Government establishmeut for the construction and repair of armored vessels such as modern science and skill are introducing. The omission to make provision for such an establishment, on which the Government can always depend, is to be regretted. Such incidentai aid as the Navy could render the Army was cheerfully and earnestly given at Plymouth, as it has ever been given always and at all times when its aid and co-operation could be useful. It has been less effective than it could have been, even with such boats as we have, in consequence of the unfortunate legislation of the last Congress, which, in its enrollment law, ignored the Navy, subjected seamen to military draft, tendered large bounties to such as became soldiers, but allowed no bounty to those who entered the naval service, and would not even permit naval recruits to be credited on the quotas required to be drafted. The remedial legislation of the present Congress has thus far effected comparatively tew transfers. Some suggestions which I had the honor to submit to the Senate in March last, in answer to an inquiry as to what other legislation is necessary to supply any deficiencies of men for the naval service, have not, that I am aware, been reported upon, and many of our vessels — some of which would have been ordered to the sounds of North Carolina are still without crews. The correspondence of Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee and the naval officers are evidence that there has been no neglect or inattention on their part at Ply-

—

mouth

or elsewhere in that quarter. I have, etc.,

Gideon Welles. Mr. Secretary Welles, in his communication to Congress, plainly demonstrated that the Confederates could never have captured Plymouth if adequate appropriations had been made when first asked for to construct light-draft iron-clads, but all through the war Congress required much urging from the Navy Department in order that proper appropriations should be made. The same unwillingness to grant the Navy money exists to-day, and the country, as regards this arm of defence, is in a deplorable condition. Following the capture of Plymouth, the Confederates ea,rly in May made an attack

on Newbern, drove in the pickets, and took possession of the railroad; but there was a fair force of gun-boats at this point, and the summons of the enemy to surrender the town was refused. On the ;(!3d of April, Captain Melancton Smith assumed command of the naval forces in the sounds of North Carolina, with orders, if possible, to destroy the ram "Albemarle," either by running her down with the double-ender gun-boats or in such other manner as his judgment might suggest. The most efficient vessels at the disposal of Captain Smith were the "Miami," Commander Renshaw; "Tacony," LieutenantCommander Truxtun; " Sassacus," Lieutenant-Commander Roe; " Mattabesett," Commander Febiger, and the " Wyalusing,"

Lieutenant-Commander Queen. Captain Smith was well supplied with "instructions" by his commander-in-chief. Acting - Rear - Admiral Lee, although it seems probable that so gallant and distinguished an officer could have done equally well without them. For the reader's benefit they are here quoted: Attacking the ram will, to some extent, intimidate it, and by getting alongside in or near contact, aud on each side holding position, and by firing at its ports, whether open or shut, and on its roof, you will disable and capture it. Your guns should have double breachings and be loaded with heavy charges — say from fifteen to eighteen pounds of powder for the 9-ineh guns, and solid shot — and they should be so depressed as to fire as near a perpendicular line to the slope of the

the centre of

roof as practicable. If all hands lie down when will escaps the rebound of

they

the guns are fired, broken parts from

the shot. At the time of this attack, if some shells were thrown down the smoke-stack, she might then be disabled.

The advantage

of getting alongside and on each that you prevent her from ramming, and have a controlling fire upon her roof and

side of her

is

ports.

The ports and stern are her weak points, even if her ports are kept closed, as on her attack on the "Miami" and "Southfield" shows. You can, if alongside of her, fire through them and into her, and if her roof is, as described, of railroad iron, with a thin plating over it, the mechanical diSiculty of securing this is such that it will loosen and fly off under the concussion of your heavy fire while the inside bolts will act like canister on her deck; and the concussion especially if her ports are shut will shock and demoralize her crew, giving you a ;

—

complete victory. Be sure and not have the neutral point of your wheel-house opposite her ports Your wheel-houses should be abaft or forward of her roof better

—

abaft.

The Department seems to prefer ramming. This ram is reported as being of the usual "Merrimac" heavy lagging and a knuckle would But ramming under high speed may drive it in, or you may drive her ashore, model-

if so,

make her

sides strong.

mount her ends, and—especially in the sounds, with some sea sink her. Entrusted by the Department with the performance of this signal service, I leave, with the expression of my views, to you the manner of executing it.

or

—

OF THE CIVIL WAR. All assaults are exposed service, but this assault has with much real risk less than appears. Wishing you success and promotion, I have the honor to be, etc., etc., S. P. Leb. To Captain Melancton Smith, JJ. S. Navy. In the coming times, these quaint dispatches of the year 1864, issued by the old salts of the Na.vy, will doubtless be looked Tipon much as we now regard the lucubrations of Admiral Benbow and his contemoraries. Whether Captain Smith benefitted y the directions so liberally showered upon him will appear when we chronicle his adTentures in the sounds of North Carolina. The following vessels, arranged in the order given, off Edenton Bay, were under

Captain Smith's command " Miami," Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant Charles A. French. "Ceres," Acting-Master H. H. Foster. "Commodore Hull," Act. -Master Francis :

Josselyn. " Seymour."

SECOND LINE. "Mattabesett,"

Commander

J.

G.

Fe-

higer.

'Sassacus," Lieutenant -Commander F. A. Roe. " Wyalusing," "W.

W.

Lieutenant

-

Commander

Queen.

"Whitehead," Acting-Ensign G. W. Barrett.

The "Miami" was

fitted

with a torpedo the ram, if

to explode against the side of

opportunity offered.

At 1 o'clock p. M. on the 5th of May, the "Miami," "Commodore Hull," "Ceres"

army transport "Trumpeter" got underway from the picket station off Edenton Bay, bound to the mouth of the Roanoke

-and

River, for the purpose of laying down torpedoes. Within a short distance of the buoy, at the mouth of the river, the " Albe-

marle" was discovered coming down, accompanied by the steamers '" Cotton Plant" -and "Bombshell," laden with troops, and doubtless bound to the attack of Newborn. The " Trumpeter" was sent back to give tidings of the approach of the ram, while the other vessels steamed slowly away, -endeavoring to draw the ram as far as possible from the mouth of the river. The ram followed the "Miami" and her consorts until the vessels fell in with Captain Smith and the other division of gunboats, when signal was made to attack the

The "Mattabesett," "Wyalu" Sassacus " and " Whitehead " steamed towards the ram, the smaller vessels falling into the rear according to proenemy. sing,"

gramme. At 4:40

ram

fired the first gun, " Mattabesett's the launch, and wounded several men. sec-

which

p. M. the destroyed

A

487

ond shot cut away some of the rigging. At Confederate steamer " Bombshell," being temporarily disabled by a shot, hauled down her flag and surrendered. The next moment the "Mattabesett" fired a broadside at the ram from a distance of 160 yards. Just afterwards, the "Sassacus" delivered a broadside, and the "Albemarle" 4:45 the

sheered with a port-helm with the intention of ramming, but the superior speed of the "Sassacus" foiled her in this attempt, and the latter passed around the ram's stern, with a hard port-helm. The "Bombshell" lay off the ram's portquarter, and, having opened fire simultaneously with the "Albemarle," the "Sassacus" fired on her, and her commanding ofBcer was under the impression that the Confederate vessel had surrendered to him. As the "Mattabesett" had passed around the stern of the ram and was heading down the sound, the ram had turned partially around, presenting her broadside to the " Sassacus," which vessel was at that time about three or four hundred yards distant. She made for the ram, and struck her fairly with a speed of five or six knots, according to Captain Smith, or ten knots, according to Lieutenant-Commander Roe. The ram was struck just abaft her starboard-beam, causing her to heel over, and placing her after -deck under water; so much so, that Lieutenant-Commander Roe thought she was sinking. At the same instant the "Albemarle" fired a 100-pounder rifieshot through and through the "Sassacus," from starboard to port on the berth-deck. The collision was heavy, and the engine of the "Sassacus" was kept going in the attempt to force her bow deeper and deeper into the ram, so that some of the other vessels could attack on the other side, and enable the "Sassacus" to sink the enemy. This position the "Sassacus" maintained Hand-grenades were at least ten minutes. thrown down the ram's hatches, and attempts made to get shells into her smokestack, besides keeping up a severe musketry fire on her. At length the stern of the ram swung around, and, her broadside-port bearing on the starboard-bow of the "Sassacus," the "Albemarle" fired a 100-pounder rifled shot, which passed through the starboardside of the "Sassacus," through the empty bunkers into the starboard -boiler, clear through it fore and aft, and finally lodging in tlie ward-room. In a moment the " Sassacus " was filled with steam, killing and wounding many of the crew, and rendering all movement for the time impossible. Only those who have witnessed the effect of a bursting boiler, with the steam rushing all over the ship and penetrating every nook and cranny, can appreciate the condi-

THE NA VAL tilHIUKr

488

tion of affairs on board the "Sassacus." The stoutest nerves are scarcely proof against the appalling sights which meet the eye, and the cries and groans which When the vapor cleared fall upon the ear. away, so that the commander of the " Sassacus," could look around him, he saw his antagonist steaming away. The engine of the " Sassacus" was meanwhile in motion, no one being able to get into the engineroom to stop it, on account of the scalding The steam, until the boiler was empty. helm was at once put a- port, and the " Sas-

sacus" headed up the sound, leaving the the other vessels to operate. as the immediate effects of the explosion were over, the officers and men returned to their guns, firing upon the enemy until the "Sassacus" drifted out of range. While the "Sassacus" was in contact with the "Albemarle," it was impossible for the other vessels of the squadron to fire, but for fear of injuring their consort

field clear for

As soon

;

they subsequently failed to take advantage of the act of the gallant "Sassacus," and deliver blows upon the ram while she was at rest and somewhat demoralized from the shock she had received. It was by such concerted action that the "Tennessee" was forced to surrender to The Farragut's vessels in Mobile Bay. failure of the larger vessels to ram the " Albemarle" is accounted for by the indiscriminate firing from the smaller ones upon the enemy. These latter vessels answered the signals made by the senior officer, with-

out obeying them.

The engagement continued until 7 :.30 p. m. The " Commodore Hull " and the " Ceres" were left to keep sight of the ram, and to remain off the mouth of the Roanoke River if she suc,

when darkness supervened.

ceeded in entering it, the other vessels coming to anchor in the sound. During the engagement an attempt was

made by the

"

Wyalusing "

to lay a seine in the intent of fouling her propeller, but the latter ran over it without damage. torpedo was rigged out from the " Miami," and the attempt was made to explode it against the enemy, but from some unexplained cause the attempt failed. The ram, during the attacks of the different vessels, kept moving about delivering an accurate fire, apparently unharmed, although the shot and shell rattled upon her slanting roof like hail. When the shots struck her armor they fairly sparkled, and flying up into the air fell into the water without doing any perceptible damage. The ram moved through the water at the rate of six knots an hour, and turned quickly to meet her adversaries. When the "Sassacus" struck the "Albe-

front of the

ram with

A

marle," and directly afterwards

with vapor fore and

aft,

was coverei

many

supposed

that this catastrophe was brought about by the collision, and the impression prevailed that it would not be prudent to repeat the experiment for fear the whole flotilla would be disabled by their own exertions. There does not seem to have been that system in manceuvering the vessels of the flotilla, which should have prevailed but Captain ;

Smith had only been in command a few days, and the officers of the vessels were quite unpracticed in fleet manceuvering. Signals, though made and answered, were not carried out. It seems to have been the object to fire into the enemy at a distance of from two to three hun4red yards, although,

was soon evident that the ram was invulnerable in her hull against any shot from the Federal vessels. The "Mattabesett" (flag-ship) was well handled, and her fire was remarkably acShe was not in the least disabled curate. during the action. While passing the ram in the " Wyalusing," at a distance of one hundred and fifty it

Lieutenant-Commander Queen says: my intention to run the 'Bombdown, but discovered in time that shell she had surrendered, when I immediately backed clear of her and again opened Lieutenant-Commander fire on the ram." Queen claims to have cut away the signal halliards of the "Albemarle" when her colors came down, and he supposed she had surrendered, though he was soon convinced to the contrary by a 6-inch rifie-shot crashing through the side of his vessel. Soon yards,

"It was '

executive officer of the "Wyalusing" reported the ship as sinking, audit seemed as if the ram was about to clear the field, as she moved about, firing her two 6-inch rifles, almost every shot taking effect on some of the vessels. As it was found on examination that the " Wyalusing" was making no more water than usual, another start was made to run the ram down, passing around her and throwing in broadsides which did no harm, and it was only at the close of the action one of the pieces of plating forward on the port side was seen to fly oft'. At 7:40 the "Wyalusing" ceased firing, agreeably to signal from the flag-ship. The reports of the different commanding officers show that as rapid a fire was kept up as circumstances would admit; yet, after the attack of the " Sassacus," there was no concerted action, which is to be regretted, since one or two heavy blows in the stern of the "Albemarle" would have sealed her fate; for her rudder once disabled, the ram would have been obliged to surrender. Even if she had been repeatedly rammed, without piercing her sides, her crew would have become demoralized,. after, the

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

A

great as always happens in such cases. deal of gallantry was shown on this occasion; but a mistake was made in not carrying out the Department's directions, to de-

pend upon ramming. The " Albemarle" had no opportunity to use her ram; or, if she had, failed to take advantage of it. It is probable that the commanding officer of the ram, who fought his vessel with so much Judgment and gallantry, would not have lost an opportunity to use his prow if one had offered. This remarkable engagement continued from 4:40 until 7:40 P. M., when the signal was made to cease firing, and the ram made off towards the mouth of Roanoke River. It afterwards appeared that she was not materially injured, but could have continued the contest for some time, in spite of the reports to the contrary brought by refugees from Plymouth. There were fired from the different vessels at the "Albemarle" 392 one-hundred-pounder shot and shells, 239 nine-inch shells, 60 thirty-pounder Parrott shot and shells, 59 twenty-four-pound howit-

—

and some 12-pound rifle-shots in all, and shells. The following damages were sustained by the vessels of the flotilla: zers,

648 shot

" Mattabesett"

ways abaft

— one

shot through water-

port- wheel.

—

"Bassacus" a 6-inch solid shot through the starboard-side of the ship five feet above the berth-deck, through the starboard boiler,

and exploding it; wheel badly damaged by coming in contact with the ram's stern.

—

"Wyalusing" shell exploded in starboard wheel-house, cutting away two of the water-rims of the starboard wheel, etc. one shot knocking out the gig's bottom; one shot through starboard-side of berthdeck, doing much damage; one shot on the starboard quarter above the water line, doing much damage. " Miami" struck three or four times, all but one shot unimportant. This was not a great deal of damage, con-

—

sidering the to fire at,

number of

targets the

and seemingly nothing

ram had

to disable

any of the flotilla except the "Sassacus," which vessel was put hors de combat early in the action. The fire of the ram was, doubtless, much interfered with by the tremendous hail of shot and shell which fell upon her, obliging her to keep her shutters almost constantly closed.

The engagement showed conclusively the immense advantage of an iron-clad ram over any number of vulnerable wooden vessels such as were employed in the waters of North Carolina, and that the money spent to build " double-enders " would have been

much

better applied in the construction of each with one or two heavy guns. It would have taken little more time to build fast rams,

489

light iron-clads than

it did to construct the double-enders, which, on the whole, were not well suited for their intended purpose. The engagement with the "Albemarle," although not successful in sinking or disabling her, yet answered the valuable purpose of preventing her from doing further mischief. Her intended attack on Newbern, in co-operation with the Confederate land forces, was given up, and the ram was only seen once more after the engagement. A day or two afterwards, the "Albemarle" came to the mouth of the Roanoke River with the apparent object of putting down torpedoes; but when fired upon retreated up the stream. She was then tied to the bank under the guns of Plymouth, and heavy booms placed around her to keep off torpedo-boats, there to undergo such repairs Her commandas were found necessary. ing officer was evidently satisfied that with his limited speed it was not prudent to encounter so many vessels without further strengthening the "Albemarle." The blow given by the " Sassacus " admonished him that two or three successive shocks would disable his vessel. The commanding officer of the "Albemarle " was Lieutenant A. F. Warley, late of the United States Navy, who commanded the "Manassas" at the forts below New Orleans. In the command of the "Albemarle" he certainly showed great skill and gallantry, the credit for which we do not propose to withhold because it was exercised against the flag under which he had been trained to service. The attack on the flotilla was a bold stroke, doubtless intended to make a point for the Confederate cause,

which was just then threatened with a

col-

lapse.

The " Albemarle" was constructed on the same general plan as the "Merrimac." The slanting roof and other exposed parts were covered with five inches of pine and the same thickness of oak surmounted with railroad iron, over which was an inch of plating secured through all with bolts and nuts. The ram had a cast-iron prow and carried two 6-inch Brooke rifled guns, pivoted on the bow and stern, so that the guns could be worked from the bow and quarter ports. Her overhanging sides, connected with a "knuckle," made it difficult to ram her with an ordinary gun-boat. She was

driven at a speed of six knots by a propeller and drew not exceeding eight feet of water. The Confederates throughout the war adhered to this class of vessel, which was the most convenient for them to build with their limited facilities. Considering the number the enemy constructed, and the gallantry and ability of their naval officers, it is remarkable that they should not have accomplished more.

THE NA VAL HISTORY

490

stationed in the swamps on the opposite side of the river, was to explode them on a given signal. Everything worked well until the torpedoes were within a few yards of the ram,

While the Federals may be liable to criticism for allowing the enemy to get ahead of

them in the construction of iron-clads, there was no want of gallantry on the part of the

Navy

in attempting their destruction,

and

when Baldwin was seen and

the attempts were generally successful. The "Merrimac" was the only Confederate iron-clad which really accomplished much, and she bade fair at one time to change the aspect of affairs in favor of the Confederates, and overwhelm the Union people in mortification and disaster. An effort was made to destroy the "Albeparty of five volmarle " by torpedoes.

A

unteers from the vessel at 2

p. m.

"Wyalusing"

on the aoth

of

left

with tlie boat-keeper, returned to the ship, after an absence of thirty-eight hours, nearly exhausted with their arduous and perilous labors. The other two men were found, after a two days' search in the swamps, almost worn out with hunger and fatigue. Although their design was defeated by the accidental fouling of the line with a schooner, these men deserve none the less credit for undertaking so perilous an adventure. After this episode the "Albemarle " was strictly guarded, and remained at Plymouth, a constant source of anxiety to our naval authorities. The flotilla in the sounds was reinforced by some additional vessels and placed under the command of Commander William H. Macomb, an officer fully competent to perform the duties required of him.

that

May, having

made a reconnaissance two days previously, and ascended the middle channel of the Roanoke River in a dinghy. Tlie party carried two torpedoes, each containing one hundred pounds of powder, with their appendages, which were transported on stretchers across tlie swamps. John W. Lloyd, coxswain, and Charles Baldwin, coalheaver, swam the river witli a line and hauled the torpedoes across to the Plymouth shore close to the town. The torpedoes were then connected by a bridle floated down with the current, guided by Charles Baldwin, who designed to place them across the "Albemarle's" bow, one on either side, and Allen Crawford, fireman, who was

NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, JANUARY Acting-Rear-Admiral, Samuel

P. Lee.

John STEAM FEIQATE "MINNESOTA" — FLAG-SHIP. Lieutenant-Commander, John H. Upsliur; Lieutenant, Jos. P. Fyffe; Fleet Surgeon, W. Maxwell Assistant Surgeons, G. S. Franklin, W. S. Fort and A. Mathewson; Fleet Paymaster, Chas. P. Upham; Chaplain, Thomas Gr. Salter Marine Officers: Captain, John Schermerhorn; Second-Lieutenant, C. F. Williams; Acting-Masters, Robert Barstow, A. B. Pierson and W. H. Polly; Actinsr-Ensigns, J. W. Grrattan, E. R. Olcott, Richard Bates, John M. Cowen and James Birtwistle; ActingMaster's Mates, F. A. O'Conner, John Brann, J. M. Skarden, tl-. W. Kellogg and S. A. Tabor; Engineers Chiefs, Benj. F. (iarvin and John H. Long; Assistants, G. W. Sensner, .James Renshaw, Jr., Guy Samson, R. D. Taylor, P. W. Nyman, Wm. Bond and J. D. Lee; Boatswain, Wm. Bunker; Gunner, C. W. Homer; Carpenter, J'. W. Stimson; Sail"VVoofl;

;

:

maker, T. O. Fassett. IBON-CLAD STBAMEB "KOANOKE." Captain, Guert Gansevoort Lieutenant, Clark Merchant; Surgeon, Robert Woodworth; Assistant Surgeon, A. A, Hoehling Paymaster, James I). Murray Marine Corps First-Lieutenant, Franii Monroe Acting Masters, .James French, Chas. De Bevoise, H. J. Coop and T. A. Wyatt; Ensigns, B. D. Wemple and H. B. Rumsey; Acting-Ensign, E. E. Taylor; Acting-Master's Mates, H. HL Collamore, J. 8. Young and John Dow; Engineers: Chief, Ed;

•

;

;

:

hailed by a

The sentry then fired two shots, which was soon followed by a volley of musketry, which induced Lloyd to cut the guiding line, throw away the co'il, and swim the river again to join John Laverty, fireman, who was left in charge These two men, of the arms and clothes. sentry on the wharf.

1,

1864.

Fleet- Captain, Lieutenant-Commander Barnes.

S.

ward Fithian;

Assistants, T. J.

Leonard, H. D.

MoK.

Daniels, H.

8.

Henry Cross; Boatswain, John

Sellman, Webster Lane,

Blye, E. P. Rank and J. C. A. Selmer; Gunner, John Caulk; Carpenter, J. H.

Owens.

STEAMEB "rOKT JACKSON." Captain, B. F. Sands; Lieutenant-Commander, Chas. S. Norton; Surgeon, PhiMp S. Wales; Paymaster, Clifton Hellen; Acting-Masters, W. E. Dennison and R. P. Swann; Ensign, S. H. Hunt; ActingEnsigns, H. F. Moffat, 8. R. Hopkins and F. P. B. Sands; Acting-Master's Mates, J. D. Moore, G. W. Smoot, W. M. Mann and H. S. Eytinge; Engineers, Rodney Smith, J. E. Fox, Jared Day, John Herron, C. H. ^Vakefield, W. M. Prentiss aiid J. H. Eppes; Boatswain, P. A. Cliason; Acting-Gunner, Thomas Reise; Carpenter, E.

Thompson.

STEAMEB " SHENANDOAH." Captain, Daniel B. Ridgely; Lieutenant-Commander, R. R. Wallace; Lieutenant, S. W. Nichols Ensigns, H. C. Taylor and Yates Sterling; Surgeon, James McMaster; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. M. Guild; Acting-Master, J. W. Bentlev; ActingEnsigns, W. H. Briee and J. A. BuUard; ActingMaster's Mates, Harrison Miller, L. H. White, Charles Tangwell and W. Moore; Engineers: Chief, J.

W. Thomson;

Assistants, J.

M. Hobbv,

J.

T.

Keleher, D. P. McCartney, D. M. Fulmer, J.

W.

OF THE Gardner and F. W. Towner

CIVIL WAR.

Boatswain, J. H. Hardison. STEAMEB "CONNECTICUT." Commander, John J. Almy; Lieutenant, Louis Kempff; Assistant Surgeon, J. R. Little; Assistant Paymaster, Arthur Burtis, Jr.; Acting-Master, F. Hopkins, Jr. Acting -Ensigns, P. Wallace, S. Harding, Jr., and J. M. C. Reville; Acting- Master's Mates, Charles Hall. E. P. Blayne, E. S. D. Howland, John Williams and Thos. Stanfield; Engineers Acting SecondActing-Chief, Alex. McCausland Assistant, David McArthur; Aeting-Third-Assist-

Polly; Gunner,

;

Wm.

;

;

James CampbeU, John Quinn and Wm. McGratb; Gunner, Wm. Mowbry. STEAMEB QtTAKEE OITT." Commander, James M. Frailey; Lieutenant, Silas Casey, Jr.; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J. J. Brown-

ants,

«

Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. J. Bullay; Acting-Chief-Engineer, G. W. Farrer; Acting-Master, Edmund Kenible; Acting-Ensigns, C. J. Hill, Acting-MasE. M. Seaver and Richard Wilkinson ter's Mates, G. C. Sanborn, J. B. Tew; C. H. Thome and J. C. Constant; Engineers ActingSecond- Assistants, W. J. Howard and J. K. Hickey; Acting - Third - Assistants, J. H. Mathews, J. R. Peterson, E. Prest, E. E. Porter and Fred'k Fries ; Acting Gunner, Joseph Furlong. ORDNANCE STOEE-SHIP "ST. LAWBENCB." Commander, Dominick Lynch; Acting-Master, E. Acting-Ensigns, Robert Merchant, S. Goodwin Alonzo Small and C. E. Buck; Acting - Master's Mates, Thomas Welsh, "W. 8. Cammett and E. M. Hemsley; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. E. Warner lee

;

;

:

;

;

Acting -Assistant Paymaster, W. Acting-Gunner, W. E. Webber.

Goldsborough

STEAMEB "KEYSTONE STATE." Commander, Edward Donaldson Lieutenant,

J. P. Robertson; Acting-Masters, O. H. Corser, L. E. Degn and W. T. Buck; Acting-Ensigns, C. M. Bird and J. C. Murphy Acting-Master's Mate, J. T. ;

;

Ridgway; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, A. E. Emery Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. S. Stimson; Engineers: Acting-Chief, A. K. Bddows; Acting-Second;

Assistant,

P. L.

Fry; Acting-Third- Assistants,

H. Smith, C. A. Blake, W. H. Brown and

.1.

J. B.

Wilbur; Acting-Gunner, D. L. Briggs.

STEAMEB "HETZEIi. Commander, H. K. Davenport; Acting-Masters, Acting-MasG. B. Thompson and Milford Rogers ter's Mates, R. P. Boss, John Rudrow, W. H. Leavitt and TullyMcEntyre; Acting- Assistant Sur'

;

geon, G. W. Wilson; Acting Assistant Paymaster, Aeting-Second-AssistG. W. Morton; Engineers ant, J. H. Padgett; Acting-Third-Assistants, T. B. Cole, W. B. Whitmore and A. D. Witherell. STEAMEB "PIjOBIDA." :

Commander, Pierce Crosby; Acting-Lieutenant, Merriman Acting Assistant Surgeon, B. H.

E. C.

;

Vose; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. F. Keeler; Acting-Master, John McGowan, Jr.; Acting Ensigns, Peter WUliams, C. E. Rich andC. Washburn; Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. Knowlton, T. W. Rock, Robert Clifford and David Fader; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, William McLean; ActingSecond-Assistants, John Mason and D. M. Lane Acting- Third-Assistants, G. F. Smith and J. W. Hockett. STEAMEB "LOUISIANA." Commander, Richard T. Renshaw Acting-Ensign, E. S. McKeever; Acting- Masters Mates, Edw. Cassady, Chas. Fisher and PaulBoyden; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, T. W. Jamison Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. N. Simpson, Jr.; Engineers: ActingSecond-Assistants, Wm. Mara and Hiram Parker, Jr. Acting-Third- Assistants, C. S. Servoss and R. D. Faron; Carpenter, John Mills. ;

491

STEAMER "CAMBRIDGE." Commander, William F. Spicer; Acting-Master, W. Strong; Acting-Ensigns, S. H. Mead, Jr., E. A. Small, S. K. Luce and J. K. Barker ActingF.

;

Master s Mates,. J. S. Bradbury, R. 8. Sheperd and P. U. Northup; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, L. C. Granger; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. C. Canning; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, G. B. Orsewell Acting-Second- Assistants, J. F. Powers, H. F. Hayden and John Whitaker; Acting-Gunner, ;

Wm,

Scott.

STEAMER "STATE OF GEORGIA."

Commander, Somerville Nicholson

;

Lieutenant,

George B. White; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, R. H. Greene; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. F. Griffiths; Acting-Master, Benj. Whitmore; Acting - Ensigns, Chas. Trathen, 8. L. Griffin and Wm. Shultz- Acting-Master's Mates, Frank Papanti, Peter Hayes and G. E. Kidder; Engineers: Aeting-First-Assistant, John Bloomsbury Acting-Second- Assistants, W. A. Andress and A. N. Gilmore Acting ThirdAssistants, Wm. Madden, J. A. Patterson and F. ;

;

R. Shoemaker; Gunner,

Wm.

Griffiths.

STEAMEB "MEBCEDITA." Lieutenant-Commander, H. N. T. Arnold; ActingAssistant Surgeon, J. K. Walsh Acting - Assistant ;

Paymaster, J. S. Mallary; Acting-Master, D. E. Taylor; Acting-Ensigns, H. G. Marcy, Wm. Young, G. W.Williams and E. D. Pettingill; Acting-Master's Mates, Isaac Hallock and H. C. Robertson Engi;

neers: Acting-First-Assistant, B. F. Becltett; Aeting-Second-Assistant, F. E. Porter; Acting-ThirdAssistants. D. J. Lanahan, J. H. Hopkins, Wm. Ellis, W. A. Steinrook and Wm. McComb; Acting-

Gunner, James Addison. STEAMEB " MABATANZA." Lieutenant Commander, Milton Haxtun Assistant Surgeon, D. D. Gilbert; Assistant Paymaster, C. 8. Perley; Acting - Masters, Chas. Courtney. Jacob Kimball and J. B. Wood; Acting-Ensign, R. D. Eldridge; Acting-Master's Mates, A. F. Williamson and G. E. Chipman; Engineers: Acting-FirstAssistant, O. L. Carty; Second - Assistant, Edw. Scattergood Third-Assistants, W. H. Kilpatrick, ;

;

L. R.

Harvey and R. L. Webb. STEAM GUN-BOAT "MIAMI."

Lieutenant-Commander, Chas. W. Flusser; Acting- Masters, W. N. Wells and John Lear; ActingEnsigns, J. W. Bennett and T. G. Hargis; Assistant Surgeon, Wm. B. Mann; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. W. Hackett; Engineers: Third-Assistants, H. D. Heiser, C. C. Davis and J. W. Saville; ActingThird-Assistants, David Newell and Dennis Harrington.

STEAMER "morse." Lieutenant-Commander, C. A. Babcock; ActingAssistant Surgeon, G. F. Winslow Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Henry Russell; Acting-Ensigns, A. Dennett, J. F. Merry and R. M. Wagstaff ActingEngineers ActingMaster's Mate, Wm. Dunne First-Assistant, Thomas Di\'ine Aoting-Third-Assistants, Timothy Flanders, Thomas McNellis and G. C. Rogers. ;

;

:

;

;

STEAMEB "NANSEMOND." Lieutenant, R. H. Lamson; Acting- Assistant SurActing-Assistant Paymasgeon, Edgar 8. Smith ter, R. M. Gillette; Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Porter, Wm. Hunter, J. B. Henderson and Henry Waring; Acting-Second-Assistant, Fred'k SnyEngineers der; Acting-Third-Assistants, Edw. Aspald, C. M. Goodwin, J. T. Earl and E. A. Reilly. :

:

STEAMEB "SOUTHFIEiD."

;

;

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Charles A. French; Acting-Masters, W. B. Newman and W. F. Pratt Acting-Ensigns, T. B. Stokes and J. R. Peacock Acting-Master's Mates, G. W. Pratt and J. J. Allen,

;

THE NAVAL Hl^TUKX

492

Webster; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, John E. Cobb; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, B. H. Cashing; ActingMaster's Mates, J. P. Jones, O. F. Wixon and A.

Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Wm. H. Holmes; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Addison Pool; Engi-

Jr.;

Aotneers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Wm. F. GofT ing-Third-Assistants, J. B. Farrand, J. A. Strieby ;

Acting - First - Assistant, Landergren Engineers Isaac Maples; Acting - Second - Assistant, J. B.

and Joseph Watts.

Cooper; Aoting-Third-Assistants, C. B. Rainier, P.

STBAMEB "NIPHON."

C.

Acting Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. B. Breok Acting-Ensigns, H. S. Borden, E. N. Seaman, J. J. Reagan and Niels Larsen; Acting-Master's Mates, A. R. Arey and G. W. Barnes; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Theo. Barker; Engineers: Aoting-TliirdAssistants, T. L. Churchill, J. J. SulUvan, Wm. Norie and T. T. Sanborn.

Lomas and

;

;

;

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Francis S. AVells: Acting-Masters, J. H. Gleason and T. Werlhof Acting-Ensigns, J. W. Willard and W. H. Penfield Acting- Assistant Surgeon,F. M. Dearborne; ActingAssistant Paymaster, H. M. Rogers; Acting- Master's Mates, Chas. Attmore and J. M. Simms; Engineers: Acting-First Assistant, Wm. H.Best; Acting-Second-

Brightman and

Acting-Third-Assistants, Hilliard and J. T. Smith.

O. O.

Morgan

W. H. Crawford,

J.

Hoffman. STEAMER " HOUQITAH."

S. J.

Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, J. Macdearmid; Acting-Master, C. B. Wilder; Acting- Ensigns, G. P. St. John and John Duly Acting-Master's Mates, R B. Smith and F. B. Haskell; Acting-Assistant Engineers ActingPaymaster, B. W. Brooks Second-Assistants, Wm. McLane and D. R. Wylie; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. B. Rice and Thomas

STEAMER "DAYIilGHT."

Assistants, P. O.

:

;

Dobbs.

:

STEAMER " LOCKWOOD,

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, G. W. Graves; Act ing-Ensigns, J. Q. A. Davidson and Abram Hicks; Engineers Acting-Master's Mate, E. S. Austin Acting-Third-Assistants, J. T. Miller and Samuel ;

Dean.

STEAMER "UNDERWRITER."

;

E.

STEAMER "MONTGOMERY."

Acting-Master, Jacob Wester velt; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, L. R. Boyce Acting-Assistant Paymaster, E. H. Sears; Acting-Master's Mates, W. K. A. Stewart and John MeEngell, Daniel Ward, Cormick; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, J. B. Dick; Acting-Third- Assistant, S. B. Ellis. ;

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, E. A. Faucon; Acting-Master, G. H. Pendleton; Acting-Ensigns, W. O. Putnam, Rob't Wiley and W. P. Burke; Acting Master's Mates, J. D. Gossick, T. J. Walker and F. C. Simonds; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, D. F. Lincoln: Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Joseph Watson; Engineers Acting-First -Assistant, G. H. Wade; Acting - Second -Assistant, James Pollard; ActingThird- Assistants, John MoEwan, James Allen and G. M. Smith. STEAMER "COMMODORE PERRY." Acting -Volunteer - Lieutenant, Thos. J. Woodward; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Wm. J. Healy Acting-Master, J. E. Stammard; Acting Ensign, Wm. H. McLean; Engineers Acting-Third- Assistants, J. L. Bowers, Charles Hickey and Horace :

;

:

Whitworth. STEAMER "MOUNT VERNON." Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant, James Trathen; Acting-Slaster, Edw. W. White; Acting-Ensigns, F. M. Paine, H. F. Cleverly and C. G. Walstrom; Acting - Master's Mates, Jason Ryan and Henry Rogers; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Oswald Warner; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, H. Y. Glisson Engineers: Acting - Second -Assistant, J. H. Horsford; Acting-Third -Assistants, H. S. Short, W. H. Smith and George Ducker. STEAMER "BRITANNIA." Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Samuel Huse; Acting-Master, J. S. Coney; Acting-Ensigns, F. C. Ford, A. J. Lowell and M. E. Wandell; Acting Master's Mate, R. L. M. Jones Acting- Assistant PaymasEngineers: Second- Assistant, P. ter, C. B. Culver Acting - Second - Assistant, Joseph A. Rearick Tliird Fernald; Acting Assistants, J. M. Barron, Wm. Hifferon and H. F. Loveaire.

C

STEAMER "CALYPSO." Acting-Master, Fred'k D. Stuart; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Chas. Sturtevant; Acting- Assistant Acting -Ensigns, W. Paymaster, A. H. Nelson Jameson, J. A. French, G. W. Comer and B. H. Maeintire; Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. Alger, Isaac Sawyer and P. M. Topham; Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, Cornelius Carr; Acting-SecondAssistants, B. F. Haines, F. V. Holt and Samuel Bolson; Acting-Third-Assistants, E. Minne andW. Y. Schneider. STEAMER " COMMODORE BARNEY." Acting - Master, James M. Williams; Acting-En;

:

signs,

Jos.

Avant,

C.

J.

Goodwin and

C.

W.

Acting-Master's Mates, John Aspinwall and W. H. Richmond Acting- Assistant Surgeon, James Kinnier; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Thos.

Leekins

;

;

Jernegan

Engineers Acting - Second -Assistant, Acting-Third- Assistants, Charles :

;

Hiram Warner

;

and F. G. Shannon. STEAMER "COMMODORE HULL." Acting-Masters, Francis Josselyn and J. O. Johnson; Acting-Master's Mates, D. A. Simmond and Culver, D. S. Leffer

Geo. Van I5uzer Acting- Assistant Surgeon, C. F. T. Hildreth; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Jonathan Chapman; Engineer: Acting-Second-Assistant, B. F. Bee; Acting Third-Assistants, W. Lannan, M. O. Stimson and A. C. Stuart. ;

;

STEAMER "WYANDOTTE."

;

;

-

STEAMER "GOVERNOR BUCKINGHAM." Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant,

Wm.

Acting-Master, Thomas W. Sheer Acting-Ensigns, Benj. Wood, Wm. Henry, Andrew McCleary and J. W. Thompson; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. Chandler Ac ting- Assistant Surgeon, James Pennoyer, Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Wm. A. Purse; Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, J. W. Farrell; Acting-Second-Assistant, Geo. R. Dunkly. ;

;

G. Salton-

Acting-Master, John S. Watson: Acting-EnWm. C. Gibson, J. W. Crowell and W. B. Mix; Acting-Master's Mates, James Auld, F. H. Poole and J. W. Gardner Acting- Assistant Surgeon, R. C. Tuttle, Acting - Assistant, Paymaster, E. G. Musgrave; Engineers Acting-Second-Assistants, C. W. Doten, Thomas Usticks, Wm. Collier; Acting-Third- Assistants, Thomas Harrison and O. L. Smith. stall;

signs,

;

:

:

STEAMER "MT WASHINGTON." Acting - Master, H. H. Haynie; Acting-Master's Mate, G. B. Griffin Engineers Acting-Second-Assistants, Sidney Smith and Wm. Veitch; ActingThird -Assistant, Joseph Jamieson. STEAMER "COMMODORE JONES." Acting-Master, J. O. Barclay Acting-Ensign, ;

:

;

SUPPLY STEAMER "NEWBERN."

Geo.

Acting-Volunteer- Lieutenant,, T. A. Harris Acting-Masters, R.Y. Holly and J. K. Richardson; Acting-Ensigns, Chas. Millett, C. H. Sawyer and Milton ;

W. Adams;

Acting-Master's Mates, C. P. Lus-

oomb, B. L. Deane and P. M. Nye Acting-Assistant Paymaster, E. T. Chapman; Engineers Act;

:

ing-Second-Assistant,

Timothy McCarthy; Acting-

OF THE Third

-

Assistants, J. B. McKenzie, I. L. Sawtelle.

Malcolm

CIVIL WAR.

Sin-

clair and

Henrv Gushing; Acting-Second- Assistant Engineer, M. Smith.

STEAMER "STEPPINQ STONES." Acting-Master, D. A. Campbell; Acting-Ensign, E. A. Roderick; Acting-Master's Mate, O. P. Knowles; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, J. A. Brown; Acting-Third-Assistants, M. MoCarty and G. A. Whittington.

STEAMER " LILAC." Acting-Master, John A. Phillips; Acting-Ensigns, Acting-Master's C. B. Staples and F. B. Owens Engineers Acting-SecondMate, D. S. Ingersoll Assistant, Wm. T. WrafC Acting-Third- Assistants, L. L. Copeland and J. C. Garner. STEAMER "YOUNG ROVER." Acting - Masters, John B. Studley and T. W. Dodge; Acting -Ensigns, D. S. Thompson and E. N. Ryder; Acting- Assistant -Surgeon, Robert Cowie Acting - Assistant - Paymaster, George W. Stone; Engineers Acting-Second-Assistant, James Patterson Acting-Third- Assistant, Wm. D. Butts. STEAMER "MYSTIC." Acting - Masters, Wm. Wright and Samuel B. Meader Acting -Ensigns, A. F. Hamblen and W. H. Otis Acting-Master's Mates, J. J. Kelleher and John Rigg Acting- Assistant-Surgeon, Alex. Mackenzie; Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, Augustus Ferret; Engineers: Acting-First -Assistant, J. B. Lowell; Acting-Second- Assistant, Isaac Buck. ;

;

:

STEAMER "SHAW8HBEN." Acting-Master, Henry A. Phelon; Acting-Ensign, Charles Ringot; Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. Rushmore; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Richard Anderson; Acting-Third- Assistant, John Wall. SHIP "RELEASE." Acting Master, Jonathan Baker; Acting-Ensign, F. A. Gloss; Acting-Master's Mate, F. T. Baldwin; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, John Spare; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. L. Ely.

STEAMER "SAMUEL ROT AN."

;

;

:

Acting-Master,

;

;

;

'

Acting-Master, Geo. B. Livingston; Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, C. H. Hammatt; Acting-Ensigns, A. Buhner, R. W. Elwell and C. A. Stewart; ActingMaster's Mates, I. S. Sampson and T. M. Webh; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assi8tants,W- T.Worrell and W. S. Sillman; Acting-Third- Assistants, Erastus Barry, John Ross, A. L. Churchill and George Foster.

STEAMER " GENERAL PUTNAM." Acting-Master, H. H. Savage Acting-Ensigns, Wm. Jennings and H. R. Fovvle; Acting-Master's Mates, W. F. Gregg, J. H. Gilley and B. H. Spear Engineers Acting - Second-Assistant, J. Henry Acting-Third-Assistants, A. F. Rockefeller and P. Higgins. STEAMER "VICTORIA." Acting Masters, Chas. W. Lee and Alfred Everson; Acting-Ensign, Paul Borner Acting- Master's Mates, B. W. Tuclser and Wm. Moody ActingAssistant-Surgeon, John G. Parli; Acting- AssistantPaymaster, Samuel Thomas Acting-Third-Assistant Engineer, John Haversiield. ;

;

:

Wm

;

;

;

;

STEAMER "HUNOHBACK." Acting-Master, Robert G. Lee Acting-Ensign, E. K. Valentine Acting-Master's Mates, John Maddock and J. F. Sias Acting-Assistant Paymaster, ;

;

;

Wm.

G. Nutting; Acting-Ensigns,

W. Spencer and W. H.Jennings; Acting-Master's Mates, C. H. Packer and W. L. Lindley. T.

SLOOP "GRANITE." Acting- Master, Ephraim Boomer; Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. B. Miles.

STEAMER "WHITEHEAD."

;

STEAMER "EMMA.

493

Acting-Ensign, Geo. W. Barrett; Acting-Master's Mates, T. E. Quayle, T. M. Nelson and W. S. Baldwin Engineers Acting-Second-Assistant, Moses Peterson; Acting-Third-Assistants, R. H. Ryan and :

;

G. B.

McDermott. STEAMER

" COHASSET." Acting-Ensign, P. C. Asserson; Acting-Master's Mate, E. H. Schmidt; Engineers: Acting-Third-Assistants, J. A. Spaulding and J. H. Tinn. STEAMER "PAH-KEE." Acting-Ensigns, F. R. Webb, D. W. Carroll, E. W. Pelton, J. W. Luscomb and John Williams; ActingMaster's Mates, H. A. Winslow and A. W. Harvey: Acting- Assistant Paymaster, A. B. Thornton; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, G. W. Foster; Acting-Third-Assistants, E. F. Lewis, J. H. Button, Gilbert Webb and Andrew Harris. STEAMER "SEYMOUR.'' Acting - Ensign, J. L. Hayes; Acting - Master's Mates, Edwin Smith and J. B. Bailey; Engineers Aeting-Seoond-Assistant, Newton Bggleston Acting-Thir "-Assistants, John Whittaker and Philip Hubletz. TUG "ALERT," Acting-Ensign. John Bishop; Engineers: ActingSecond-Assistant, Wm. Mahan; Acting-Third-Assistants, S. D. Edmund and Eli Simpson. TUG "ZOUAVE." Acting-Master's Mates. J. F. Daggett and T. H. P. Gross Engineers Acting-Third-Assistants, S. M. :

;

;

Van

Clief,

:

Richard

Wareham and J. W.

Cross.

STORE-SHIP "ALBEMARLE." Acting-Assistant Paymaster, E. Mellach; Gunner, E. A. McDonald; Carpenter, M. W. Paul.

CHAPTER

XLI.

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION, Under Major-Qeneral

N. P. Banks, assisted by the

Navy under Rear-Admiral

David D. Porter.

— —

Origin, Objects and Plan of the Expedition. The Naval Vessels and Troops Removal of Obstructions. — Assemble at the Mouth of the Red River. Attack and Capture of Capture of the Confederate Camp at Simmsport. Fort De Russy.— Arrival of the Fleet and Troops at Alexandria. Up the Falls. The Abominable Cotton Traffic. General A. J. Smith's "Ragged Advance on Shreveport. Banks Meets a Guerillas." Bridge of Cotton. Reverse near Pleasant Hill. Battle at Sabine Cross Roads. Confederates MAKE Good Use of Banks' Cannon and Army Wagons. Battle at Pleasant Hill. — Banks Victorious, but Orders a Retreat to Grand Ecore. Retreat of the Fleet Impeded. Engagement between the "Osage "and "Lexington" AND 3,500 Confederates under General Green. Reports of Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge and General Kilby Smith. The Army and Navy' at Grand Ecore. Minor Engagements. Battle at Cane River. The "Eastport" Blown Up. The Attack on the Little "Cricket.'" Fearful Scene of Carnage. The "Juliet" Disabled. — Batteries Engaged Along the River. Dissatisfaction of the Army. The Squadron in a Bad Position.

The

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

NO A

pedition originated with General Halleck, all his au-

who urged General Banks, with

—

—

—

—

—

—

official account detailing the particulars of this unfortunate expedition was forwarded by General Banks until long after the expedition failed. question has been standing for many years as to who originated it, and this has been settled by the highest authority. General Grant, in his Memoirs, says that the ex-

—

part

of February, 1864, Admiral Porter ordered the following vessels to be ready near the mouth of Red River to accompany the Army whenever the latter should commence its march the " Essex," " Benton," "Lafayette," "Choctaw." " Chillicothe. " Ozark," " Louisville," " Carondelet. "Eastport," "Pittsburg,'' "Mound City, "Osage," "Neosho." "Ouichita." "Fort Hmdman." "Lexington." "Cricket." "Ga:

Hawk"

without

zelle," "Juliet," and "Black (flagship). This squadron comprised the most

and Port Hudson, General Sherman proposed to Admiral Porter an expedition to Shreveport, La., via Red River; but on careful inquiry it was found that the water was unusually low for the season of the year, and therefore the expediency of a movement was doubted. But, as General Sherman was anxious to undertake the expedition, and

formidable part of the Mississippi fleet, only the lighter vessels being left to protect the Mississippi, the Ohio, and their tributaries; for, supposing that the Arinv would send a large force into the interior of Louisiana, Admiral Porter determined there should be no want of floating batteries for the troops to fall back on in case of disaster. The Admiral had written to General Sherman that lie did not think the time propitious for ascending Red River, and

thority, to

undertake

it.

This

is,

doubt, the origin of the affair. After the fall of Vicksburg

promised to be in Natchez

in the

latter

(491)

THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE when he

arrived in Natchez he found that

Sherman had gone to New Orleans to see General Banks. The impression was that he went there to obtain Banks' co-operation in the great raid through the South, which Sherman afterwards so successfully accomplished without Banks' assistance. By looking at the map, it will be readily seen how valuable a position Mobile would have been at sucti a time if held by the Union troops, its railroad system connecting with all the Southern roads, by which Sherman could have been supplied with provisions and stores, as well as reinforcements of men in case of necessity, while the straggling forces of the enemy between him and the Gulf would have been cut off. It would strike the military observer that to insure complete success Mobile should have been captured at the time Sherman started on his raid, which would have placed the entire country be-

CIVIL WAR.

493

had certain information of a rise in Red River, and hinted that if he failed in his expedition it would be for want of assistance from the Navy. The Admiral therefore determined that, if Sherman gave up the enterprise, he would co-operate with Banks. The former had never allowed the military authorities to wait for him when anything was to be done to carry on their work, and did not propose to do so on this occasion, although he felt that he was being entangled in an embarrassing predicament, from

which it would require all his energies to extricate himself.

When Sherman

returned from New Orhe informed the Admiral of his proposed advance into the interior of the South, and having abandoned the idea of undertaking the Red River expedition, he had promised General Banks to lend him 10,000 men, under the command of Genleans,

eral A. J. Smith,

tween him and

whom

the sea at the disposal of the

sure would cooperate with the

he felt

as matters turn-

Navy in the most energetic manner. And

ed out, General

now, finding

Sherman was

that

able to overcome

determi n e d to

Federal forces.

Fortunately,

all

obstacles

on this expedition regard-

start

that impeded his progress, and to subsist his army on the country

less

of conse-

quences, Admiral Porter resolved to do

through which he passed.

everything in his power to as-

At the time Sherman went to New Orleans to see General

Banks was

THE "BLACK HAWK," ADMIRAL PORTER'S

Banks, the latter had under his command at least 50,000 men, and could have easily captured Mobile, then garrisoned by only about 10,000 troops; but this place, so easy of access and so easily captured from the land side, was left unnoticed until the latter part of the war. Its capture was then undertaken by Rear- Admiral Thatcher and General Canby.

The result was the loss of several vessels blown up by torpedoes, which the Confederates were able to lay down with impunity.

General Banks had been writing to Admiral Porter up to the latter part of February, 18(34, to co-operate with him in an advance into the Red River region, and in his answers the Admiral had tried to impress on the General the impropriety of such a movement at the then low stage of water, recommending him to wait until there was a prospect of a rise. The General, however, insisted that he

sist his military operations. FLAG-SHIP.

To make

his

success certain,

General Halleck had determined to send an into Arkansas under General Steele. This force reached Little Rock early in March, and, after providing themselves with stores and munitions of war, departed from that place on the 34th, and, after a hard march, arrived at Arkadelphia, March 29th, where, for the present, we will leave them. General Banks had informed the Admiral that he would march an army of 36,000 men to Alexandria, La., and would meet him at that place on the 17th of March. On the 10th of March the naval vessels had assembled

army

at the

mouth

of

Red

River, and, on the

11th, General A. J. Smith arrived 10,000 excellent soldiers in transports.

with After

inspecting the forces on shore, the Army and Navy moved up the river on the 13th, the fleet of gun - boats followed by the Army transports. As the largest vessels could barely pass the bar at the mouth of Red River, owing to the low stage of

THE NAVAL HISTORY

496

water, the Admiral could not cherish any very favorable hopes for the future; but the party were fairly embarked on the expedition, and the only course was to continue and do the best that could be done. The Confederates, having been notified that a movement would soon be made up Red River, had used all their energies in Some preparing to repel the invaders. eight miles below Fort De Russy they commenced a series of works near the Bend of the Rappiones, commanding a difficult pass of the river, and placed formidable obstructions to prevent the passage of the gunboats.

therefore, that it was best to land the troops; so the Admiral turned off into the

Atchafalaya River with the "Benton," "Lexington," " ChiUicothe," "Louisville," City," " Carondelet," "Ouichita," "Pittsburg," and "Gazelle," followed by the troops in transports; while the rest of the gun-boats pushed on up Red River, with

"Mound

remove the obstructions, but not to attack Fort De Russy until the flagship's arrival, or until General Smith's troops came in sight. The enemy had at this place some 5,000 men, and the only chance of capturing them was by a combined movement of the instructions to

Army and Navy.

THE FLEET OF GUN-BOATS, UNDER REAE-ADMIRAL PORTER, STARTING OUT, FOLLOWED BY THE ARMY TRANSPORTS, HAVING ON BOARD 10,000 SOLDIERS, UNDER GEN. A. J. SMITH, MAY 12, 1864. (FKOM AN OEIGINAL PEN-AND-INK DRAWING BY REAR-ADMIRAL H. WALKE.)

These obstructions consisted of a

line of

heavy piles driven deep into the muddy bottom, and extending quite across tlie river, supported by a second tier of shorter ones below, on which rested braces and ties from the upper line. Immediately below the piles, a raft of heavy timber, well secured, extended across the river, a portion of the logs resting on the bottom. Finally, a forest of trees had been cut from the banks and floated down upon the piles, making an apparently impassable obstruction. When the Admiral found the character of these obstructions, he feared that they would delay the vessels so long that the

enemy would escape from Fort De Russy, and destroy of war.

all their stores and munitions General Smith and he agreed,

At about noon, on the 12th of March, the Federal forces arrived at Simmsport, and found the enemy posted in force some three miles back of that place. The commanding officer of the "Benton," Lieutenant-Commander James A. Greer, was ordered to land his crew and drive in the enemy's pickets; and. General Smith's transports coming up, the troops landed and took possession of the Confederate camp, the enemy retreating towards Fort De Russy. That night General Smith concluded to follow the enemy by land, while the Admiral agreed to proceed up the Red River, with all tl\e gun-boats and transports, and meet the Army at Fort De Russy. In the meantime, the gun-boats that had been sent on in advance had reached the

OF THE CIVIL WAR. obstructions, and their crews were endeavoring to force a passage. It was a herculean job. but the energetic sailors had had "too much experience in the strange episodes of the civil war to quail before such obThe piles near the banks were stacles. first removed, and a rush of water came through, carrying away the sides of the banks; then, by pulling up piles and ramming the obstructions with the iron-clads, an opening was made in twelve hours for the passage of the fleet.

The "Eastport," "Osage," " Fort Hindman," and "Cricket" proceeded up within a short distance of Fort De Russy, where the advance of General Smith had arrived, and there was quite a brisk firing of artillery and small arms. The gun-boats, however, could not take part in this skirmish without risking the safety of the Federal 100-pound rifle-shell was fired soldiers. at the water battery, which burst over it, and drove the enemy out; but to have continued the fire upon the main fort would have injured friends more than foes, the former being in a direct line with the fire of the gun-boats. The progress of the fleet around from

A

the Atchaf alaya had necessarily been slow,

encumbered with so many transports, and the barricade had partly filled up again, so that it took several hours to pass through the obstructions; but the flag-ship reached the fort in time to see the enemy evacuating it, and the Union soldiers taking possession.

The fort was originally garrisoned with men, under General Walker, who had marched out to meet the Federal Army, leaving 34 officers and 300 men to defend it but, if Walker wished to meet Smith's forces, he was disappointed, for the latter saw nothing of him. On his march from Simmsport, General Smith was greatly annoyed by sharpshooters, and was compelled to bridge 5,000

;

innumerable bayous.

When

he reached

Monksville, within three miles of the fort, he was informed that a strong force of the enemy would dispute his passage. The 3d Indiana Battery was placed in position, and General Mower formed his men for the attack. The first line was under the immediate command of Colonel W. J. Shaw, 14th Iowa Infantry, commanding 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 15th Ai'my Corps, composed of the 13th and 33d Iowa and the 3d Indiana Battery. The space intervening between the Union troops and the fort was obstructed with fallen trees; on the left of the line, a thick wood afforded an excellent cover for riflemen. It was now 4 p. M., and, although the Union troops had been marching and building bridges all day, they came up to their

497

work

as fresh as if they had just broken camp. Part of the 14th Iowa wei'e deployed as skirmishers to within three hundred yards of the enemy's works, occupying some rifle-pits which had been thrown up by the Confederates, and during the progress of the fight did good execution as sharp-shooters. In the meantime, the 58th Illinois, 8th Wisconsin and 39th Iowa, who had come up from the rear, were advancing to obtain position for attack. The fire from the fort all this time was rapid, but did little execution. Shot, shell and musketry were passing between the combatants for two hours, while the naval vessels were unable to fire for fear of killing their friends. At the end of that time, all of Smith's troops having got into position, they advanced and carried the works without difficulty, capturing 34 officers, 375 men and 10 pieces of artillery. This affair was well managed on the part of the Army, whose loss was small; General Smith was an able commander, and his soldiers were veterans each man, as it proved afterwards, was a host in himself. It was pleasant to see the United States flag floating over a work which had been built with so much trouble and expense to the Confederates, and the Navy regretted that it could not take a more important part in the affair. Their operations at Fort De Russy showed the fortitude of the Federal soldiers; and, if the rest of Banks' men were of the same material, there was no reason why the army

—

should not reach Shreveport in triumph. An order had been sent to LieutenantCommander S. L. Phelps to push on with the fastest and lightest - draft gun -boats to Alexandria, as soon as the army should reach the fort, in order to seize any steamers that might be lying there with steam down. Owing to obstructions in the river, the dispatch-boat carrying the message was delayed five hours, and Phelps reached Alexandria just thirty minutes too late, the swiftest of the naval vessels arriving just in time to see six steamers escaping up "the Falls." One of them, the " Countess," having grounded, was burned by the enemy. The fleet had thus reached Alexandria on the 15th of March, two days earlier than had been promised General Banks. On the day following, there were nine gun-boats lying off the town, and one hundred and eighty sailors were landed, to occupj^ the place and take possession of any Confederate Government property that might be stored there. The inhabitants were respectfully treated, and everj^thing was as quiet as a

New England

village.

General Smith remained behind a few days to destroy the formidable works which he had captured, and a gun-boat was left

THE NAVAL HISTORF

498

at Fort De Russy to try some experiments with rifle-guns on three casemated water batteries covered with several thicknesses of railroad iron. little experience satisfied the experimenters that such works

A

could not resist the heavy naval artillery, and orders were given to blow them up thus destroying the formidable barrier intended to close Red River against the fleet. For their dimensions, these works were as strong as any ever built in the Confederacy. After 3,000 pounds of powder had been exploded, there remained three huge excavations, while the whole vicinity was strewn with broken timbers and twisted iron, pre-

Masked Battery.

" Renton."

FLAG-gHIP.

Gen.

a. J. Smith's Akmt Assailing the Fort.

Monitor "Osage."

progress up the river.

This was General

Mower's

idea, apparently forgetting that the gun-boats could, in a very short time, have destroyed forts, troops and all, with their 100 guns. The Admiral endeavored to show General Mower, who was a fearless

in favor of pushing on regardless of obstacles, that the 5,000 troops were too few in number to defeat the 20,000 Confederates in the advance, who were well supBesides, he urged that plied with artillery. it would be very discourteous to General Smith to go forward without consulting him, and leave him, with only 5,000 men,

man, and

unprotected by the gun -boats.

Fort. Gun-boat. " Fort Hindman."

Iron-clad.

Ram "Eastport."

Desperate

Casemated Forts AND EiFLE Pits.

CAPTURE OF FORT DE RUSSY. senting a scene more easily imagined than described.

On the leth, General Mower reached Alexandria with about 5,000 men. in transports; and, having formed a rather low estimate' of the enemy's forces in this region, he urged Admiral Porter to push on at once with the force they then had, and try and get to Shreveport in advance of the main

army.

The Confederate general, Walker, had exhibited very little enterprise; for, with the 5,000 men under his command, he might have seriously impeded the Federal advance, and then at Fort De Russy have offered a stubborn resistance to further

as this scheme of Mower's appeared, we think it would have succeeded better than

General Banks' movement on Shreveport a short time afterwards.

General Taylor had occupied Alexandria with

15,000 men, and had hurriedly decamped on the approach of the Army and Navy, leaving three pieces of artillery be-

hind.

On the 18th of March, General A. J. Smith arrived, ready to march at a mo-

ment's notice

when Banks should

give the

order. Meanwhile, there was no news whatever of General Banks' whereabouts. His

cavalry arrived on the 19th, and on the 25th, eight days after he had agreed to

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

meet the Admiral at Alexandria, he appeared upon the scene. Then commenced a series of delays, which culminated in disasters, that have left a reproach upon the Red River expedition which time cannot efface; for, no matter how gallant the officers and men may have been, they share in the humiliation brought upon them by an unmilitary commander, who, at the head of nearly 40,000 men, fully equipped, was driven out of a country they could have held forever had their leader been possessed of the qualifications of a military man. We sincerely believe that, had (ieneral A. J. Smith undertaken this expedition with only his 10,000 well-tried soldiers, supEorted by the fleet of gun-boats, they would ave all been in Shreveport by the 5th of April; for there was no reason to entertain much fear of General Taylor and his troops, already greatly demoralized by the Union success so far.

Taylor could not, with 15,000 men and fortifications, hold the entrance to his country, how could he expect to resist the march of 10,000 veterans, supported by more than 100 heavy guns on board the war-vessels? There were never better soldiers than those under General Smith, and both he and General Mower were worthy to lead them. When Smith's command joined the expedition they had just finished a long march, were greatly in want of clothing, had few wagons, and were without tents, yet they were the happiest-looking soldiers ever seen under arms. It was astounding how these men had learned to live upon the enemy. They seemed to be independent of the commissary department, every soldier was himself a commissary; and as for tents or barracks, they did very well without them. In less than twenty-four hours after their arrival in Alexandria, they had rummaged the country for ten miles up and down the river, one of the most fertile districts in the United States, where all their wants could be supplied without expense to If

heavy

the Government.

Here Colonel Shaw luxuriated with his brigade on the plantation of ex-Governor Moore, the prime mover in the secession of Louisiana, who now had ample opportunity of seeing for himself how the secesIt was a just retribusion matter worked. tion, for, notwithstanding the hospitality of the South, we have no doubt the exgovernor begrudged the soldiers the good things they were enjoying at his expense. Notwithstanding the Federal soldiers were scattered in all directions, they were not troubled by the Confederates, who hovered around in detached bands of a few hundred men, apparently as much demoralized as

499

The Federal forces were on the qui vive, however, for anything that might happen, and one dark, rainy night. General Mower, with a party of his men, fell in with a courier bearing dispatches to General Taylor, who was encamped some nine miles in the rear.

Mower, assuming the character

of a Confederate officer, threatened to hang the courier as a Yankee spy, when the latter, to show his good faith, led the supposed Confederate troops right into the enemy's camp, which was captured with 22 officers, 260 privates, 4 pieces of artillery, 150 horses,

and all the arms and munitions. Had there been an opportunity to capture the other outlying parties. General Mower would have accomplished it, but the Confederate commander-in-chief was a wary old soldier, disposed to act on the defensive. It was not until the 25th of March that General Banks' infantry commenced arriving under the command of General Franklin, It was as fine a body of troops as were ever seen, and the best dressed and equipped of any soldiers in the Southwest. Notwithstanding a march of twenty-one miles, they came in quite fresh and full of spirits. But more than a week of valuable time had been lost since the 17th instant, the day on which General Banks promised to meet the Navy at Alexandria, and the conclusion arrived at was that the General did not possess the military virtue of punctuality which the Navy had recognized in Generals Grant, Sherman, A. J, Smith, and other officers with whom they had hitherto cooperated.

As soon as the Admiral reached Alexanhe commenced getting the vessels above the " Falls," although the water was

dria,

falling in the river at the rate of an inch a day, and the larger vessels had not more than six inches to spare. He trusted to good fortune to get the vessels down again, or to that great rise in the water which

General Banks had been informed would certainly come in May or June. General Banks had apparently come into the Red River country intending to stay, for he was provided with everything necessary to maintain a large army. Transports with provisions, clothing and munitions of

war were daily arriving, and large

buildings

in Alexandria converted into store-houses were rapidly filled up. By the 29th of March, the Admiral had all his vessels over the " Falls," except the ' Eastport," a long, heavy iron-clad, which detained the fleet two days. As soon as she was over. Lieutenant -Commander Phelps was directed to proceed to Grand Ecore and

be ready

to cover the

army when

it

should

The following named vessels were under his command: the "Eastport,"

arrive there.

THE NA VAL HISTORY

600

"Fort Hindman," "Lexington," "Osage," and "Neosho." The week lost caused the expedition irreparable injury, for the enemy was not only enabled to recruit his forces, but the river had fallen six inches, which was a great deal for vessels having so little to spare. The general tried to lay the blame for his detention on the gun-boats, but this would hardly answer, since the light-draft vessels, mounting over fifty guns, had passed the "Falls " and were ready to ascend the river before Banks reached the rendezvous. The six days General Banks passed in Alexandria prior to his onward movement were frittered away. He moved into comfortable quarters and spent his time in ordering an election in the parish of Rapides, establishing people in power who professed to be Union men a proceeding to which there could have been no objection if the objects of the expedition had not thereby been neg-

—

lected.

General Banks came from New Orleans Alexandria in a large steamer called the "Black Hawk." This vessel, known as "General Banks' flag-ship," was of the same

to

name as Admiral Porter's flag-ship, an unpleasant circumstance, since it happened that the Navy incurred some of the odium which attached to the transport steamer. She was loaded with cotton bagging, rope, etc., and became the rendezvous of a motley collection of people, cotton speculators, and camp

followers. Everybody began to surthis expedition was intended for other purposes than the conquest of the Red River country. The story then told has since proved to have had some foundation, and is a hitherto unwritten piece of history. Soon after General Banks took command at New Orleans, he had given several passes to get cotton from the Red River country, but it had been seized by the gun-boats along the river, and turned over to the agents of the Treasury, or sent to an Admiralty Court for adjudication.

mise that

Many persons had urged upon President Lincoln the importance of getting out of Red River all the cotton possible for the use of Union manufacturers, instead of forcing the Confederates to sliip it abroad, which, perhaps, was a wise idea, if it could have been done under proper restrictions; but such a course opened the door to a great deal of dishonesty, besides affording an opportunity for supplying the Confederates with arms and munitions, of which they stood greatly in need. Two naval officers captured parties of

Confederates—military men— in the act of loading steamers with cotton for New Orleans, the said persons being supplied with passes Durnortina- to be bv anthoritv nf

No

General Banks.

doubt, they expected

to receive, in return, money or articles of value, when the naval officers arrested them, and would have seized the steamers had not the latter shoved off and left their friends in the lurch. do not mean to say that General Banks exceeded his autliority in these mat-

We

ters, but we know that it was calculated to prolong the war and, as the naval commander had not been notified by the Government that facilities for getting out cotton would be granted to private citizens, he took upon himself the responsibility of putting a stop to the practice. It was evident that this sort of traffic would soon demoralize the whole expedition, and probably defeat its every object. A gun-boat was stationed at the mouth of Red River, whose captain had orders not to permit any except naval vessels and Army transports to ascend. This, however, diid not keep out the cotton agents, who managed to get up in the transports, not always to the satisfaction of General Banks. On one occasion, a steamer loaded with stores of all kinds, and furnished with a permit from Washington to trade within the military lines, appeared at the mouth of the river. The Admiral refused to recognize the owner of this permit and ordered him to depart, which he was obliged to do, leaving a message to the effect that he would make it so hot for the naval officer in Washington that the latter would have to resign ;

his

command,

etc., etc.

On

receiving this

message, the commanding officer of the gun-boat at the mouth of the Red River was directed to seize the vessel and send her to Cairo. He chased her to Memphis, where, on arriving, he found the steamer had unloaded all her contraband of war, otherwise she would have been condemned. We mention these things to give some idea of the rush for the cotton region of Louisiana, and the demoralization likely to ensue had every speculator been allowed to go where he pleased under permits, or in any other way. There were Treasurv agents enough authorized by Government to seize cotton, and there was nothing to warrant the presence of cotton purchasers on an expedition which had for its ostensible object the redemption of this region

from secession. It was only when the Army was in retreat, after the battle of Mansfield, that the supposed objects of the expedition were learned.

was stated that before Banks' army left Orleans there was an arrangement that the General should go up Red River with a force before which the Confederates would retreat; that Banks would seize all the cotton in the countrv, for which he It

New

il,l

(Tivn

Viirij^in^-fo

.

,^.1

+1,

^i

,.,

xl- - -

_

OF THE CIVIL WAR.

New

of the cotton in Orleans, the holders of the receipts were to receive five or six cents a pound as their share. General Banks' conduct gave some corroboration to these reports, and no evidence he after-

wards gave before the Committee on the Conduct of the War eradicated the impression that they were true. It was attempted to divert attention from Banks by trying to throw the responsibility on President Lincoln for giving pernaits to Butler and Casey but those men derived little benefit from their license to trade their cotton was taken from them, and they returned from the expedition wiser and poorer men. As long as Admiral Porter had been associated with Generals Grant and Sherman in the midst of intricate and embarrassing operations, he had never to complain of the least want of courtesy on their part, and never had the slightest dispute with either of them. Now he was sorry to see a prospect ;

of difficulties at the very outset of the expedition. The tone of some of the officials of Banks' army was so different from what he had been in the habit of witnessing that it created bad feeling at once this extended not only to the Navy but to the corps of General A. J. Smith as well.

—

When

Smith joined the expedition he had just finished a long march through the interior of the Confederacy, and his men were without proper clothing and other necessaries, and made a poor figure beside Banks' well-equipped troops; but when it came to actual warfare, they were famous fighters.

They were men who had

months in the trenches at Vicksburg, had gone through the hardships of Chickasaw Bayou, had helped win Arkansas Post, etc., etc.; yet when Banks first saw these veterans, he exclaimed, " What, in the name of Heaven, did Sherman send me these ragged guerillas for ?" At Mansfield he found these "ragged guerillas " saved the day and the lain for

honor of his army We have no doubt that when Banks saw his fine army under General Franklin, and was told how easily those troops had put the Confederates along the route to flight, he felt that he could do very well without the corps of A. J. Smith and the Navy. For this reason he treated General Smith with neglect from the first, although he took care to put that General in the advance. General Smith was a fearless, outspoken man, who felt that the cotton speculation would be the bane of the expedition, and did not hesitate to say so. He foresaw the misrepresentations that would be made of officers who would not lend themselves to the schemes of the cotton speculators. It was very aggravating for an officer to find himself attacked in the newspapers at

501

home while devoting

all

his energies to

overcome the enemies of his country, and to be reviled by a lot of people who had neither the courage nor the inclination to take part in putting down the Rebellion Northern " copperheads, " who did all in their power to shake the confidence of the public in the men at the head of the armies and fleets.

General Banks, having delayed long at Alexandria, directed General Smith's command to advance to Bayou Rapides, where the latter encamped on the 27th of March, 1864. On the 30th, part of Banks' army passed General Smith; but it was not until April 2d that Smith received orders to embark his men in the transports, and proceed to Grand Ecore, where they disembarked, and encamped at Natchitoches, near by. No opposition had thus far been met with, and one or two guns fell into the hands of the Navy a few miles below Grand Ecore. Up to this time the opinion seemed general that the Confederates did not intend to offer any opposition to the Federal advance, and that Kirby Smith, the Confederate general,

ment" — viz.,

would "adhere to

contractors get

to his agree-

Army and

let the all the cotton

the

they could

The very deliberate movements of the Army gave color to these reports, and the large number of empty steam transports strengthened the idea that it was intended to load them with cotton. Besides these, there were seven or eight hundred army wagons, ostensibly to carry rations find.

for General Banks' division, while A.

J.

Smith had hardly any wagons. Anticipating the wants of the Army, the Navy brought along with them two of the barges built some time before by General Fremont to use in making a bridge. These were turned over to the military authorities at Grand Ecore. The second day large

after the arrival of the expedition, Lieutenant-Commander Phelps, of the "Eastport," reported to the Admiral that these two barges, which would hold three or four hundred bales each, and another barge belonging to Butler and Casey, were being filled with cotton, under superintendence of an officer of General Banks' staff, the cotton being hauled to the bank by army wagons.

Lieutenant

-

Commander Phelps was

di-

rected, as soon as the barges wei-e loaded, to seize the cotton as prize to the Navy, which was accordingly done; but, soon after,

the Admiral received a request from General Banks to turn the barges over to the Army, that he might bridge the river at Grand Ecore. This request was immediately complied with, and a fine bridge was made for the passage of wagons, although the cotton, after a day or two's use, looked much the worse for wear. The Army

THE NA VAL HISTORY

502

held the barges and the cotton, and tliey finally had to be used -in the construction of the great dam at Alexandria.

The Confederates had about 16,000 men in field, and the Federals about 36,000; but up to this time the former had retreated

ways and means of removing the vesthe Admiral proposed to General Kilby Smith that they should reconnoitre the country on horseback. They had ridden best sel,

the

about a mile when they saw a party of men crouching and running through the

without resistance, leaving the Federals their deserted camping-grounds, the best positions, and all the cotton in the country. It was so unlike anything seen before in

high grass and coming to a halt. The Admiral remarked to the General, "Banks

expeditions against the enemy, that people could not help suspecting an understanding of some kind with the Confederates, otherwise they would have set fire to every bale of cotton rather than permit any to fall into Union hands. On the 6th of April, all arrangements for

an advance having been made, Banks' army, composed of part of the 13th and 19th army corps, under Franklin and Emory, and a cavalry division of about 3,500 men, under General Lee, marched from Nachitoches. General A. J. Smith followed on the 7th with his division of the 16th corps, excepting 2,500 men under General T. Kilby Smith, who had been sent to escort the transports carrying supplies. When the fleet started, there were about thirty of these transports in company, but their numbers were afterwards increased by the addition of some large empty steamers, which delayed the advance owing to their too great draft of water. It was arranged that the naval vessels and transports were to meet the Army at Springfield Landing, about thirty miles below Shreveport, the third day after departure.

The

navigation were very were few pilots, and they were not familiar with the river channel as it then existed, it having changed very difliculties of

great, as there

much

within a year or two; but the

managed

to

surmount

all

obstacles,

fleet

and

reached the rendezvous within an hour of the time specified in the arrangement with General Banks. As the General was not very punctual, no one was surprised at his non-appearance. It was not supposed that 36,000 men would be long delayed by the 16,000 General Taylor had at that time between them and Shreveport, and the Kavy wondered at not seeing the van of the Army at this point. Nothing was to be seen, and the solitude of the grave brooded over the spot. The further advance of the transports was here prevented by a very large steamer called the " New Falls City," that the Confederates had placed across the channel, her ends resting on the banks, and her hull, broken in the middle, resting on the bottom. It required a great deal of trouble to get rid of this obstruction, and while the appointed oflScers were examining into the

has been defeated, or we wouldn't see those men here. If Banks was still ad' vancing, the outposts would keep on the main road to Shreveport. If defeated, the enemy's look-outs would be watching for our arrival, and be ready to turn their whole force upon us, and it behoves us to be wary." It was then agreed upon between General Smith and the Admiral to land the artillery at once, and make a dash for a short distance, as if they intended an advance, which would start the Confederate look-outs off to report the landing; then the plan was to turn, and, embarking, proceed down the river until they could communicate with some part of the main army. This was rapidly accomplished, and late in the day the gun-boats and transports proceeded down the river in good order, prepared to give the enemy a warm reception if he should attack them. It was taken for granted if General Banks was defeated he would lose some of his artillery, and that the fleet would have it used against them sooner or later. The movement proved to be a good one; the enemy were deceived, and, expecting to have the fleet at their mercy next morning, made no demonstration. All that night the vessels moved slowly down the Red River, and at 10 o'clock a courier from General Banks came on board the flag-ship, and informed the Admiral that the Armv had met with a reverse, and was falling back to Pleasant Hill, about flfteen miles from the battle-ground of Mansfield, and thirty-five miles from Nachitoches. This point was sixty miles distant, and the victorious enemy was between the fleet and the Federal Army.

Orders came also for General Kilby Smith to return with his troops and transports to

Grand Ecore, and the expedition proceeded towards that point as rapidly as the diffiwould permit. The gunboats were placed so as to cover the transports, and the field-artillery was mounted on the upper decks of the latter; barricades cult navigation

were made for riflemen— in short, possible preparation for the storm

was coming. Here was a sudden

every

which

collapse to what bid fair at one time to be a successful expedition, all owing to the unmilitary character of the commanding general, who

ignored the advice of the generals under him.

OF THE

When

CIVIL WAR.

General Banks concentrated his

forces at Grand Ecore, it was supposed that he would take the road along the river, where he could at all times be supported by the 100 guns carried by the vessels of the Navy, and where he could be supplied by the Army transports, instead of encumbering.his army with a multitude of wagons. It was thought that, as Banks got further into the heart of the enemy's country, he

would adopt precautions against an attack from the 16,000 or 20,000 men under General Taylor, who might not know of the arrangements of the cotton speculators, if any such understanding did exist. Instead of taking precautions, General Banks started on his march as if the whole country was free from the enemy; and so certain was he of reaching his place of destination that he named Springfield Landing as the point where the fleet was to meet him with supplies.

His line of march was twenty miles away river, along a rough and narrow road, through a miserable country, covered with pine woods, with few inhabitants and very little water. All the knowledge Banks had of the country was what he could gather from Confederate sources. Instead of putting the infantry in the van. General Lee was sent in front with about 3,500 badly mounted and mounted infantry worse drilled with 150 heavy wagons in their rear, the infantry following some distance behind. When General Banks' army was attacked on the 8th of April at Sabine Cross Roads, General A. J. Smith's division was ten miles in the rear, near Pleasant Hill, and, although they heard the roar of artillery, the

from the

—

first

Smith's

—

men knew

of the disaster to the

main army was from Colonel Clarke, who had ridden rapidly to inform them that the enemy had killed, wounded and captured over 2,000 Federal soldiers, had taken 150 wagons, all the stores, and 32 pieces of artillery. How all this was done can only be understood by examining Banks' line of march, which, it appears, was also his line of battle. It seems the further Banks' army advanced into the country the deeper became the gullies and the worse became the roads, while the thick woods on all sides afforded a fine shelter for the enemy.

Up

to the 8th of April

it

had rained

who left Franklin, General Grand Ecore on the Gth, marched but seventeen miles on that and eighteen miles on the succeeding day, being much impeded by his large wagon train; and it seems General Lee was so far in advance that he could not rely on the whole of Franklin's force for support, as should have been heavily.

the case.

On

the 7th, Lee's force had a

503

severe skirmish with the enemy beyond Pleasant Hill, and, after some delay, a brigade of Franklin's infantry was sent to his assistance. Lee's cavalry were nothing more than infantry soldiers whom Banks had mounted, and as soon as fighting com-

menced they dismounted. One can imagine how ill-arranged for battle was this army, with four regiments of dismounted horsemen in advance, mixed up with their horses, and fighting in gullies where they could be picked off by sharpshooters ensconced in the thick woods. No wonder General Lee sent to Franklin for assistance, who answered through Colonel Clarke, of Banks' staff, that if he could not hold his position he must fall back upon the main body of the infantry. It

would have been better, however, if Lee had fallen bade when he first encountered the enemy's advance, and sent the wagons to the rear, for a finer chance to have them captured could not have been offered. Colonel Clarke,

finding

that

Franklin

was indisposed to send any troops to support Lee, went to General Banks, who sent a verbal order to Franklin to send a brigade of infantry to report to Lee at daylight next morning. General Franklin then ordered General Ransom to send a brigade, or a division if he saw fit. The brigades were so small that Franklin thought a division would better carry out General Banks' views; but Ransom sent a brigade, with which General Lee was satisfied. Notwithstanding the demonstrations of the enemy in front. Banks did not seem to think there was any likelihood of a pitched battle taking place. He gave an order, through Franklin, directing Lee to proceed as far as possible on the night of the 7th, with his whole train, in order to give the infantry room to advance on the 8th. The forces of General Lee only advanced one mile between the 7th and 8th of April, and on the latter date Lee reported by letter to General Franklin that the enemy were in stronger force apparently than the

day previous. He says: "I advanced this morning with ten regiments of mounted infantry (dismounted), three regiments of cavalry and a brigade of infantry. We are driving them, but they injure us some. I do not hasten forward my trains, as I wish to see the result certain first."

General Lee's idea was, perhaps, a good one, but he did not seem to realize that the enemy were leading him and his trains further into the trap; but General Banks should have seen this and withdrawn Lee in time, and pushed his infantry and artillery ahead to the attack.

Banks, however, does not appear to have kept in any position where he could see for himself what was going: on, and seems to

THE NA VAL HISTORY

504

by Only on the night of the 7th did General Banks arrive at Franklin's headquarters from Grand Ecore, although the fighting commenced that afternoon, and Lee complained of a want of troops to keep from being driven in. Banks did not go to the front until late on the 8th, and then sent word to Franklin that the enemy were prepared to make a strong stand at the point where they were holding Lee, and that he (Franklin) "had better make arrangements" (! !) to bring up his infantry, and pass everything on the road, and that he would send him word when to move. He thought Franklin had better send back and push the trains forward, as manifestly

have been influenced an officer of his staff.

the

Army

in a great degree

w^ould be able to

make a

rest

there.

Now, whether General Banks wanted the and rest, or fight,

troops to push forward

but, as far as one can does not appear learn from the reports of officers. Banks seemed to be resting that army a great deal, when thousands were anxious to push on and join in the fray. It seems evident that General Lee did everything after he engaged the enemy that a man could with the force at his command a force not suited for that particular kind of service and when he found himself outnumbered he sent for reinforcements, when Banks dispatched to his assistance only 1,200 men. These were soon decimated, and 1,200 more were sent. Such small reinforcements amounted to nothing; and it does not require much military knowledge to see the folly of sending one small brigade of infantry to co-operate with a large body of cavalry in such an expedition. From Lee's report it will appear that while the whole brigade of infantry was engaged on the 8th, onh^ three regiments out of a whole division of cavalry were in action. The result, as General Lee expressed it, was that the first brigade of infantry "got very much embarrassed;" in other words, used up, and so Lee sent for another brigade. General Franklin protested strongly against thus sending brigade after brigade to be cut up in detail, but Banks gave the orders, and finding such halfway measures futile, directed Franklin to advance with a division of infantry, to be beaten in ;

—

;

his turn. The state of affairs was as follows: Lee some distance in advance of the wagon train had fought with the two brigades until he was cut up, had to retreat, and became mixed up with the wagon train and with the advancing division of Franklin's infantry, which in turn was driven back upon the train, the latter was jammed up, and when the time came for the artillery to retreat there was no way to get the guns

through the train, and they had to be abandoned.

Lee was not to blame for having his divishampered by the wagon train. He had applied to General Franklin to allow his ion

move to the rear of the infantry but Franklin told him he must take care of his own train, that he (F.) had already 750 wagons to look out for, and 150 additional

train to

wagons would make his train so unwieldy that he could not get into camp at the end Franklin cannot be of his day's march. held responsible for the disaster, but the Avagon-train was. Apparently, General Banks started on this expedition as if there was to be no fighting, and he stayed behind in Grand Ecore until the head of the army was fifty miles in advance, regardless of the circumstance that he might have been captured by ConfederThis, with the fact that he ate stragglers. had so many wagons with his army, gave color to the stories that Banks and the cotton speculators were arranging about the bales that were to come down from Shreveport in empty army wagons and transports.

The Confederates had no wagons worth mentioning until Banks had supplied them. A. J. Smith with 10,000 men had very few, and why Banks should require 900 for 30,000 men, who could sleep out of doors all the time much more comfortably than in tents, no man can tell. Had Banks understood the art of war, he would have ordered his trains to be parked when he saw that a battle was imminent. It was not the intention of the enemy to bring on an engagement at the time it took place, but rather to draw the Federal troops as far into the interior as possible, and away from the gun-boats, into the marshes and bayous at Wallace's Lake, between Mansfield and Shreveport. In this difficult region the troops would have been entangled in swamps, and would have had to corduroy the roads for miles to get the trains along. Had Banks been satisfied to let the cavalry go in advance, clearing the roads of outposts, and reporting the presence of the

enemy's main body tered

when they encoun-

might have turned out well; appears he never gave himself much it,

all

but it concern

about the management of the until it was defeated. He sailed up from New Orleans to Alexandria in a fine steamer, supplied with all comforts. He sailed again on the same vessel from Alexandria to Grand Ecore, and did not leave the latter place until Franklin's division had reached Pleasant Hill. Then, going to the front, and being illinformed of the situation of affairs. Banks determined to win a battle without Frank-

Army

lin's aid. If the cavalry

had gone

to the front alone

OF THE for merely its legitimate purposes,

it

CIVIL WAR.

would

have marched slowly and cautiously; but, being reinforced by infantry, it got ahead faster than was prudent. Had the cavalry marched as it should have done. General A. J. Smith would have been at Pleasant Hill,

only eight miles in the rear, the

Army

would have been in as compact a condition as could have been possible and the final result would have been different. Banks had probably never heard of the old rule, "Choose your own ground, and let the enemy attack you." At all events, he went directly contrary to the maxim; but even then he would have been successful had he waited a day longer. Banks had two officers of the regular army, Franklin and Emory, in command of divisions, but he seemed to ignore them until he got hard pushed. General C. P. Stone, his chief -of-staff, was a clever officer, but he set aside his opinions. He allowed the enemy to bring on a battle on ground over which the Army would have to pass by a narrow road through a pine forest,

with a dense undergrowth, with no room to handle men, much less to have a dress parade of army wagons. The Army could only march in very narrow columns. General Banks cannot say he did not know the position of the Army when he brought on this battle, for Franklin had exfilled

plained it all to him on his arrival at Pleasant Hill, and he passed along the whole line on his way to the front, where the cavalry was fighting, and could not help seeing how

matters stood. General Franklin was nominally in command of the Army when General Banks joined him at Pleasant Hill, but the latter went to the front without paying Franklin the courtesy of saying he was going to take command, and prepared to take all the glory if he succeeded. From our knowledge of the Army, it was evident that Banks was not in accord with any of his generals. They did not think him a good leader, to commence with, and they certainly had no reason to do so in the end. On his part, he seemed to care little for them or for their opinions.

Up to the time of Banks' arrival. General Lee considered Franklin in command but when Lee referred to some order he had received from Franklin, Banks remarked, •' I shall remain upon the field, General," without saying whether or not he took command. At all events, he gave such orders that his presence much embarrassed Lee in making arrangements. It would appear, from evidence received from different sources, that, after Banks' arrival on the field. General Lee was allowed the management of this affair, although under the immediate command of General ;

505

He

waited for no order from the on pushing ahead all the time, though Franklin intimated that if the enemy was in force in his front, he should Franklin.

latter, insisting

back upon the infantry, and that he, Franklin, would not send him infantry support. In this Franklin was right; but it would have been better had he gone to the front himself, and taken a more decided command in the first instance. It was not desirable to bring on a general engagement in the then condition of the Army and when Franklin finally did send a division to assist the fragments of brigades ordered to the front by Banks, his main body of some 6,000 men were seven miles in the rear, and fifteen miles back there were 8,000 more while we know that, when Lee first called for support, the enemy had in position 8,000 fall

;

;

infantry, with

some

artillery,

and nobody

could tell how many more in the background. That the Federal soldiers did all that men could do in this first engagement, no one can deny but if Banks had tried to place impediments in their way he could not have succeeded better. Colonel W. J. Landrum, commanding 4th brigade of Ransom's division, in a report to that officer, says: " My men have skirmished and marched through bushes and thickets for eight or nine miles, making in all a march of sixteen miles they have no water, and are literally worn ;

Can you have them relieved soon ? General Lee insists on pushing ahead." When General Ransom arrived on the field he found the road obstructed by the cavalry train, and, after a great deal of trouble, got through and arrived at the front with his troops. He found the enemy in force, a large body of infantry in line of battle on the edge of the woods, and two batteries of artillery about three-fourths of a mile in front, while considerable bodies of infantry were moving on the road leading to his right and rear. As Banks came on the field, at 3 p. m., Ransom reported to him, and from that moment Banks be-

out.

responsible for what occurred. the arrival of the 3d brigade, the position of the 83d and 96th Ohio infantry were assigned opposite to that recommended by General Ransom, and in a place in which they should never have been put. The infantry on the right of the road were placed in a nari'ow belt of timber, dividing two large plantations, with open ground in front and cultivated fields in the rear. Nims' Battery was posted on a hill near the road, two hundred yards to the left of the belt of timber, and was supported by the 23d Wisconsin infantry. The 67th Indiana supported the battery on the right, together with the 77th and 130th Illinois, 48th Ohio, 19th Kentucky, 96th Ohio, a section of

came

On

THE NAVAL HISTORY

506

and the 83d Ohio— m all, The cavalry and mounted infantry under Lee were posted on the flanks and rear, having Colonel Dudley's brigade on the left, and Colonel Lucas' on light artillery, ^,413 infantry.

the right, with skirmishers front of the infantry.

deployed in at 4 con-

fusion, but, recovering, he again advanced; unable, however, to withstand the fire from the Federal troops, the Confederates laid down 200 yards in front and returned the fire; at the same time a force was pressing the Federal left flank and driving the mounted infantry back. The 1st Indiana and Chicago Mercantile Batteries had just arrived on the field, and General Ransom directed them to be placed near a house occupied as Banks' headquarters, where they opened on the enemy, who had shown himself in strong force on the left flank, which a purit was evidently his purpose to turn pose soon afterward accomplished after the infantry were driven in and Nims' battery captured. This may be said to have been the turning-point of the battle, which was nearly lost to the Federals. The infantry, generThe ally, behaved with great gallantry. Chicago and 1st Indiana Batteries went promptly into action, but were soon so cut up that they were obliged to retreat, leaving their guns in the hands of the enemy. The fact is, the guns had to be abandoned, because the cavalry wagon-train blocked up the road against all operations from first to last. Some went so far as to assert that the said wagon-train was the cause of all the disasters; and, although this may not be literally true, the world will naturally inquire why, on the approach of a heavy engagement, the wagons were not sent to the

—

rear. There were men enough to have hauled them away had the horses been unable to do so. The fact is, the blame rests, and always will rest, on General Banks' conduct after he took command in person. The disaster was due to his sending forward small bodies of troops which were defeated in detail to support the cavalry, which should have been ordered to fall back until

—

the main army came up. In this day's fight the Federals had but 7,000 men and 26 field-pieces, a very large proportion of ordnance to the number of infantry. The natural consequence was that, when a retreat was ordered, the artillery to be abandoned for want of time to force it through the obstructions of wagons and bodies of infantry. The 3d Division, 13th army corps, arrived on the field in season to check the advance of the enemy; and General Franklin, who came on the field in person, was

had

of a shell. This check proved but temporary, and the retreat of the Federals commenced. Their loss was 26 pieces of artillery, all the ambulances, and 157 army wagons and their horses, with

the rations

and forage

of the

mounted

in-

fantry.

The enemy attacked this position His first line was driven back in p. M.

—

wounded by a fragment

General Emory's corps got into action as the evening was setting in, and checked the advance of the enemy completely by his masterly management, preventing a disaster to the whole army. With their

superior numbers, and flushed with apparent victory, the enemy could not dislodge him from his position; while the discomfited regiments that had fallen back behind 'his corps were enabled to re-form. It was, without doubt, Emory's corps that saved the day, and prevented the Confederates from gaining a substantial victory. At about dark the enemy retired, to rejoice over their success, and fill their canteens from General Lee's ample supply of liquor. To make sure of their captures, the Confederates unharnessed all the horses from the wagons, and conveyed them and the artillery to what they considered a place of safety. After this repulse. General Banks fell

back to Pleasant Hill with his whole force, and was there joined by General A. J. Smith, who had just reached that point with his command. At Pleasant Hill the

army encamped

to reorganize

and

repair

damages.

The great mistake in this battle was in bringing the wagon -train to the front and directing General Lee,if hard pushed, to fall back on the infantry, apparently not realizing the danger of leaving all the train in the enemy's hands. Banks had ample opportunity to redeem this error before reinforcing Lee and pushing the latter further into danger, thereby bringing on a general engagement, which it was desirable to avoid in the then scattered condition of the Federal forces. General Franklin assigned this as a reason for not complying with Lee's request for reinforcements, and military critics support him in this but it would have been wiser to have sent a positive order to Lee to send his wagon train to the rear and to fall back when the main bodv of the enemy was found in force. This would have been sufiicient to have compelled the obedience of this officer, who was exhibiting a great deal of gallantry. Banks says he expected the mounted soldiers to be in front and the infantry close behind; but there was no necessity for the cavalry to have their wagons with them, as each man could carry two days' rations and forage on his horse, or a certain number of wagons could have been dispatched each night with rations for the day following. ;

OF THE But

lie

the fault where

it

CIVIL WAR.

may, Banks met

with defeat and a loss of prestige from whi«h the Army never fairly recovered in that region; whereas, the Federals should have gained a victory that would have enabled them to hold that part of Louisiana until the end of the war, and to plant the Union flag in Texas the latter a cherished

—

object of the Government. The plan of invasion was a wild one,

it is

came nearer success than many hoped for when the expedition started. As soon as the enemy had secured the wagons and guns, they started in pursuit of the Federal Army, which, having halted at Pleasant Hill, was in a measure prepared to receive them. At 3:30 P. M., on the 9th, the enemy attacked the Federal forces with great vigor. The Federal line of battle was true,

but it

formed in the following order: 1st brigade, 19th corps, on the right, resting on a ravine; the 3d brigade in the centre,and the 3d brigade on the left. The centre was strengthened by a brigade of General A. J. Smith's division, whose main force acted as a reserve. The enemy moved towards the right flank of the army, and the 3d brigade withdrew in good order from the centre to support the first. A. J. Smith's brigade, in support of the centre, moved into the position vacated by the 3d brigade, and another of A. J. Smith's brigades was posted to the extreme left on a hill to the rear of the main line. Shortly after 5 p. M., the enemy had driven in the skirmishers and attached in great strength, manceuvering to force the Federal left. He advanced in two heavy, oblique lines towards the right of the 3d brigade, 19th corps, which, after a determined resistance, fell slowly back to the reserves. The enemy then attacked the centre, which was also moved back to the reserves; and the 1st and 3d brigades were soon enveloped in front, right and rear. By the skillful manceuvering of General Emorj", the flanks of the two brigades now meeting the enemy were covered, and the

Confederates received terrible punishment.

At the same moment, the latter came in contact with the reserve under General A. J. Smith

;

where, already retreating, he was '

met first by a volley and then a charge, led by General Mower, which caused him to retreat more rapidly. All Smith's reserves were ordered by Emory to join in the attack; the whole Confederate army was put to flight, and was followed by A. J. Smith's division until night set in. What happened at Pleasant Hill would have happened at Sabine Cross Roads if

General Franklin on that occasion had been allowed to postpone the engagement until the infantry had had time to join the troops in front. Had the fight at Sabine Cross Roads been postponed forty-eight

507

hours, the Federal army would have been victorious, and would, doubtless, have reached Shreveport without further molestation ; although what particular object there was in going to that place does not exactly appear. General Banks was in command at Pleasant Hill, and had acquired sufficient wisdom to send the greater part of his cavalry, together with General Ransom's command, which had been badly handled the day before, and all the baggage train that had escaped, to the rear. In the hurry of the moment, however, the medical train of the 19th corps was also sent off, much to the annoyance of the medical officers, who, before night, had the most urgent need for its contents. The Federal position on the field of Pleasant Hill was excellent, and the enemy should not have moved the army one inch. The little village of Pleasant Hill was situated upon an eminence, the ground sloping in all directions, and rising again to the west, formed another eminence half a mile from the village. On and about the crest of this

among trees and bushes fences, the Federal troops were stationed in line of battle; the reserves in waiting joining the village on the left just such a place as a general would like to select on such an occasion. General A. J. Smith's reserves at this time, owing to absentees and the 3,500 men with the fleet of transports under General T. Kilby Smith, amounted to only 5,800 men, under the immediate command of General Mower. "When the division aplatter

eminence,

and behind

—

peared upon the

field under Mower, the forced back a considerable distance and was in some confusion. Colonel W. J. Shaw, commanding the 14th Iowa infantry, 16th corps, had been brought up in the. first place to reinforce the 19th corps, and had been badly handled. As Mower broke through the ranks of the retreating troops, the enemy's cavalry was seen on the edge of a wood, where they had been concealed, forming for a charge. They swept rapidly forward across the field in one of the most perfect cavalrv charges seen during the war, and met as fatal a reception as ever befel such a movement. Colonel Shaw ordered his men to reserve their fire until the horsemen were near enough to receive the full force of it, and the result was that fully half of the enemy were dismounted and many horses disabled. The remainder pressed headlong on under a close and rapid fire until some of them fell from their horses into the Federal ranks. By this time the cavalry regiment was liors du combat, and only a small proportion of the men got back' to

army had been

their lines.

THE NAVAL HISIVKV

608

After this the Confederate infantry adin double hne of battle with perfect order, but with the result we have before mentioned. Notwithstanding the action at Pleasaiit Hill was a victory for the Union Army, it came near being a defeat, and would have been so but for General Emory's strong "When the enemy's infantry adstand. vanced across the open field, Shaw's brigade opened on them at a distance of 300 yards. The enemy replied vigorously, and caused a heavy loss. The first line of the enemy

vanced

retreated in disorder under Emory's fire, while fighting continued on the Federal left, which fell back so far as to allow the Confederates to pass almost to its rear and to nearly outflank the l)rigades of Benedict and Shaw, driving Benedict's right into the gap and inflicting severe loss. Benedict was killed, and Shaw lost 500 men. For a short time these brigades were almost in the hands of the enemy, who had pushed far in their rear. Had he been bold enough to overwhelm the Federal forces with his masses, which were steadily pressing on, he could have done so. Much of the fighting, where the Federal troops were stationed, was in the midst of a thick undergrowth, where the commanding oflBcers could hardly see what was going on. At one time part of the troops were between two bodies of the enemy, and, with the latter in their rear, found it better to hold their position than to attempt

a retreat. General Emory, in his official report, says: " The enemy emerged from the woods in all directions and in heavy columns, completely outflanking and overpowering my left wing composed of the 3d brigade and a brigade of General Smith which broke in some confusion. My right stood firm and i"epulsed the enemy handsomely, and the left would have done so but for the great interval between it and the troops to the left, leaving the flank entirely exposed." One might naturally inquire, why was not all the artillery, which General Banks sent to the rear, posted so as to protect these exposed flanks of a long line of battle ? We hear very little of artillery in connection with the engagement at Pleasant Hill only where the 35th New York battery, of the 19th corps, opened upon the enemy's artillery that commenced firing on Shaw's brigade at the beginning. The Federal troops fell back upon the reserves, being hard pressed by the rush of Confederates, who seemed to get through gaps and outflank tlie brigades in almost every instance. The Union forces generally fell back in good order; and, if it was intended that the enemy should be fought in that way, the experiment turned out well

—

—

—

in the end, although the plan seems to have been a hazardous one. The reserves quietly waited for the time when they should be called into service;

when the order was given, poured in such a murderous fire that the ConfedThen erates were checked immediately. General Mower charged with Smith's men and,

their midst, the other

into

Union

forces

keeping up a fire all along the line. This was a great surprise to the enemy, who apparently supposed they were carrying everything before them, and, panic-struck, they turned and fled in the utmost confusion, throwing away their arms and accoutrements. General Smith's victorious troops followed close upon their heels, capturing prisoners, arms and several pieces of artillery, until darkness prevented any further pursuit. Had the mounted force been kept in reserve to act in conjunction with Smith's infantry reserves, they would have killed or captured half the Confederate army but ;

here was another great military blunder committed. When most needed, they were in the rear; and when little needed, as in the previous engagement, they were sent to the front to battle with infantry posted in a thick wood During part of this battle General Banks had his headquarters at a large building in the village, called "The Academy," while General Franklin was senior oflBcer in the and, on the falling back of the Fedfield eral troops. Banks gave the order for the trains in the rear to retreat; but, being soon after informed of the complete victory the troops had gained, he countermanded the order, and directed everything to be prepared for an early advance on the enemy and on Shreveport. So the soldiers laid down, amidst the groans of their wounded comrades, to take a short repose preceding their arduous labors of the following day. General Emory's and A. J. Smith's commands had entire possession of the field, the enemy having retreated sixteen miles without stopping, leaving the road strewn with their arms and accoutrements. Some of the best Federal artillery had been recaptured, and the wagons were again in Smith's possession, although the enemy had carried off horses and harness. All that was needed were some of the useless cavalry horses to drag the wagons within the Federal lines to a place of safety. !

;

The enemy had evidentlj^ retreated outright, as the victory was complete, and they had thrown away such a quantity of arms, etc., that it would be useless to try and harass the Federals this side of Shreveport. Their first day's success against Lee's mounted men and meagre supports of infantry had given them an overweening

esti-

OF THE of their prowess, which was completely taken out of them at Pleasant Hill. The falling-back of the Federal Army was considered by them a plan for enveloping them in a trap, and a more demoralized

mate

army never left the field ; while the Federal soldiers, with renewed prestige, were ready to follow the enemy at all hazards. What, then, was the surprise of the army, next morning, to learn that an order had been issued by General Banks to the divisional

commander

to retreat to

Grand

Ecore.

would be impossible to describe the disgust of officers and men on the announcement of such an order, and it gave color to the report that the commander-in-chief was It

badly demoralized. Franklin had managed this last affair with the exception of sending cavalry and artillery to the rear, and though wounded at Sabine Cross Roads he kept his saddle during the entire day at Pleasant Hill, overlooking the movements of his soldiers, while Banks did not come upon the field until the reserves under General Smith commenced driving the enemy, when he rode up to this last-named officer and holding out his hand, said, "You have saved my army, General Smith, may God bless ycu for it !" "No, sir," said Smith, sarcastically, "my 'ragged guerillas' did it." If General Banks was held in estimation outside of his staff, he must have ceased to be so after giving the extraordinary order for 35,000 troops to retreat before a routed and demoralized enemy of 16,000 men, a cii'cumstance almost without a parallel in the history of war. The years that have passed since these events have scarcely softened the feelings of those who participated in the humiliation of that retreat. When General A. J. Smith received the order he was occupying the battle-field, gathering up his wounded and endeavoring to secure the trophies of war. He protested against the order and urged an advance, but Banks peremptorily directed him to retreat at once. Smith then begged the privilege of remaining on the field to bury the dead and care for the wounded; but this was denied him, he had to abandon the wounded and all that had been recaptured from the enemy. Imperative as were the orders General Smith received, to retreat and leave his wounded and dying in the hands of the

enemy, he determined to make a final effort to carry out his plan of pushing on, before Smith was a brave, impulsive soldier who cared little what he said or did when his spirit was outraged, as on this occasion. He knew better than Banks what would occur in case of a retreat. He had a obeying

it.

large portion of his division in transports

with the Navv.

whom

he

knew were

struar-

CIVIL WAR.

509

gling to get to the place of rendezvous, where, without warning, they were liable to attack from 16,000 exasperated Confederates, armed with the very artillery captured from the Federals, and which they were now about to leave in their hands to be used against a victorious army. Scattered along the river, then at a low stage of water, the gun-boats and transports would naturally suffer great loss, attacked as they would be at prominent points everywhere. Franklin and Smith both insisted that the army should march to the relief of the forces on the river; that it was but twelve miles to the river; where communication could be opened with the commanding officer of the fleet, and the troops could have constant access to water, for want of which they had heretofore suffered dreadfully. But all was without avail—the order still came to retreat. Smith, as a last resort, proposed to Franklin that the latter should assume command, put Banks under arrest, take care of their wounded, bury their dead, and push on to the point where they were to meet the fleet, and after insuring the safety of that part of the expedition, march upon Shreveport, if that course was found to be practicable. But Franklin, although he might wish to see this plan carried out, would not give his consent, and Smith with the rest had to turn his back upon a retreating foe, while Banks gave the latter the post of honor in the rear, to do the fighting if

any was required. The surgeons were

left on the field of Pleasant Hill to do their best to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded and the day the army departed, these officers state that the Confederates sent a flag of truce asking permission to bury their dead, and learned, much to their astonishment, that the Union forces had abandoned everything after gaining a complete victory! It would appear that General Smith was the only officer high in command who insisted on a further advance toward Shreveport. General Franklin says: "For my part, the only question was, whether the army should remain at Pleasant Hill, or return to Grand Ecore, not that we should advance." The idea of an advance, after what he had experienced of Banks' generalship, was odious to him and the scattered condition of the army required, in his judgment, a rest of several daj^s to get the ;

;

forces together.

About midnight, after the battle of Pleasant Hill, when he was resting under the assurances which Banks had given liim, that the army would advance next morning, an orderly came to him with orders to fall back at 3 a. m. Utterly astounded, Smith went to Banks to find out what it meant. Banks nleaded the necessitv of a,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

510

on the ground of the general discouragement of the officers of one of the corps, the scarcity of commissary stores, retreat,

losses hitherto sustained the Confederates, who had been so badly beaten, had not suffered more than the Federal Army, and, in all probability, would be scattered for some time to come. It was after this interview with Banks that Smith proposed to Franklin that the latter should assume command of the army. Franklin was then in his cot suffering from the wound received at Sabine Cross Roads, and was quite unaware of what had transpired at Banlis' headquarters, and replied to Smith's proposition: " Will you guarantee that I will not be hanged after the expedition is over, if I do take command ? " So there the matter dropped.

and the great as

if

Smith had been second in command, instead of Franklin, he would, without doubt, have arrested Banks, and assumed command. Few people have attributed the right motives to General Smith in making this proposition to Franklin. We believe no one was more intimate with Smith than the author of this work and the statements made to him were without reserve. It was not from a spirit of insubordination that General Smith made his proposition, but because he thought such a course necessary for the safety of the army, which was suffering from the presence of its commanderin-chief. It so happened that Banks did give up the command to Franklin soon after, at Grand Ecore, and abandoned the army, although Franklin was suffering so greatly from his wound as scarcely to be able to sit on his horse. General Smith felt somewhat differently from the other division commanders, for he came flushed with victory from the battlefield, where he had left his dead and wounded, while the others had met with serious reverses, although aiding largely in If

;

the final defeat of the Confederates, killed

and wounded were

Their

where the night, while Smith was close to

they halted for compelled by positive orders to leave his

wounded

in the

hands of the enemy after

complete a victory as ever an army won. Smith well knew what construction would be put upon this shameful retreat, without any attempt to aid the naval part of the expedition, supposed by him to be as

at the mercy of the Confederates, who would use the captured guns against the fleet, from point to point, Avith fearful efThe old soldier actually shed tears fect. in his chagrin and mortification at being thus forced to abandon the results of a victory.

As soon as General Taylor heard of Banks' retreat, he issued a general order, of which the following is an extract

"In spite of the strength of the enemy's position, held by fresh troops of the 16th corps, your valor and devotion triumphed over all. The morning of the 10th instant dawned upon a flying foe with our cavalry in pursuit, capturing prisoners at every step!!"

Although in this there was a good deal of that exaggeration which characterized General Taylor, perhaps it was natural under the circumstances, when he found the Federal

Army

actually retreating after

having beaten him. The facts, however, are that Taylor was some miles distant from the battle-field at the time Banks started to return to Grand Ecore. The Confederate army was scattered in all directions, and the "cavalry" he mentions, as capturing prisoners, existed only in his

imagination.

He knew nothing of the movements of the Army until the return of the flag

Federal

had been sent to request of Banks permission to bury the dead. On of truce that

hearing that the medical officers and the dead and wounded were the only ones remaining on the battle-field, he may have sent what cavalry he could muster to capture them; but, during its return to Grand Ecore, the Union Army was not molested in tlie least, moving in as good order as if on an ordinary march. This circumstance shows that the soldiers were not demor-

and that Banks should,

alized,

at least,

have remained at Pleasant Hill until the dead were buried, the wounded brought in, and the recaptured artillery and wagons taken from the field. On the 11th, the army reached Grand Ecore, and we do not think any one was

much

surprised to find that the gun-boats

and transports had not returned. The general belief was that they would never return, but would succumb to an army of

men

well supplied with captured arpour their fire from the narrow and shallow decks of the vessels where the guns of the war vessels could not reach them. On the 12th instant, the heavy guns of the fleet were heard firing rapidly, and everybody knew then that the Confederates were taking advantage of Banks' retreat and were falling back on the river to destroy the transports. On the 13th, the firing still continued, and was heard plainly at Grand Ecore, every one wondering why no movement was made by the Army to go to the assjistance of the fleet; and the indignation at Banks' inactivity was extreme, especially among the 16th corps, A. J. Smith's command, who, having been for some time associated with the Navy, felt great sympathy for their old friends. Colonel Shaw urged General Smith to allow him to go to the Navy's assistance, if 16,000

which could high banks of the stream right on the often from positions

tillery,

OF THE CIVIL WAR. only with a thousand men; but the Genhim it could not be done without an order from General Banks. No troops were sent until the squadron and all the transports had reached a point three miles above Grand Ecore, where they had been closely followed by hundreds of guerillas, who, like famished wolves, hoped to obtain possession of some of them. These ferocious natives seemed to take no rest by day or night while in pursuit of the

eral told

vessels, firing

on them from high overhang-

ing banks, from behind levees or trees, or from deep rifle-pits. From these places unerring marksmen sent their murderous bullets, laying low almost every man who left the shelter of the protecting cotton bales used as barricades. The vessels had to move slowly and in order along the shallow, narrow channel, enduring the perpetual fire of the sharpshooters as best they could, the flag-ship bringing up the rear, to see that no transports were left behind or neglected. There were over forty-five vessels to be looked after, and, fortunately, all were brought safely back to Grand Ecore, though not without loss in men. Three miles above Grand Ecore the leading vessels grounded, and those in the rear piled up behind them, offering a fine target for the enemy's sharp-shooters, who soon caught up and closed in around them, firing from concealed places where artillery could not reach them. The booming of cannon was heard from Grand Ecore, but no assistance was sent to drive off the Confederates and stop the sacrifice of life, until the flagship " Cricket," being of very light draft, passed the shoals and pushed on to Grand Ecore. Only then were cavalry and infantry sent to drive away the enemy's sharpshooters, who clung like wolves to their prey. Even for this relief the Navy and the transports were indebted to General A. J.

Smith, who, being the nearest commanding hand, dispatched his troops to the aid of the Navy without waiting for orders ofiicer at

from General Banks.

We now return to the gunboats and transwhich had started to return down the from Springfield Landing, as soon as it was felt certain that Banks was retreating, pushing on in good order, as rapidly as the intricacies of the river would permit. The gunboats were distributed equally ports river

among the transports to much as possible, and

protect the latter the commanding officers were directed not to permit the transports to tie up to the bank without permission. General Kilby Smith in his headquarters' steamer brought up the rear of his transports, while the Admiral, in the stern-

as

511

wheel gun-boat "Cricket," moved up and down along the line, as occasion required, to preserve the prescribed order. Thus the fleet proceeded at the rate of a mile or two an hour, until they arrived at Conchatta Chute on the 11th, where General Kilby Smith received dispatches from Banks, notifying him that he was falling back, and directing Smith to return at once to Grand Ecore and report. General Banks did not pay the Admiral the courtesy of informing him what had happened, although he must have known that the Navy was guarding his transports, and that they could not well proceed without its aid. Before leaving Springfield, a letter, dropped by a Confederate scout, was picked up, informing General Dick Taylor that the transports had from six to ten thousand soldiers on board, and were accompanied by four gunboats, this force being for the purpose of flanking him. This idea of the enemy stood the expedition in good stead, for, perhaps, had Taylor known there were only 1,800 effective soldiers, the transports would have been attacked sooner than they were. On the way up the river, the fleet had met with little opposition from the enemy, although parties of soldiers were frequently seen retreating. On one occasion, Colonel Warren's brigade landed at a point three miles above Conchatta Chute and captured a captain and one private. This captured officer had been charged to destroy all the cotton along the Red River as the Union forces advanced. On the return it was seen that this design had been carried out, for the charred remains of many thousand bales, worth millions of dollars, were scattered along the banks of the river, all of which the Confederates might have saved if they had possessed a little practical wisdom. They might have knoAvn that the Union forces could not stop to collect this cotton, unless successful, and that it was only in very exceptionable cases that they destroyed it. Although on the way down "the Red" River the fleet had been frequently annoyed by sharp-shooters, they had received no material damage, as the soldiers in the transports wei-e protected by bales of wet hay, bags of oats, and other defences impervious to rifle bullets, while the shrapnel thrown by the

gun-boats seemed to have a quieting effect on the Confederates; but after getting below the Chute it was evident that the enemy's forces were rapidly augmenting, and the shots, which at first came not unlike the light patter of rain, increased to a heavy shower, and all felt that they were about to experience the wrath which the enemy could not expend on the army. There was not so much fear for the gun-

THE NAVAL JiJUlUKr

513

boats as for the transports, which, although well protected against rifle-shots, were not

prepared to cope with artillery. Pleasant Hill Landing is but ten miles below Conchatta Chute, although the windings of the river make the distance by water

Ten miles back from Pleasgreater. ant Hill Landing is Pleasant Hill, then occupied by the army of General Taylor, who, notwithstanding his vainglorious boasts of the operations of his cavalry, had not yet assembled a corporal's guard of horsemen, and very little artillery. Altogether he may have had collected about 5,000 men to dispute the passage of the vessels down the river. An active Confederate officer, named Harrison, had crossed the river in the rear of the fleet with 1,900 mounted men and four or five pieces of artillery, with orders to plant his batteries in the most favorable

much

places and cripple the fieet as much as posThe Federals saw sible from the left bank. this party before reaching Conchatta Chute, and sending a few 11-inch shrapnel in their direction, they gave no more trouble for the time being But it was considered certain that Harrison must plant his batteries three miles below Pleasant Hill Landing, which proved to be the case. To this latter point the Admiral dispatched one of the heaviest iron-clads and two gun-boats, mounting some ten guns, ;

Lieutenant - Commander Watson Smith, with orders to prevent the erection

under

All the transports, with one exception,

had passed down the river ahead of him, and Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge had just turned the "Osage's" bow up stream, when a body of troops, over 3,500 strong, emerged from a dense wood near the bank. Many of the men were mounted, but these soon dismounted and tied their horses.

From their new blue overcoats, Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge took them for Union soldiers, but he soon discovered their true character, and ordered Lieutenant Bache to drop down the river, in the "Lexington," a short distance, to enfilade the enemy. fire on the two with several pieces of artillery, from a hill about a quarter of a mile distant, and forming their 2,500 men into three ranks, attacked the "Osage" with the "Black Hawk" lashed to her. The "Black Hawk " had on board about forty soldiers of General Kilby Smith's command, partially protected by bags of oats and bales The enemy's volley drove the solof hay. and some of them being diers below wounded, and it being useless to remain where they were, Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge ordered all hands on board the " Black Hawk " to take refuge in the safe hull of the "Osage." Now commenced one of the most remarkable conflicts on record between a bulletproof iron-clad and a brigade of infantry, At the which continued for an hour.

The Confederates opened

vessels,

;

—

any batteries until all the transports had passed; but Harrison, who could go across, while the gun-boats had to follow the long bends of the river, arrived first, and posted

commencement of the battle, the transport before-mentioned ran up the river to avoid the enemy's fire, and the "Osage,"

in a dense under-

the only vessels present. The latter vessel was riddled with bullets, and all hands

of

guns on a high bluff growth, where he could his

fire

down upon

decks of the transports, and whence difficult to dislodge him.

it

the

was

The Admiral was in the rear when he heard the firing commence, and he pushed ahead to superintend operations in that quarter, leaving General Kilby Smith and some of his transports behind, under the guns of the iron-clad •' Osage," LieutenantCommander Self ridge, and the " Lexington," Lieutenant Bache. As circumstances occurred at this time of which we wish to be the impartial narra-

"Lexington," and "Black

Hawk"

were

would have been killed had they not made their escape to the "Osage." Officers examined the vessel the day after, and there was not a place six inches square not perforated by a bullet.

Selfridge reported that he had taken the ' Black Hawk " late General Banks' head-

The "Osage" secured a good position abreast of the main body of the enemy, and poured in grape, canister, and shrapnel from her 11-inch guns, mowing the enemy down by the dozen at every fire. The latter seemed to know no fear as fast as one file was swept away, another took its place. The commanding officer of the Confederates, General Thomas Green, of Texas, who had served at San Jacinto and in the Mexican war. mounted on a fine horse, led his troops up to the bank, and encouraged them to pour in their fire, which they did

quarters' vessel alongside the "Osage," for the purpose of helping the iron-clad to turn the bends of the river. The " Osage " had got aground just above a turn, the " Lexington " was not far oflf, and Lieutenant Bache was visiting the " Osa>2e."

incessantly, never less than 2,500 muskets firing at once upon the "Osage."' The wood-work of the latter was cut to pieces, but the danger from bullets passing through the iron was very little. "While this was going on, the "Lexing-

we

will first give the report of LieutenSelfridge, commanding the little iron-clad "Osage," who. for the time, had the 'Lexington " also under his orders. tors,

ant-Commander

— —

;

OF THE enfiladed the enemy with shell from her 8-inch guns, disabling the entire gunhattery. The fight had continued nearly an hour, and the determination of the enemy seemed unabated, when LieutenantCommander Selfridge aimed one of his heavy guns, loaded with grape and canister, and fired it within twenty yards at a leading officer, whose head was blown clear from his shoulders by the discharge. The "ton "

enemy, having had enough of this kind of fighting, retreated in confusion to the woods, leaving the ground covered with their dead and wounded. Four of the latter crawled to the river for water, and were taken on board the ''Osage," and well cared for. These men informed Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge that the party who had attacked him were new regiments from Texas ; that they had been led to believe that the gun-boats could easily be captured, and that General Green encouraged them so by his example that they would have fought to the last man had not the General fallenLieutenant - Commander Selfridge could only survey the battle-field from the river, but he estimated the loss of the enemy at about 700 in killed and wounded; and from later information was satisfied that it even exceeded that figure. Selfridge conducted this affair in the handsomest manner, inflicting such a punishment on the enemy that their infantry gave no more trouble, having come to the conclusion that fighting with muskets against iron-clads did not pay. To say nothing of the loss in men inflicted upon the enemy, the "Osage" had killed the best ofiicer the Confederates had in this quarter who, judging from his energy on this occasion, would have given no end of trouble had he lived. Lieutenant Bache managed the " Lexington " beautifully, and did great execution with the 8-inch guns, though less exposed to the infantry bullets than the " Osage." The latter was a fortunate circumstance, as her men might otherwise have been driven from the guns, so intense was the fire. Notwithstanding the heavy peppering the "Osage" received, and the destruction of wood-work, the vessel was just as efficient for battle as before the action. Had not General Green's brigade been handled so severely, it was the intention of the enemy to have attacked the transports below, and the terrible punishment the "Black Hawk" received is good evidence of what would have happened to the others. The transports would have doubtless been driven on shore and great confusion would have prevailed. This affair was considered a naval fight ;

CIVIL WAR.

513

army had but a very small share. Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge made a

the

report to the Admiral, stating the facts as above narrated; and although General Kilby Smith makes a claim of having been under a very hot fire as he passed down, his vessels were uninjured, and no one heard of any killed or injured. Had General Kilby Smith's command been subjected to a heavy fire, his vessel's hull would have presented the same perforated appearance as did that of the "Black Hawk." It is a delicate matter to undertake to call in question the report of an officer, especially one belonging to a different branch of the service, and it is done in this instance with great reluctance. After the Red River expedition, the Admiral wrote to General A. J. Smith eulogizing General Kilby Smith in the highest terms, giving him credit, on his own showing, for a great deal of bravery and hard fighting, which, according to Selfridge, never took place. In justice to General Kilby Smith, however, we will permit him to tell his own story.

All that

is

known

of the affair is Selfridge's

from Lieutenant - Commander

written report at the time, General Smith merely makmg the Admiral a verbal report sometime afterwards. Here is what General Smith told the "Committee on the Conduct of the War," in regard to the battle, of which we have given Selfridge's account: -^^^^ °^ "^P""^' ^ sailed at 7 o'clock a.m. from ii,^^,*^® the Chute. Upon arriving at a point ten miles below the Chute, the enemy opened upon my boats doinomore or less damage to all of them. I found myself entirely environed. General Liddell -was on one side of the river with a force of 2,500 men and a battery on the other was a force variously estimated at from 30,000 to 40,000, flushed with their ;

recent victory over General Banks' command The river was very narrow, very tortuous, and very difficult of navigation at all times, and especially difficult at the very low stage of water which then obtained,

under

and with the

class of steamers

my control. The

which

I

had

bottom of the river was snaggy, and the sides bristling with cypress logs and

sharp, hard points. At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 13th *^? J^heel of my headquarters' boat, the u XI Pf^°* o'^* °f order, I ran under ^^r'^^^'^^H\^^V^^. the bluff of the bank with the view of making repairs. At that time the "Ahce Vivian," a heavydraft boat with three hundred and seventy-five cavalry horses on board, was lying aground midway '

m the stream

The "Black Hawk," General Banksheadquarters' boat, was (owing the gun - boat " Osage " a short distance below. The "Vi^-ian" signalled for assistance, and I ordered the "Clara Bell" to report to her. The "Clara Bell" failing to move her, I ordered up the "Emerald." At that time the steamer "Rob Roy," with four heavy siege-g;uns upon her forecastle, ran astern of the Black Hawk," and at this moment the enemy with a brigade about 3,000 strong, under the immediate command of General Tlios. Green of Texas with a 4 gun battery, formed upon the 'bank, and put their pieces in battery withm point-blank range of the "Hastings," the nearest boat. The

*

THE NAVAL HISTORF

514

were lying at the opposite bank, half-a-mile

off.

I

ordered the " Hastings " to oast off, and just as we got underway the enemy's batteries opened upon us, the first shot falling a little short, and the others over us. Their practice being defective, we escaped •without serious damage and directly getting out of range, and taking a good position upon the opposite shore, I opened upon them with one section of Lieutenant Tiemeire's battery, one gun of which was mounted upon the hurricane-deck of the " Emerald," the siege-guns upon the forecastle of the "Rob Roy," and the howitzer from the hurricanedeck of the " Black Hawk." (My guns had more range than the enemy's.) Very soon we killed the battery horses of the enemy, and they changed position rapidly, moving their guns up by hand. Meanwhile their sharp-shooters had deployed and sheltered themselves behind the timber that Uned the banks of the river, pouring in an incessant fire. My soldiers were all upon the hurricane-decks, protected by cotton bales, bales of hay, and stacks of oats, covered with soldiers' blankets, upon which I had turned the hose of the steamboats to keep them constantly wet, and which proved sufficient foil against rifle-bullets, and enabled them to mark the enemy with a deadly aim. After the fight commenced, the "Osage" rounded the point, and, with the other gun-boats, opened upon the enemy, rendering me essential service. By sundown we had silenced the enemy's batteries, and, shortly after, they fied from the field, leaving many of their dead, among them General Green, who had his ;

head blown

off."

General Kilbj^ Smith says, on offering letter to A. J. Smith, praising his conduct, for the inspection of the " Committee on the Conduct of the War :" " The Admiral v^ras not thoroughly posted in regard to the battle I fought at Pleasant Hill Landing, because the data had not

Admiral Porter's

come

in at the time.

We

left 700 of the enthe ground. Green was killed by a canister shot from a steel Rodman (;j-inch), mounted on the hurricane-deck of the 'Emerald.' " Smith's report that he fought a battle is so positive, and Selfridge's report is so positive that the former w^as not in the fight, that it was difficult to reconcile the discrepancy. Selfridge, who was long under the Admiral's command, always made correct and matter-of-fact reports, giving to every one a due share of praise. cannot see why he should act differently on this occasion. Unsolicited, the Admiral wrote in Kilby Smith's favor as handsome a letter as he could, and does not wish now to detract anything from the credit justly due that officer. He must leave it to him and to Captain Selfridge to settle between them the facts of the case The Admiral having conferred with the latter officer recently, and shown him the report of General Smith, of which he has never before seen or heard, the annexed letter will speak

emy dead on

We

for itself

Newport, R. I., June Admiral D. D. Porter, Washington^ D.

Dear fatal

2d, 1880. C.

Sir: Fifteen years have elapsed since the repulse of a portion of the rebel trans

Mississippi forces under their General Green, by the gun-boats "Osage" and " Lexington " of your fleet, and for the first time 1 have learned of the report of General Kilby Smith, before the " Committee upon the Conduct of the War,'' in which he claims for the transports under his command the principal merit of the victory. The fight took place at what was known as Blair's plantation, and in saying it was essentially a gunboat fight, no reflection is cast upon the portion of A. J. Smith's division embarked on the transports, because it was never designed they should engage a powerful force from their steamers; nor were the latter capable of a prolonged engagement, such as actually took place, from the unprotected condition

of their hulls. The facts of the fight are briefly these On the afternoon of April 11th, we first learned of the repulse of Banks' army at Sabine Cross Roads, which forced the return of the transports and of the fleet under your command. You directed me (at that time Osage "j in command of the light-draft Monitor to bring up and protect the rear. The river was very low, and the swift current in the bends made the " Osage " almost unmanageable while descending. For this reason, the next morn:

'

'

Unshed the transport "Black Hawk" starboard quarter, and by her assistance made the descent successfully, till late in the afternoon, when we grounded on the point opposite Blair's plantation Our bow was therefore pointed down stream, and our starboard broadside opposite the right bank, which was 30 feet high and 100 yards distant. The transports had necessarily passed down, as my position was in the rear. Seeing my situation, Bache, of the "Lexington," which had stopped near by, came on board. We had been for some time vainly trying to get the " Osage " afloat, when the pilot of the "Black Hawk," who, fromhis elevated position, could see over the bank, reported a large force issuing from the woods, some two miles back. I ascended to the pilot-house, and from their being dressed in Federal overcoats thought they were our troops; but soon their movements dismounting and picketing their horses convinced me they were enemies. I accordingly descended, made all preparations for battle, and directed Bache to go below with the "Lexington," and take up an ening, April 12th,

on

my

—

—

filading position.

Then commenced one of the most curious fights of the war, 2,500 infantry against a gun -boat aground. The battery unlimbered some hundred yards below and abreast of the " Lexington," which opened upon it with her port broadside, while I sent a few raking shells from the "Osage " in the same direction. Compelled to plant their guns close to the edge of the bank in order to reach us, on account of the low stage of the river, they could not long maintain the situation, and soon retired with the loss of one gun dismounted. By this time my attention was wholly directed to the attack upon my own vessel. The rebels came rapidly across the fields in column of regiments, so the pilot of the "Black Hawk " reported, who alone, from his elevated position, could see beyond the bank. So rapid was the advance that this pilot, intent on watching them, stayed too long, and dared not leave the protection of the iron shields of the pilot-house, and so accurate was the fire, that after the fight no fewer than 60 bullet marks were counted upon the shield, behind which the poor fellow was hiding. 1 loaded our two 11-inch guns with canister, elevated just to clear tbe top of the right bank, and as the heads of the first line became visible, fired. One regiment would come up, deliver its fire, then fall back under cover, and another advance. Itwas necessary to carefully reserve our fire until the rebels were about to fire, or our shots would have gone over them to the rear, a condition of affairs

OF THE which made gun-boat low stage of water.

firing

very inaecui-ate at a

The fire of 3,500 rifles at point-blank range, mingled with, the slow, sullen roar of our two great guns, was something indescribable. No transports

wood could have stood such a terrible fire; the few soldiers on the "Black Hawk " sought refuge on the " Osage," while the frightened crew of the steamer stowed themselves in her hold. During the three-quarters of an hour that this singular combat lasted, I had expended every round of grape and canister, and was using shrapnel with fuzes cut to 1", when the firing suddenly ceased, and the enemy drew off. During the latter part of the engagement I noticed an officer on a white horse, some 200 yards below the troops, and aiming one of our guns at him, when the smoke cleared away saw him no longer. I learned after, that the officer killed was their General Green. The rebel loss was reported at 700, while ours was only seven wounded. The destructiveness of the " Osage's " fire, delivered at point-blank range, was much increased by an ingenious device by which I could personally aim the guns from the outside of the turret, and thus have a clear view of the field, which would have been impossible had I remained inside. The wood-work of the "Black Hawk "and " Osage " was so pitted with bullet holes, that it is no exaggeration to say that one could not place the hand anywhere without covering a shot-mark. These are the prominent facts. It is very certain no transports were in sight from my decks; they may have been a little below, concealed by the bend, but too far to have had any influence upon the result, the whole brunt of which feUupon the "Osage." The battery unhmbered abreast of the "Lexington," and was driven off by her fire. No better proof of the absence of General Smith's transports from the fight can be cited than the fact that none of them, except the "Black Hawk," showed any marks, while she was literally riddled with bullets. There might have been a small gun on the "Black Hawk," but it was never fired. As to the siege-guns on the exposed forecastle of the " Rob Roy," if fired, it was at too long range to have been of any service. The importance of this engagement cannot be over-estimated, for though they had practically possession of both banks of Red River, the rebels hardly molested us during the remainder of our descent as far as Alexandria, excepting the time when they attempted to intercept you by planting batteries against the "Cricket," bearing your flag, and which were so gallantly by. I remain, yours truly, of

nm

Thos. O. Sblpbidge,

Commander,

TJ.

S. If.

was nearly dusk when the battle ended, little could be seen except the numerous dead and wounded lying on the field. From the prisoners it was learned that General Liddell, with 5,000 infantry and artillery, was only two miles away and had held back, owing to the shot and shell from the fun-boats falling in his ranks and killing is men. Had this force come up it would It

and

have fared worse than the other, for the Admiral had come up with a reinforcement of gun-boats to enfilade the whole bend, and ten thousand men would have stood no chance against their fire. The Admiral had landed above the Harrison Battery a short time before the attack from above commenced, and from the top nf Q +all

i-.-rc^a

ixrQC!

on rloQ ^rnvin fr

i.r\

maVo

mit;

CIVIL WAR.

515

with his glass the position of the enemy's guns and the probable number of his men.

At first he paid little attention to the firing up river, thinking the gun-boats were shelling the woods to drive away the sharpshooters but the heavy rattle of musketry soon apprised him that something serious was transpiring, and, descending from his perch, pushed up the river in the '' Cricket to see what was the matter. He soon met General Kilby Smith coming down, and ;

"'

knowing that

Selfridge could take care of himself in case of further attack, returned to his original position, directing General Kilby Smith to form his transports in order at once, and be ready to pass the lower battery as soon as he was notified it could be done with safety. By 10 p. M. all the vessels were in line, none of them much damaged excepting the "Black Hawk," which looked as if pitted with small-pox ; and from the effects of the enemy's fire on this vessel it may be im-

agined how badly the transports would have fared but for the gun-boats "Osage" and " Lexington," to which General Kilby Smith gives in his report the following faint praise: "The 'Osage' and other gun-boats opened upon the enemy, rendering me essential service."

(!)

The Red River expedition was emphatically a united service affair, in which Army and Navy should have shared in whatever credit was gained, and there was not a sailor in the fleet who would have withheld one due to the soldiers, or who would not have risked his life to extricate them from any difficulty in which they might become entangled; but even the best of the Army did not always do justice to the Navy on such occasions as this, and, if not iota of praise

actually misrepresenting matters, they saw them through colored glasses. As far as could be learned, about 700 of the enemy were killed in this engagement,

which

is very likely an under - estimate, considering the terrible fire to which the Confederates were exposed and the Navy esteemed themselves fortunate as sailors looked upon the matter in the death of so brave and enterprising a leader as General Green, who had displayed a heroism worthy of a better cause. Had General Banks halted at Pleasant Hill until the 11th, and then sent General A. J. Smith's command to Pleasant Hill Landing, distant but twelve miles by a good road, he would have given the latter officer time to bury his dead, collect his wounded, and bring in the artillery and wagons recaptured from the enemy, besides being on hand to cover the transports at the point where they were most likely to be attacked. As it turned out, the affair proved a victory fr\r tliA T^a.w "fnr Viarl it nnt. Kaati -fm* f.bo ;

—

•

—

THE NAVAL HISTORY

516

gun-boats, not a transport would ever have returned to Grand Ecore. As it was, very few of the army expected to see them reand it was only by the unceasing turn vigilance of the naval officers, in keeping the transports in position and pushing them on as rapidly as possible, that all were taken safely down to Pleasant Hill Land;

ing.

We

do not remember another instance

where a large army has retreated through a hostile country, and saved their transports and munitions of war. On this occasion the chances were all in the enemy's favor, as there never were such obstacles as were met with in the down-voyage of the transports: shoals at every hundred yards, snags innumerable, and sharp-shooters at

We

think it not too the elevations. to assert that the Navy owed its remarkable preservation, under Providence, all

much

to their

own good management and

perse-

After assembling the fleet above the Harrison Battery, the Admiral strengthened the pass with additional gun-boats, and all the transports went safely by, not a shot having been fired at them. The gun-boats kept up such a shower of shell, grape and cannister on the woods, that no land artillery The fiag-ship could withstand their fire. remained behind to bring up the rear, and at daybreak in the morning it was found that the " Iberville," a large transport steamer that had caused much trouble by frequently grounding, had been abandoned and left in the inud below Pleasant Hill Landing. All her stores had been removed, and she was all ready for the Confederates in case they required such a vessel. Soon after removing her cargo, however, the vessel went floating down river broadside on and, as there was nobody on board, the flag-ship took her in tow and she was safely delivered to her master and crew, so noth;

left

General Kilby Smith now communicated with the Admiral, and informed him that the Confederates were firing on his transports, from a hill about two miles back from the river, with two pieces of artillery. There was no evidence of this while the Admiral was at Campte in General Kilby Smith's evidence before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, he makes the following remarkable statement: " At noon the enemy planted two guns on the other ;

side of the river [which side ?], and opened upon the fleet. lay under shell for five hours. Admiral Porter, with the most effective gun-boats, having taken the advance, had reached Grand Ecore in safety. The Osage and Lexington were the only effective gun-boats left with me from the Navy. The Lexington was a wooden boat of very heavy draft, and of little or no service."

We

'

'

'

verance.

ing was

ship did not arrive at Campte until 4 p. m., and there found the gun-boats and transports in complete confusion, and many of them aground. As the gun-boats could take care of themselves, they were merely directed to proceed to Grand Ecore as soon as they could get afloat.

behind for the enemy to exult

over.

After passing the Harrison Battery the experienced little trouble beyond the constant fire of sharp-shooters along the river. The flotilla having learned a lesson from the fight at Pleasant Hill Landing, and comprehending the necessity of preserving fleet

a compact order, did their best to maintain it, and the fleet advanced much faster too fast, in fact, for any large body of artillery to overtake it, the only thing from which much danger was to be apprehended.

—

Below Pleasant Hill Landing the transports grounded so frequently that it was not until noon of the 13th that they reached the little village of Campte, about twentyfour miles by water from the Landing, aiid about half as far by land. Keeping in the rear to push along the stragglers, the flag-

'

'

'

The facts are that the heaviest iron-clads were at that very time behind the transports, and not in the advance; the " Lexington and " Osage," the most efficient vessels, were in good position among the transports, and were sufficient to silence any The " Lexington ordinary artillery. mounted ten 8 -inch shell-guns and the "Osage" two 11-inch, and the "Lexington," so far from being, as General Kilby Smith asserts, " of very heavy draft, and of little or no service," was the onlj' large vessel of the fleet that did not get aground. She and the "Osage" were the only gun-boats in the fight at Pleasant Hill Landing, against

men and a park of artillery, and it would be strange indeed if they could not take care of two pieces of artillery! The Admiral was with the transports half-anhour, during which time there was no artillery fire, and none was ever reported to him by any of his officers. The first he knew of any serious construction being put upon the firing was from reading the above quotation. There was some musketry fire going 2,500

on, but not a vessel in the fleet was struck with shell or rifle-shot, notwithstanding the five hours' fire to which General Kilby

Smith says they were exposed. The vessels at Campte were so mixed up that the fiag-ship had difficulty in getting through them and alongside General Kilby Smith's headquai'ters' vessel. Seeing that there was no prospect of the transports getting off that night, and thinking that the Confederates might assemble during the darkness in greater force, the Admiral informed the General that he would run down to Grand Ecore, which he could do in half-an-hour, and induce General Banks

OF THE CIVIL WAR. send troops up on both sides of the river. this, General Kilby Smith was much pleased, although he had not much idea that General Banks would pay attention to a message after plainly hearing an incessant fire of musketry for hours, to which he gave no heed, although only four miles

517

my

to

back here

With

and animals." The Admiral suggested that the troops could have obtained all the water they wanted by marching only twelve miles to Pleasant Hill Landing; but General Banks seemed well satisfied with what he had done, and told the Admiral he intended to continue his march to Shreveport by the

distant.

The "Cricket" carried every pound of steam the boilers would bear, and only stopped a few moments to shell out some Confederates hidden in a house, who fired upon her as she was passing. At 5 p. m. the Admiral was on the levee at Grand Ecore, where the first person he met was General A. J. Smith, who shook his hand heartily and exclaimed: "D n it, old fellow, I never expected to see you again !" In a few words the Admiral explained to him how matters stood at Campte, and requested him to send up some cavalry and infantry at once. The troops were ready, for Smith had been expecting orders from Banks to send them, so now the former dispatched them at once on his own authority 700 cavalry and 1,000 infantry; the latter under the gallant Colonel Shaw, and they soon cleared the river banks of any Confederates

—

—

lurking in that quarter. On the 15th, all the vessels arrived safely at Grand Ecore in good condition, excepting

some little damage from running into snags and into each other. As the sailors say, they had not lost a rope-yarn on the expedition, and the casualties, all told, did not exceed fifty men, with very few killed. So, notwithstanding General Kilby Smith's exceptions, we are firm in our belief that the vessels were well managed, and whether the gun-boats were or were not "efficient" must be left to the reader to decide. As soon as the Admiral saw the troops well underway up river, he mounted his horse and proceeded to call on General

Banks.

As

the

Admiral entered the General's

he was reading by the light of a lamp. " Admiral," said the General, "you interrupted me in the most pleasing occupation of my life. Scott's I was just reading Tactics.'" The Admiral could not help thinking that he should have read it before he went to Sabine Cross Roads. He told the General he was sorry he had been unsuccessful, and asking him what were his plans for the future, found him quite indignant at the idea of any one hinting that he had been beaten. " Why, sir," he said, "we gained a glorious victent,

'

tory, tions

and sent the enemy fiying in all direc!" "Then, what are you doing here.

General ?" inquired the Admiral, " This is not the road to Shreveport." "Why," replied the former, " I found that there was no watfir in tha.t, countrv. and I had to fall

to obtain

water for

troops

river road, keeping the transports in sight. The Admiral informed Banks that this course was now out of the question, as the river was falling so rapidly that the expedition would have as much as it could do to

Grand Ecore to Alexandria, and then it was doubtful if the vessels could pass over the " Falls ;" but the General insisted that a rise in the river would soon take place, and he would be able to march on Shreveport in a few days. Notwithstanding this conversation, he commenced intrenching and fortifying his camp on the 16th inst. We must now turn to General Steele's movements. On the 1st of April, General Steele's army, which was intended to cooperate with Banks, was at Arkadelphia, waiting for General Thayer to join it. The same day, the army moved fourteen miles to Campte, and thence to Washington. Near the latter place it encountered the Confederate Generals, Marmaduke and Cabell, with a good-sized force, and, after considerable manoeuvring, Steele, while turning his army southward, was attacked in the rear by General Shelby near the crossing of the river. The enemy, although attacking with great bravery, were repulsed with heavy loss. On the 3d of April, Steele's entire command crossed the Little Red River at Elkins' Ferry a movement so skillfully planned and so promptly executed that the enemy only by accident learned of it after it was accomplished. General Thayer had not yet joined Steele, having been delayed get from

—

for the heavy rains made terfor the army, causing the route to be almost impassable, so that it was necessary to corduroy it. Thayer at length arrived, and crossed the Little Red River

by bad roads, rible

work

on a bridge constructed by the

soldiers.

On

the 10th of April the army moved to Prairie, where Price, the Confederate General, had determined to make a final stand at the point he had chosen two branches diverge from the main road to ;

—

Shreveport one going to Washington, the other to Camden. Here some artillery firing took place which lasted until nightAfter dark the enemy made a desperfall. ate effort to capture the Federal guns, but were repulsed with heavy loss, and retreated to their fortifications of earth and timber, a mile lone:, commandinsr the Washine-ton

THE NAVAL ±n:sruKy

518

road. On the 12th of April, Steele turned the enemy's left flank and the latter fled to Washington, followed by the cavalry sent by General Steele to make the enemy believe the army was following in their rear, instead of which it took the road to Camden. Much time was spent in crossing the Terre Rouge bottom, which had to be corduroyed for miles, and several bridges constructed. During all this time the rear-

guard under General Thayer was subjected numerous attacks by the Confederate General Dockray, who was always repulsed. Fighting- their way foot by foot, with the Confederate forces in front and rear, Steele's army entered Camden on the 15th and found

to

the place strongly fortified, so as to be impregnable against any force the enemy could bring to bear. Steele was now only a hundred miles from Shreveport, and could get all the supplies necessary by boats on the Washita River. In fact, he could have held on here until Banks reached Mansfield.

But

and then took up

his line of

march and

joined the Army of the Tennessee. It does not require much military knowledge to see how much better Steele's expedition was managed than that of Banks'. Steele's army, unaccompanied by transports and depending entirely on their trains for supplies, marched more than three hundred miles over the worst roads possible, with an active enemy harassing them at every step. Their difficulties, indeed, were far too numerous to mention Whenever Steele was in this short sketch. attacked, he defeated the enemy; and the only mistake he appears to have made was in sending back an empty wagon-train to be captured instead of retaining it with the army. General Steele was a soldier who knew his business, and he was supported by Generals Rice, Solomon, Carr, and Thayer, who inspired their men with their own martial spirit. They outwitted the Confederates as well as outfought them on every occasion and we only regret that the dispatches sent off by General Banks in a gun-boat did not reach General Steele in time to save the large wagon-train captured by the enemy. But to return to affairs on Red River. When it was found that Banks would probably retreat to Alexandria, the Admiral got the "Eastport" and other large vessels over the bar at Grand Ecore, and directed them to proceed to Alexandria, while the ;

at

Camden some captured Confed-

erate dispatches gave the information of

Banks' backward movement, which was soon confirmed by other intelligence. On the 18th, a forage train sent out by Steele was captured by the enemy, the first disaster occurring during Steele's long march through a difficult country swarming with the enemy's troops. On the 20th, a supply train arrived from Pine Bluff and was sent back on the 22d, escorted by a brigade of infantry, four pieces of artillery, and a proper force of cavalry. On the 25th, news was i-eceived that the train had been captured and the colonel in command of the escort

mortally wounded. Before this time the Confederates had learned that Banks had retreated to stay, and General Kirby Smith with 8,000 Confederates had joined General Price, and the combined forces were marching upon Steele's position. Under all the circumstances, with no hope of being joined by Banks, General Steele wisely concluded to evacuate Camden and fall back. On the night of April 26th the army crossed the Washita and marched towards Little Rock, by way of Princeton and Jenkins' Ferry, on the Sabine. On the 27th, a pontoon bridge was thrown across the Sabine at the latter point, and the army reached Little Rock, and it was learned that General Fagan, with fourteen pieces of artillery and a large force of infantry, was moving up the river to attack Little Rock. The combined forces of Confederates, under Price, made the attack, and were repulsed with great slaughter, losing a large part of their artillery and munitions of war. Steele held on for a few days longer to see if Price would make another attack,

"Lexington" and "Osage" were detailed them safe

to convoy the transports, and see to Alexandria, when they were

ready

to

move.

On

the 16th of April, the Admiral received dispatch from Lieutenant -Commander Phelps, reporting that the " Eastport" had been sunk by a torpedo eight miles below Grand Ecore. The Confederates had planted numbers of these along the river, but as they had hitherto done no damage, the Navy paid little attention to them. When the Admiral reached the "Eastport," he found her resting on the bottom, with her gun-deck above water. Hastening to Alexandria, he sent up two pumpboats, with orders to Lieutenant-Commander Phelps to take out everything that would lighten the vessel, and 'felt sure that the "Eastport" would soon be afloat again. He was detained a day in Alexandria, making a new disposition of the naval forces on the Mississippi and its tributaries. During his absence up Red River the massacre at Fort Pillow had occurred, in consequence of the policy pui-sued of not properly garrisoning the strong points, where sc much blood and treasure had been expended.

a

There were two small gun-boats at Fori Pillow at the time, which did their part, but the garrison could make but feeble resist-

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

The " Essex," " Benton," " Choctaw," "Lafayette," "Ouchita." and "Avenger" were sent to secure the fort against further

ance.

attacks. The " Eastport "

was much more shattered by the explosion than had been imagined. Lieutenant - Commander Phelps and his officers worked with a will to save this valuable vessel, and more energy and determination were never evinced. Phelps was satisfied, if time were allowed, that the "Eastport" would be floated off all right. As the Admiral had so far met with no mishaps, he did not wish to resort to blowing up the "Eastport," to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy. On his return to Grand Ecore he found

the

army quite

excited at the

news

that they

were going back to Alexandria, though the different divisions were ordered "to be in

march against the enemy !" At noon of the 20th, General A. J. Smith's division marched out on the road to Nachitoches, and were kept for some time under

readiness to

arms. All kinds of rumors were flying about: that the cavalry had been driven in; then that the Confederates were advancing on Banks' position with 40,000 men, when everybody must have known that they first

could not assemble 16,000.

Every one was now convinced that Banks had not the slightest intention of advancing, and was planning a retreat, calling forth all the objections to an advance that he could in order to justify his course, and to say that his desire to advance on the enemy was overruled Admiral Porter had already told him that he could not now advance, if "he depended on the gun-boats and transports but he never advised him to leave Grand Ecore. General A. J. Smith's division was advanced four miles towards the enemy, who seemed to be in force, and, although not strong enough to attack the Union position, would, in a retreat, no doubt, harass the !

;

In fact, it shortly appeared that A. J. Smith's "ragged guerillas," as Banks had called them, were now to have the honor of protecting the General in his retreat. Seeing that some move was in contemplation, the Admiral sent an officer to General Banks to ask if the report was true that he Tvas going to move to Alexandria. If so, he requested one more day in which to float -the " Eastport." To this message, the General sent a reply that he had no idea of rear.

moving. The Admiral then called on General Franklin sick in his cot who asked if Banks had notified the Navy that he was going to retreat. The Admiral said "No,'" but that he had noticed that all the transports were moving down river, and that

—

—

519

one of the largest gun-boats was aground below.

Franklin then assured him that he had orders to move at a moment's warning, and that Banks did not wish any one to know he was going, as he wanted the largest gunboats kept at Grand Ecore, so that they could cover his rear as he moved off. At first the Admiral thought that Franklin was prejudiced against Banks and misjudged him, knowing there was no cordiality between those officers but on a subsequent interview Franklin gave such assurances that Banks intended to leave him, and urged him so strongly to look out for himself, that the Admiral determined to follow his advice. The gun-boats could take cai'e of themselves but the condition of the "Eastport" was a great cause of uneasiness; so the Admiral proceeded at once to that vessel and informed her commander that he must get away from the vicinity of Grand Ecore at all hazards, as the Confederates would occupy it immediately on the departure of the Union forces, and be able to concentrate a ;

;

heavy artillery fire on him while working. The leak in the "Eastport" had been so far overcome that steam was raised and the vessel only rested slightly on the bottom. The Admiral returned to Grand Ecore and found that Banks had left with the advance of the army in the night for Alexandria, leaving General Franklin in command of the main body, with orders to follow him. So that Franklin was virtually in command until the army reached Cane River. The evacuation left Grand Ecore in the solitude of a wilderness. A. J. Smith's division marched at 7 a. m., on the 22d, so hastily that they left behind a quantitj- of stores

and some siege-guns, which were

brought down by the

fleet.

All the transports were gone, and the flag-ship "Cricket" and another small gunboat were all that was left after the departui-e of the Grand Army, which had entered the Red River country so joyfully and was now retreating before an inferior force. do not think the enemy knew of the departure of the Union Army until a considerable time had elapsed, as there were no signs of them at Grand Ecore, not even a musket was fired at the army as it marched.

We

The Admiral had had an interview with General Banks in relation to General Steele, in which he reminded the former that this was intended as a co-operative movement between the two armies; that Steele, advancing in confidence to meet Banks and not hearing of the latter's return, would fall into a trap, as the Confederates could concentrate all their forces against him and perhaps defeat his army.

Banks' army was over a hundred miles

o;au

in a direct line from Steele, as the crow flies, and twice that distance by the crooked roads and rivers, all the intermediate country swarming with Confederate troops. As it was hardly possible to communicate with Steele in any other manner, the General proposed sending one of the fast naval dispatch steamers down the Red River, up the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers, thence

via Little Rock to Camden, Arkansas, a distance of over live hundred miles. A messenger was sent accordingly, but whether he got to his destination is not known. Nothing could better demonstrate the absurdity of this co-operative movement upon Shreveport than the fact, that at no time since the expedition started had the commanders of the two armies communicated with each other. A glance at the map will show that from the first these armies were to advance upon Shreveport at right angles with each other, and without the probability of communicating until they made a junction at or near that place, while the points from which they started were over 500 miles apart, and Steele's army had to make slow marches on account of bad roads and the difficulty of obtaining supplies.

in

Hence it was impossible for them to move harmony as regards time, and next to

impossible for one to notify the other of

any detention that might occur. The whole idea was in violation of the rule of war that two armies co-operating with each other should be in constant communication. This co-operation might easily have been effected if Steele had marched to Columbia, La., through a much better country than the one he passed through. On arriving at Columbia, he would have been within eighty miles of General Banks, and could have been supplied with stores by way of the Washita River, where the gun-boats could have protected his transports and added to the strength of his artillery. The two armies could have been put in communication near Mansfield, one on each side of the Red River, and the Confederates would have retreated to Shreveport without resistance.

As it was, the enemy had the opportunity of attacking each army in detail, and turning them back whence they came, making this one of the most disastrous campaigns of the war. all we can learn, the enemy took position to oppose the Union troops at the crossing of Cane River. Franklin gave orders to attack the enemy early the following morning; but, sufl^ering greatly from his wound, transferred the command to General Emory, who made the necessary disposition of the troops.

From

up a

In the morning the 1st division attacked the enemy directly in front, while the cavalry made a demonstration on the right, and General Birge with a picked force prepared to turn the enemy's left. After some sharp fighting General Emory carried the enemy's position with a loss of 400 men. In the meanwhile the enemy had attacked General A. J. Smith, who brought up the rear; but all their efforts were frustrated by the vigilance of that brave soldier, who administered a severe punishment to the en-

emy and took many prisoners.

Before 1 P. m. been scattered. The Confederates having retreated, General Smith advanced four miles and camped for

the

enemy had

all

the night, in readiness for any further attack, the 16th corps being within support-

ing distance. On the 24th of April, the enemy saluted the Union troops with several shells, in order to feel their position, and afterwards drove in the cavalry pickets. Finally they charged on the rear with a yell, but were driven, back with loss. Up to the 25th, General Emory was kept busy in repulsing the numerous attacks of the enemy, which he did with little loss. There were skirmishes at Henderson's Hill and other points, but the army was now directed with intelligence by a good General, and on the 26th and 27th the whole force marched into Alexandria in excellent condition and went into camp. From Cane River the road to Alexandriadiverged from Red River, and, of course, the transports and "Eastport" could expect no further support from the Army. The Admiral had, therefore, to depend upon his own resources for getting back to Alexandria, but would not have cared much, about it could he have moved more rapidly. But he was so hampered by the " Eastport"' that he felt sure of meeting resistance beThe guns fore the fleet could get down. and stores of the " Eastport " had been put into a large lighter, the vessel fitted with a, number of siphon pumps in addition to those she already had, and on the 21st April she started in tow of the two pump-boats. The first day the '"Eastport" made forty miles down the river, but at 6 P. M. she got out of the channel and grounded and now commenced the most serious difficulties of forcing her over the bars and other obstructions so numerous in Red River, and which were so little known that there was small hope of saving the iron-clad without some help from the Army, which would probably not be given. It would be impossible to convey an adequate idea of the proceedings from the 21st to the 2i5th of April, during which time the efforts of Lieutenant - Commander Phelps, ;

OF THE CIVIL WAR. and the officers and men of that little squadron, were devoted to the saving of this valuable iron-clad. Phelps and his

621

that seemed to offer a hope of success. I fear that your forbearance led to greater difficulties, both for your squadron and yourself, than ever the saving of the Eastport would justify. This consciousness added largely to my anxiety for your safety when separated froin you by the accidents of the action which took place on the evening after her destruction, when I had every reason to apprehend the worst." '

command worked day and

ni^ht, almost without rest, in the hope of getting the vessel to Alexandria. Once or twice she sank, and had to be pumped out again, then she would get aground on the It was necessary to keep logs and snags. her decks and those of the pump -boats crowded with men to do the necessary work, including carrying out hawsers at nearly every bend in the river. The party had been anticipating for several days to be attacked by infantry and artillery, and we cannot to this day imagine why it was not done, unless the enemy expected to get the vessels into a position where no resistance could be made, and capture the whole squadron.

The "Eastport" had grounded eight or nine times, and at last got so hard and fast upon the logs at a place called Montgomery, that all efforts to move her were in vain. After spending a night in useless labors, and ascertaining, by sounding, that a few yards ahead was another bed of logs with still less water, Lieutenant Commander Phelps reluctantly admitted that there was nothing to do but blow the "Eastport" up. The Admiral had stayed by the vessel as long as there was the slightest possibility of getting her down, thereby risking the capture of the little squadron, and he acceded to the proposition to destroy her. Phelps had ^ot the "Eastport" sixty miles down the river, and sixty more would have put her at Alexandria, but the Army was also that distance off, and the reports were that the Confederates were harassing its rear in every way, so one might naturally expect when the Union troops reached Alexandria that all the Confederate forces would be concentrated against the little flotilla. To oppose them there were but three lightdraft gun-boats called "tin-clads"— f or the 'Eastport " had no guns on board. The prospect was certainly not very encouraging. The following extract of a letter from

—

'

Lieutenant-Commander Phelps

will be in-

The most thorough preparations to destroy the " Eastport" were made, the boilers, cylinders and engine-room being filled with powder, as was also every enclosed space about the hull of the vessel. Then trains were laid to have a simultaneous explosion in

every part.

When

everything was ready

and some forty barrels of gunpowder awaiting ignition, the Admiral pulled off a short distance to witness the explosion, while Phelps, from his boat alongside, applied the match, and shoved off; but he had hardly got headway on his boat before the ship blew up, shattering her to fragments. The Admiral and Phelps were fortunate in escaping with their lives, for the fragments fell in all directions around them, though

no harm was done

to any one. The Confederates, who heard the explosion, must have thought an earthquake had taken place for in that narrow river, inclosed by high banks, the jar seemed as if everything would shake to pieces, and the trees bent, as if a tornado had passed over ;

them.

Of course, the enemy made for that point with all dispatch and, although the officers were always on the look-out, the attack came sooner than was expected. The vessels had dropped down about three hundred yards from the " Eastport," ;

and the

little flag-ship, the "Cricket," was lying at the right bank when, just after the former vessel blew up, she was attacked by a heavy force of infantry from the right bank. From their concealed position they poured a fire into all the vessels of over ;

twelve hundred muskets and rifles, and then rushed to board the " Cricket." Fortunately one watch was always kept at the guns, prepared for any emergency, and the men were under cover of the bulwarks so that, with the exception of splin;

teresting in this connection

wood-work and smashing glass, little damage was done by the fire. A fire of grape, canister, and shrapnel soon drove the enemy back. One man, who could not get away, surrendered himself prisoner, and informed the Admiral that the present force was only the advance of some six thousand artillery and infantry that would give him a warm reception further down. The naval force now consisted of the "Cricket" and "Juliet," each carrying six small guns, and the " Fort Hindman," eight guns, mixed battery "tinclad " gun boats only musket - proof — together with two pump-boats. "Champion" tering

"The command of the Eastport has been to me a source of great pride, and I could not but deplore the necessity for destroying her. The act has been the most painful one of my official career. She was the finest vessel of your squadron, and one of the bestpossessed by the Government. " lour order to nie to proceed to destroy her, in which you commend the zeal displayed by myself and officers and crew in our efforts to save her, not only relieved me from all responsibility, but was also grateful to my feelings both as a man and as '

'

'

an officer. "I desire, further, to express to you my grateful sense of your forbearance in ordering the destruction of the vessel when yourself convinced of the impossibility of saving her, in yielding your judgment to my natural anxiety to exhaust every means

—

-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

523

and " Champion No.

liet,"

5,"

entirely unpro-

Champion was lashed to the " Juand the "Champion No. 5" followed "'

the squadron.

They had proceeded twenty miles down the river, the "Cricket" leading, and the

when

vessels in close order,

was

it

noticed,

about one hundred yards from the river, on a high bluff at a bend, that some men were moving in the bushes and the commander ordered a shrapnel shell fired in among them from a 12-pounder howitzer, always The shell in readiness on the upper deck. burst in the midst of the enemy, whom, it now appeared, were posted in force and the vessels approached within about twenty yards of the shore, when nineteen shells ;

;

ATTACK ON THE "CEICKET" BY

2,500

artillery, shattering the her parts.

"Cricket" in

all

;

running at the rate of four miles per was bearing the "Cricket" rapidly down stream. Going below, the Admiral found the engineer had been killed with his hand on the throttle-valve, and as he exSteam pired he had shut off the steam. was turned on, and the engine once more rent,

hour,

started.

The gun-deck was covered with dead and wounded, and all but one of the guns was Ixors

In the fire-room all the firemen

du

cotnbat.

of the " Champion." In the four minutes the "Cricket" sus-

tow

tained the enemy's fire, she had twelve killed and nineteen wounded, most of the latter severely.

The Admiral immediately hastened to the pilot-house, and entered the door just as a bursting shell wounded the pilot, and killed all the guns' crew forward. By this time the engine had stopped but the cur-

disabled.

ceeded in getting around a long, narrow neck of land, and found herself in the enemy's rear. Having got a fresh crew to the gun on the upper deck, and remanned two of the other guns with " contrabands," the fire was directed with such effect that the enemy were driven from their guns, and the "Juliet" escaped up the river in

CONFEDERATES, UNDER GENERAL GREEN.

crashed through the vessel from concealed

were

During this time the enemy were raking the '• Cricket" fore and aft but, supposing that she was disabled so as to be in their power, thev turned their attention to the •' Juliet." close behind, with such effect that she drifted down under the bank, where no guns could be brought to bear upon her. In the meantime the " Cricket" had suc;

tected. Tlie "

She was

sti'uck thirty-eight

times with shell, which generally burst in small fragments, otherwise they would probably have disabled the boilers and

machinery. The whole ship's company of this little vessel amounted to but fifty persons, of whom one third were negroes picked up along the Mississippi but there was no flinching, although the "Cricket" had but four officers, all of whom were wounded. One gentleman, a guest on boai-d, said he came in this expedition expecting to see fighting, and had now seen all of it he wanted. As soon as the Confederates recovered from the temporary surprise caused by the "Cricket's" shells, and the latter had ;

OF THE opened upon the "Champion, No. 5," and sunk her immediShe had a number of negroes on ately. board who had fled from Grand Ecore, but they were all killed, many of them shot

drifted out of range, they

while struggling in the water. General Taylor told the Admiral, after the war, that he was present and in command on this occasion, and, besides three batteries of artillery, he had three thousand infantry pouring their fire into the vessels all the time. The Admiral reproached the General for his want of courtesy in shooting at him as he passed along the upper deck, but Taylor assured him that he ordered the firing to cease the rnoment he recognized the Admiral. If this was so, and amid all the noise and confusion, no one could pretend to recollect the exact circumstances of the case, the Admiral must attribute it to the chivalric feeling in General Taylor's breast towards one with whom he had been intimate in the days when the South did not dream of shedding Northern blood. When Lieutenant - Commander Phelps saw the difficulties ahead, he steamed down in the "Fort Hindman," and opened fire on the enemy's batteries, enabling the " Juliet " to escape and join him. The latter vessel, in this short period, had lost fifteen killed and wounded, and was very

much

cut up. Phelps concluded it would be best to wait till night before trying to run the batteries. Some may think he should have followed the flag -ship immediately, but the Admiral always encouraged his officers to think for themselves, and had he followed, with the river impeded by the sunken " Champion," he might have entangled the vessels and lost all. Naturally thinking that the " Cricket " had been destroyed, Phelps had to take upon himself the responsibility of commanding officer. Two iron-clads had been ordered to meet the fleet two miles below Cane River, near where the flotilla was attacked, and the flag-ship hastened to to the scene

meet them and hurry

them

of action but the " Cricket" soon ran hard and fast aground within reach of the enemy's guns, but, fortunately, out of their sight, and remained ;

in this position for thi-ee hours. While there the vessel caught fire from the explosion of a howitzer caisson-box, which had been struck by one of the enemy's shells.

At dark, the " Cricket

" fell in

with the "Osage," lying opposite one of the enemy's field batteries, which she had been shelling all day, and this, together with being under a high point of land, prevented the commanding officer from learning the direction of the cannonading. The " Osage" was dispatched at once to the scene of the

CIVIL WAR.

523

late action, as she artillery.

was proof against

field

The " Lexington " was engaging another battery near by, and had been struck fifteen times in the hull during the day, with only one man killed. She was too large to go up the river to the enemy's batteries, so taking one or two officers from her. including a surgeon and some firemen, the "Cricket" proceeded under her convoy to Alexandria to bury the dead and care for the wounded. The Confederates, it was thought, would have batteries all along the river, and the "Cricket,'" with so few men and only one gun not disabled, was in no condition for service.

The "Osage," in her anxiety to reach the Confederate battery, had run ashore four miles below it, when the " Fort Hindman" and the "Juliet" appeared, coming down the river, having left the two Champions sunk. Had the iron-clad arrived in time she would have been of great service, but as it was, the passage from Grand Ecore down could not be called a success. The Admiral left behind him one iron-clad and two pump-boats but had the satisfaction of knowing that none of the transports had been left in the lurch, although ample excuse had been afforded to do so. Throughout the expedition there had been no instance where the Navy held back when called upon to support the Army and its transports, and, remarkable as it may appear, not a transport was lost, nor any of their stores, during an expedition of 300 miles up the river and return, although it required the most strenuous exertions of the Navy to keep them in place and prevent their masters, some of them Confederate sympathizers, from placing their vessels where they would fall into the hands of the enemy. The Admiral certainly was under no obligations to the Army for his escape down the river, where, after the retreat of the latter, every man and gun the Confederates could utilize were brought to the banks to try and capture a poor little squadron of " tinclads " with the commander-in-chief of the naval forces on board. Had Banks been surrounded by a superior ;

force,

and

theNavy would never have run away him but would have expended

left

;

every vessel,

if

necessary, rather than have

a reverse

befall him. It never seemed to strike

any one in the of the slightest consequence beyond the service it could perform for them. The loss of the "Eastport" was considered of no more importance than the loss of some quartermaster's transport, which were frequently run

Army

that the

Navy was

aground and with

full

deserted during the war, cargoes on board accidents which ;

laji,

oa*

i\/iy/ij^

never happened when they had the little " tin-clad " gun-boats of the Navy vessels as vulnerable as themselves, but much better commanded to convoy them. "When the flag-ship arrived at Alexandria, the squadron of naval vessels, fourteen in number, was found above the " Falls," with the rocks below them for a mile quite bare, with the exception of a channel twenty feet wide and about three feet deep. Taking

—

—

the chances,

the

pilot

managed

to

get

channel with the " Cricket," after considerable thumping, and passed

through

this

the "Falls."

Except from that warm-hearted soldier, J. Smith, the Navy received few congrat-

A.

ulations for their successful escape down the river. With this officer the Admiral conferred seriously in relation to the condition of affairs. Smith was very bitter against Banks for retreating in the manner he did, and again broached the idea that Franklin should take command of the Army. The A dmiral did all he could to pacify the General, and recommended perfect subordination, telling him that nothing would please General Banks better than to place him under arrest, notwithstanding all the services he had rendered. General Smith could not bear to rest under the stigma of defeat, although everybody knew that he and his brave division had never been beaten at any time during the expedition.

General Banks had moved into comfortable headquarters, and the several corps had encamped near the town.

army Gen-

m^i UK. y eral

McClernand had taken command of the and was posted on a road lead-

13th corps,

ing to Fort De Kussy, three miles outside of Alexandria, to keep the Confederates from passing down that way. The Army was in a state of general dissatisfaction from various causes. General A. J. Smith, from not being allowed to follow the Confederates to Shreveport; Franklin and Emory were disgusted at the way the expedition had been mismanaged; while Banks, though somewhat subdued, tried to preserve his equanimity. General Smith, when allowed, with his command, by General Sherman, to take part in this expedition, was ordered to return to the latter in thirty days, at the expiration of which time Banks promised to be in Shreveport; but, when the time had elapsed. Banks protested against Smith's leaving, on the ground that the safety of the Army depended on his remaining, as the Army could not move until the naval vessels had passed the " Falls " at Alexandria. The squadron was now in a very bad position above the " Falls," as there seemed little chance of getting down until the river should rise some fourteen feet, and the safety of the vessels depended very much on the Army continuing at Alexandria. The latter was now in a country with good roads, and with the topography of which they were familiar, and could make their way back to the Mississippi without danger from the Confederates, who had only 12,000 men available in that region, although expecting reinforcements.

CHAPTER

XLII

RED RIVER EXPEDITION.— Continued. Building of the Famous Red River Dam at the Falls.— Difficulties Overcome BY Colonel Bailey. Communications between General Banks and Admiral Porter.— General McClernand Attacked by the Confederates. The "Ragged Guerillas" are unexpectedly Provided with New Outfits.— Cotton Steamers Attacked and Disabled. Admiral Porter's Report on the Building of the Dam.— The Fleet Passes the Falls.— Names of Officers and Regiments Engaged in Building the Dam. Burning of Alexandria. The End of the Red River Expedition. Cause of Failure. Correspondence BeResults. tween Generals Sherman, Banks, Halleck, Grant and others. Dispatches AND Orders.—Review of the Operations of the Navy.— General Banks' Story OF THE Expedition.— Letter of General Kilby Smith.—Extract from Reports BY Captain Burns, Acting Assistant Adjutant -General. The Confederate View of the Situation. Extract from General Banks' Report. Recapitu-

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

-

—

lation.

FRANKLIN had menGENERAL tioned Admiral Porter Grand to

at

Ecore, on his stating that the naval vessels could not pass the "Falls" at the then stage of water, that Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey had suggested a plan of raising the water above the Falls by building wing-dams. Colonel Bailey had had great experience in lumbering, and had frequently resorted to this method to

timber in shallow rivers. The Admiral paid little attention to this suggestion at the time, and expressed his doubts of the practicability of getting large vessels down in that way. When he met General Franklin again in Alexandria, he recurred to this proposal of Bailey's, and Franklin was so satisfied with the feasibility of the scheme that the Admiral asked him to send Colonel Bailey to him at once, and the latter soon appeared, in company with Colonel James Grant Wilson. The Admiral was so impressed, with Bailey's plans that he agreed with him that they ought to be tried, and he was surprised in reading General Franklin's evidence before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, where he states as follows: " When we returned to Grand Ecore, I sent Colonel raft

Bailey to Admiral Porter, so that he might present

his plan to the Admiral but it with derision as a foolish thing. ;

was looked upon

I was, however, convinced that Colonel Bailey knew his business very well, and sent him to Admiral Porter again and, after he got down to Alexandria, I sent him two or three times. Finally, I sent him to General Banks, to try and impress upon the General the necessity for giving the orders for details of men to build the dam. " General Hunter was there at the time, and he told General Banks that he thought, as I had recommended the thing, he ought to try it and it was tried. I have the report of Colonel Bailey to my ;

adjutant-general, which gives have stated them here."

all

these facts, as I

General Franklin's memory was certainly treacherous here, for the statement above quoted is incorrect in several particulars. The Admiral was only too glad to grasp at any plan likely to extricate his vessels from their unfortunate predicament and this will appear by Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey's ;

report.

There was no objection on the part of the Admiral to anything, but he had no power to build a dam which would require half the army to perform the work. General Banks was the man to be consulted, for on him depended the execution of the work. No doubt, Franklin and Bailey worked assiduously to get every one to think favorably of the plan of damming the river, and

THE NAVAL HISTORY

526

the Admiral went in person to General Banks, as soon as he could leave a sick-bed, and urged him to try Bailey's plan. Not much time was lost in consultation, for the order to build the dam was given by General Banks immediately, and the work commenced on the 30th of April. The Admiral arrived in Alexandria on the evening of the 27th, and conferred with Colonel Bailey and General Banks on the morning of the 28th, when the order was issued.

Where

indisposition to adopt Bailey's plan appears, we are at a loss to imagine. In fact, we are not aware that all

this

—

any one opposed the dam if any did, were persons whose opinion had no influence. The Army engineers may have doubted the practicability of the scheme, never having had experience in they

that kind of engineering

may have

Wait

;

or General

Banks

the Admiral arrives." But even those who doubted the feasibility of the plan were in favor of trying it, especially as it had been recommended by General Franklin, an engineer said,

"'

till

officer. It seems to

us that so much effort to that there was a great opposition to Bailey's plan, demonstrates a desire to enhance the value of the recommendations of those who first favored the idea. General Banks, from whom alone authority could come for the employment of troops to build the dam, entered into the scheme with alacrity and pushed the work from beginning .to end. General Banks, in his testimony before the committee, said "But Admiral Porter did not seem to think much of the plan, as

show

:

he expressed

would get the

it

in his

way — if damning

he would have been but Banks could not

fleet off,

afloat long before" understand a joke.

—

Colonel Bailey, in his report, says: "Admiral Porter furnished a detail from his

under command of an excelCaptain Langthorne, of the "Mound City." All his officers and men were constantly present, and to their extraordinary exertions, and to the well-known energy and ability of the A dmiral, much of the success of the undertaking was due." A great mass of testimony was taken by the "Committee on the Conduct of the War" in relation to the building of the dam, and an attempt was made to cast odium upon the Navy in order to divert attention from the real subject at issue Banks' retreat but the attempt was a failure. Every man in the fleet was engaged in the operations connected with the construction of the dam, conveying stone in boats to weight the big cob-frames forming the dam, moving the frames into position tedious and dangerous duty and floating ships' crews lent ofiicer.

.

—

—

—

—

the logs which were cut and hauled Many soldiers to the river banks. boats had to be kept lying on their oars

down

by the

_

day and night ready with hawsers, and at least three thousand soldiers were constantly working up to their necks in water. While this was going on, all the forges in the fleet were employed in making long iron Getting bolts to bind the dam together. the iron off the sides of the vessels to lighten them a most harassing and diflftcult job employed many men. In addition, all the heaviest guns had to be taken on shore. Thus, while the dam was under construc-

—

worked night and day; and every four hours a report of progress was made to the Admiral But General Banks, in his evidence before the Committee, saj's, when the right wing of the dam broke away, " I immediately rode up to the fleet to see if they were prepared to move by daylight in the morning. It was a couple of miles above the dam. When I got there, there was not a light to be seen, not a man was stirring, not a ship had been lightened" [I]. (Army gun-wheels had already taken the guns to the levee in Alexandria, and army tion, the sailors

wagons had removed all stores and ammunition, and the iron-clads had thrown their iron plating into deep water up river). " I could not arouse anybody there. I went down to my headquarters, and wrote a letter to Admiral Porter" [No such letter was ever received, if it was written], "stating my belief that it was not possible for the dam to stand, and, if it was carried away, it did not seem as if we could replace it " [How did the General expect the vessels to get through, unless part of the dam was removed ?]; " that I had been up to see his fleet, and found every one asleep, and I feared they would not be ready to

move by morning. This letter was delivered to him (the Admiral) by Colonel Wil1 o'clock (a. m.) that night. AdmiPorter said he would attend to it," etc., etc. Further along. General Banks says "I went to the dam next morning, at 7 o'clock, just in time to see the dam swept away. The gun-boats were just then mov-

son, at ral

ing, and it would have taken them all day to move down. thought the game was up, but officers and men were ready to re-

We

commence

the work, and suggested other which had been talked of before." The fact is, what Colonel Bailey expected came to pass. The three large barges, loaded with cotton and iron, swung around and made an opening or gate in the dam fifty plans,

feet wide, just sufficient for the passage of the vessels. The barges swung against the rocks, and afliorded a good cushion for the vessels to strike on as they passed down. The opening did not diminish the depth of water above the dam, and the three vessels

OF THE that

had found water enough

CIVIL WAR.

to pass the

upper "Falls" had gone through the gap in the dam, under full head of steam, almost The other vessels directly after it opened. had not water enough to pass the upper " Falls," and had to wait until it was furnished them. The Admiral was on the spot before General Banks was, and had given the necessary directions for the vessels to pass

Having critically examined the through. "Falls," he saw that the break in the dam was rather an advantage than a mishap. Colonel Bailey was not at all dismayed, but coolly went to work building wing-dams above the upper Falls, which he intended to do anyway, so that all the vessels passed down in safety. While the wing-dams were in process of construction, everything that could be taken from the vessels to lighten them, and had not previously been removed, was hauled around the Falls by army teams, and not a moment was lost that could be avoided. But General Banks, when he saw the break in the dam, thought, to use his own expression "the game was up" and commenced writing the Admiral letters, informing him of what the latter had rather anticipated, viz.: that Banks would have to leave him, etc., etc. However, as General A. J. Smith had promised to stand by the Navy to the last, the Admiral did not care much whether Banks went or stayed, so long as he could retain Bailey and A. J. Smith. He had no apprehension of not getting through; for, with Smith's division and the gun-boats, the Navy could have held this position against all the Confederate forces at that time on Red River. The Admiral got very tired of General Banks' letters. He at first tried to soothe him, but at length sent him the following communication, which put an end to the correspondence:

—

—

)R0N, Mississippi Squadron, Flag-ship "Cricket,' CET,"

I

\

Off Alexandria, May 11th, 1, 1864. Major-General iV. P. Banks, Commanding Depart)

ment of the

Ghilf,

Alexandria, La.

General— Colonel Wilson

called to see

me

this

morning, and seemed to think tlie Navy were relaxing their exertions above. There is really nothing that can be done to the "Carondelet" until the water rises. The channel in which she lies is a cut channel in the shape of an S, and when the bottom of a vessel is wedged in it there is no use in attempting to haul her through; only water can help us, and we want but one foot of that to get every vessel through. It would be paying a very poor compliment to Colonel Bailey to suppose him incapable of supplying the desired quantity in one or two days. I am as anxious as yourself to see the vessels all through, and, though I have every confidence in the zeal and ability of the ofHcers in command, I would give all my personal attention up there, but am laid up with a complaint that perfectly prostrates me when I ride on horsebacK or move about;

still, I

know

527 every hour what

is

going on, and give

directions accordingly.

Don't suppose because the vessels seem quiet that nothing is being done; everything is being done that can be. I hope you will look this matter patiently in the face. I am sure that Colonel Bailey will have every vessel through in two days; and, though you are pressed for forage, two days will really amount to nothing, and any loss we might sustain in horses up to that time would be nothing in comparison to the loss of one of those vessels. If we have met with reverses above, the rescue of this fleet from its peculiar position will redeem the past. You must have seen the tendency of the Northern press to cavil at our movement out here, and they cannot help but admit, if we succeed, that amidst our trouVjles the best piece of engineering ever performed in the same space of time has been accomplished under difficulties the rebels deemed insurmountable. Now, f-reneral, I really see nothing that should make us despond; you have a fine army, and I shall have a strong fleet of gunboats to drive away an inferior force in our front. can, by making a united effort, open the river when we please. I feel that the country is so abundant with grass and clover just now, that there can be no real danger to the stock. I feel that you are extremely anxious to move, so am I to get the boats down, and I am sure you will agree [with] me when I say that there would be

We

tremendous excitement throughout the country if the vessels are not all brought over, which will certainly be done with eight inches more of water, which there will be no difficulty in getting. The water is rising in the river below the backwater from the Mississippi, which extends now to this place, the water rising here. I hope, sir, you will not let anything divert you from the attempt to get these vessels all through safely, even if we have to stay here and eat mules' meat. There are some here who would not care if gun-boats, horses, and everything are left behind, as long as they could get away; but, as they have none of the responsibilities resting on your shoulders and on mine, I hope they may not meet with

any attention.

we are doing a splendid thing, and I see it carried through without an accident to a single vessel. Please excuse my long dispatch. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, I feel

that

want to

David

D. Porter, Rear-A dmiral.

General Banks had become considerably demoralized on account of the Confederates having gained a position on Red River, at Dunn's Bayou, thirty miles below Alexandria, and he believed the report that they were preparing to hold this strong position with ten to fifteen thousand men. The position was really strong only against light-armed vessels, but was easily turned and the proof of this is that the enemy evacuated the place as soon as the large gun-boats passed the "' Falls." It was, indeed, a great blunder to allow ;

the enemy to get between the army and the Mississippi but for this Banks was not to blame. He had assigned General McClernand, with the whole of his army corps, to guard the main road three miles in the rear of Alexandria, with the understanding that no enemy was to be allowed to pass, under any circumstances but General McClernand had joined the Army un;

;

THE NA VAL HISTORY

528

der a cloud, was in a very unamiable mood, and did not seem to care whether the Army and Navy got out of their difficulties or not. The enemy, on the 28th of April, attacked McClernand's position with 6,000 men, taking him completely by surprise, and creating a temporary panic in his camp. During the confusion they set fire to the forage and clothing, and passed down the road with some twenty pieces of artillery, hidden by the smoke, which was their object in making the attack. At this time the Admiral was at General A. J. Smith's camp, about two miles from Smith immediately that of McClernand. ordered his men under arms, and they rode together to the scene of action, where everythmg seemed in dire confusion. Smith posted his men to the best advantage in advance of the 13th corps; and they remained under arms until daylight next morning, without hearing any more from the Con-

who had accomplished all they wanted, viz. to pass below Alexandria to Dunn's Bayou, and fortify that position strongly with field artillery. General McClernand, not satisfied with the havoc committed by the enemy, ordered his men to set fire to a quantity of sutlers' goods and forage, which latter was exand it would all have tremely scarce been destroyed if General A. J. Smith had not taken charge and extinguished the

federates,

:

;

fire.

Smith's soldiers were not in as good trim as many others, and the title "ragged which guerillas " given them by Banks soubriquet pleased them so much that they adopted it might, to the casual observer, seem appropriate. After putting out the fire,

—

—

however, they marched back to camp completely dressed in new uniforms, leaving their old ones to McClernand's chief quartermaster, so as to make his accounts all square. When McClernand insisted on A. J. Smith's giving up the clothing, that old veteran, who, from long association with the Navy, was familiar with the prize laws, declined to do so, as his naen had recaptured them from the enemy, and held them according to the laws of war so General McClernand never recovered an article that "the ragged guerillas " had appro;

priated.

McClernand allowed his pickets to be in, and was unprepared to prevent the enemy from turning his position. He seems to have made no use of his cavalry driven

to acquaint him with the enemy's advance. In short, McClernand was inert, and, do

what you might with him, you could not

make a

We

military man.

General Banks the justice to say that he did all that a man could do to will do

extricate the gun-boats from their difficuland, although he differed with the Ad-

ties,

miral on some matters, there was none in Other things occurred about this respect. Cotton this time to disturb General Banks.

had been hauled into Alexandria by army teams, to the amount of some 20,000 bales, and it was desirable that a portion of it at Whether least should reach New Orleans. this was on account of the U. S. Government, or was the property of speculators, does not appear.

A

large

steamer, the

"Warner," was

with cotton at Alexandria and dispatched with 400 soldiers on board to New The Admiral was asked for a Orleans. filled

convoy and sent the two best gun-boats he could spare that were below the "Falls," the " Signal " and " Covington."

On the 4th of May all down

the river, with

three vessels started

little

thought of much

While passing a plantation, the " Warner " was fired into by a company of infantry, and one man on board of her was killed. Being well protected by cotton bales, infantry fire was not much dreaded. The fire of the "Covington" soon drove but this was only an off the Confederates earnest of what was to follow. Next morning, on arriving at Dunn's Bayou, the " Warner" in advance, and the two "tin-clad" gun-boats bringing up the rear, the former vessel was attacked by a battery, supported by a large force of infanThe "Warner's" rudder became distry. abled, causing her to run into the bank, when another battery and some six thousand inopposition.

;

fantry opened on the vessel, completely rid" dling her. The " Signal " and " Covington opened their batteries; but the enemy were in too strong force to contend against, and the three vessels were soon cut to pieces with a terrible cross-fire of artillery and infantry. Acting-Volunteer Lieutenant G. P. Lord, the officer in command, tried to burn the "Warner" to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy but, when informed by the colonel commanding the soldiers that there were 125 killed and wounded on the decks. Lord gave up the idea; and his own vessel, the "Covington," being entirely disabled, he shortly afterwards removed the dead and wounded to shore under a heavy fire, destroj'ed the ship by setting fire to her, and, with the remnant of his gallant crew, escaped to the woods on the side opposite the enemy. Out of 14 officers and G3 men. Lieutenant Lord could only assemble 9 officers and 23 men, some of whom were killed in trying to escape up the bank. The " Signal" being too much disabled to reach the bank, in order to get the wounded ashore, the commanding officer was obliged to surrender. The "Warner" was sacked ;

OF THE

CIVIL WAR,

and burned by the enemy, and the " Signal," after her guns and amnaunition had been removed, was sunk across the channel to obstruct

it.

men in these vessels, only musket-proof, defended them four or five hours, and many of the actions heralded to the world during the late war were much less worthy of notice than this contest between two little gun-boats and twenty The brave

which had been captured from Banks' arnny above Pleasant The attacking party of Confederates Hill. was the one that had pushed past Gen-

pieces of artillery,

most

of

McClernand's corps with artillery, to mount it at Dunn's Bayou, on the river. They succeeded perfectly and, selecting three commanding points, they were ready for any transports or light gun-boats that might come along. These light-draft gunboats, belt remembered, were only the small stern-wheel steamboats of the Mississippi, their sides built up with light plank and covered with quarter-inch iron. No attempt to follow the Confederates was made when they pushed on past McClernand's corps, although a child might have known where they were bound but every preparation was made to repel an attack on Alexandria, which the Confederates had not the slightest idea of making. They were not foolish enough to attack 36,000 men, advantageously posted and supplied with a large quantity of artillery, when they had afar inferior force. General Banks should have seized and fortified the important points along the river, which, with the assistance of even the light-draft vessels of the Navy, could have been held eral

;

;

against

all

the force the

enemy had

in that

region.

—

personal intercourse a state of affairs which was not conducive to the perfect understanding which should subsist between the Army and Navy in a co-operative expedition. This want of harmony was not the Admiral's fault. He lay five days sick and unable to leave his bed, during which time Banks went to see him but once, and then in company with General David Hunter. His errand was to ascertain " which of little

your vessels can you best afford to de-

—for

I

must march

—

if

there

is

any

chance that any of them will delay us

?

The Admiral was in pain and not in the best of humor, and replied: "I will destroy none of them, and if you choose to march you may do so, for General A. J. Smith has promised to stand by me until we are over the 'Falls,' after which I will take care of Smith." No more was heard of General Banks' marching for another day or two. But

dam. This had, in parlance, "carried awav." but in

to return to the

common

reality had made a natural and safe opening for the passage of the fleet. Not to make the narrative too tedious, we here insert Admiral Porter's report of the building of the dam, etc., and it will show the credit given to every one engaged. are sure a comparison of this report with the published evidence of General Banks will convince any one of the Admiral's impartiality:

We

passage of the falls by thb fleet.— report of rear-admiral david d. porter. Flag-Ship "Black Hawk,"

Squadron

Mississippi

Mouth of Red River, May

16,

a

1864

have the honor to inform you that the vessels lately caught by low water above the Falls at Alexandria have been released from their unpleasant position. The water had fallen so low that I had no hope or expectation of getting the vessels out this season, and as the army had made arrangements to evacuate the country, I saw nothing before lue but the destruction of the best part of the Sir

:

I

Mississippi squadron. There seems to have been an especial Providence looking out for us in providing a man equal to the emergency. Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey, acting engineer of the 19th army corps, proposed a plan of building a series of dams across the rocks at the Falls, and raising the water high enough to let the vessels pass over. This proposition looked like madness, and the best engineers ridiculed it but Colonel Bailey was so sanguine of success that I requested General Banks to have it done, and he entered heartily into the work. Provisions were short and forage was almost out, and the dam was promised to be finished in ten days, or the army would have to leave us. I was doubtful about the time, but had no doubt about the ultimate success, if time would only permit. General Banks placed at the disposal of Colonel Bailey all the force he required, consisting of some three thousand men and two or three ;

AH the neighboring steam-mills were torn down for material, two or three regiments of Maine men were set to work felling trees, and on the second day after my arrival in Alexandria from Grand Ecore the work had fairly begun. Trees were falling with great rapidity teams were movhundred wagons.

;

The two commanders - in - chief had but

stroy

529

ing in all directions, bringing in brick and stone quarries were opened flatboats were built to bring stone down from above and every man seemed to be working with a vigor I have seldom seen equalled, while perhaps not one in fifty believed in the success of the undertaking. These Falls are about a mOe in length, filled with rugged rocks, over which, at the present stage of water, it seemed to be impossible to make a chan;

;

nel.

The work was commenced by running out from the left bank of the river a tree dam, made of the bodies of very large trees, brush, brick, and stone, cross-tied with other heavy timber, and strengthened in every way which ingenuity could devise. This was run out about three hundred feet into the river; four large coal barges were then filled with brick and sunk at the end of it. From the right bank of the river cribs filled with stone were built out to meet the barges. All of which was successfully accomplished, notwithstanding there was a current running of nine miles an hour, which threatened to sweep everything before it. It will take too umch time to enter into the details of this truly wonderful work. Suffice it to say, that the dam had nearly reached completion in eight days' working time, and the water had risen sufficiently on the upper Falls to allow the "Fort Hindman,'' "Osage," and "Neosho "to get down n.nd Via rpn.Hv t,n nn«H +.Via rlom Tr» oti«+t^«« a^„ h.

to-

-a!

Q Q ^^ PL.

OS

w X £->

C3

Z GO CO rnin,Ti and John ;

;

;

;

:

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

Moore Acting-Second-Assistant, Gr. N. Heizel Acting-Third^Assistants, W. T. Baxter and J. F. Liddell; Acting-Gunner, J. F. Riblet Acting-Carpenter, James Rouse. S.

ing-Master's Mates, J. M. Tucker, C. H. Stout and C. W. Spooner; Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, T. N. Hall; Acting-Second-Assistant, Charles Mc-

;

:

;

Millan.

IBON-CLAD STEAMEE "LAFAYETTE."

STEAMER "TATLOE." Lieutenant-Commander, James M. Prichett; Act-

Lieutenant-Commander, James P. Foster; Acting-

ing-Assistant Surgeon, Wm. P. Baird; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Geo. H. Holt; Acting-Ensigns, G. L. Smith, Charles Ackley, John Hill and J. W. Lalor; Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. C. Michael, G. H. Williamson and H. S. Allen; Engineers Acting-Chief, James Fleming; Acting-First-Assistant, Acting-Second - Assistants, Wm. J. R. Ramsey; Finch and Philip Sheridan Acting-Third- Assistant, E. M. Bumpas; Acting-Carpenter, J. M. Pea-

Volunteer -Lieutenant, Edward Morgan; ActingAssistant Surgeon, D. H. Hayden; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. P. Kelly Acting-Ensigns, J. L. Bryant, F. G. Sampson and J. L. Moran; ActingMaster's Mates, Paul Morgan, W. P. Higbee, S. O. LoveU, S. R. Winram and C. H. Slocum; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Robert Tate; Acting-First-Assistant, James WUkins Acting-Second- Assistant, J. W. Paull; Acting-Third-Assistants, E. B. Hill and Max Pratt; Acting-Gunner, George Price; Acting-Car;

:

;

penter, J.

W.

5i9

;

body.

Lister.

lEON-CLAD STEAMEE "MOUND CITY." Lieutenant-Commander, Byron Wilson; Acting-

lEON-OLAD STEAMEE "BENTON."

Lieutenant-Commander, James A. Greer; Assistant Surgeon, N. L. Bates; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. G. Lowndes Acting-Masters, E. C. Breman, J. F. Reed' and N. B. Willetts- Acting-Ensigns, Wm. J. Lees, H. S. O'Grady and P. H. Randolph; Acting-Master's Mates, Win. Kisner and Hiram Simon ton; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Job V. Starr; Acting-First-Assistant, H. W. Fairfoul; Acting-Second-Assistants, Oliver Bray and A. A. Jenks; Acting-Third-Assistant, Benj. Farmer; Acting-Car;

penter, Richard Rock ford. lEON-CIiAD STEAMEE " IiOTJISVILIiB."

Assistant Surgeon, Thomas Rice; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, B. J. Donahoe; Acting Master, F. T. Coleman; Acting- Ensigns, S. B. Coleman, D. Stebhins and W. H. Decker; Acting-Master's Mate, R. T. Lamport; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Edw. Merriman; Acting-First-AssistanI, E. R. Clemens; ActingSecond-Assistant, J. M. Hartnett; Acting-ThirdAssistants, G. L. Baker and Richard Carter; Acting-Gunner, T. H. Green; Acting-Carpenter, Jerome Burns. lEON-CLAD STEAMER "LEXINGTON." Acting- AsLieutenant, George M. Bache Acting - Assistsistant Surgeon, H. M. Mixer Acting-Ensigns, tant Paymaster, T. C. Doane Henry Booby, J. G. Migler and C. C. Briggs; Acting-Master's Mates, Daniel Winget, Howard Hale and Ezra McDunn; Engineers: Acting-Chief, W. H. Meredith; Acting-First- Assistant, A. L. Mann; Aoting-Second-Assistant, Reuben Story; Acting-ThirdAssistants, Jacob Vittinger and Wm. T Neal; Acting-Gunner, Louis Frederick Acting-Carpenter, Richard Carroll. STEAMEE " POEEST EOSE." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Charles A.Wright; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, R. Cadwallader; ActingAssistant Paymaster, C. M. Dunham; Acting -Ensigns, S. E. Brown, Conrad Erickson and H. B. Graves; Acting-Master's Mates, Ira Athearn, Chas. ;

Lieutenant Commander, Elias K. Owen; ActingAssistant Surgeon, Fayette Clapp; Acting-Assisttant Paymaster, D. L. Ruth; Acting-Ensigns, H. A. Coffenberry, Chas. Nelson, Henry Harkins, G. V. Mead, R. H. Longlands, Frank Bates and J. T. Blackford; Acting-Master's Mates, J. J. Drew. Chas.

;

;

and C. S. Soanlan; Engineers: ActingB. Fulton; Acting-First-Assistant, J. J. Hardy; Acting-Second-Assistant, C. W. Reynolds; Acting-Third- Assistant, C. F. D^elman; ActingGunner, Wilham Shields; Acting-Carpenter, D. H. Curry. IBON-CLAD STEAMEE " TUSCUMBIA. Lieutenant-Commander, James W. Shirk; Assistant Paymaster, Geo. A. Lyon Acting - Ensigns, Lewis Kenney and E. M. Clark; Engineers: ActingChief, J. W. Hartuper; Acting - First - Assistant, Perry South; Acting-Second-Assistant, W. J. Mil-

Smith,

Jr.,

Chief, J.

;

ligan.

lEON-CLAD STEAMEE " CHOCTAW." Lieutenant-Commander, F. M. Ramsey ActingAssistant Paymaster, Wm. N. Whitehouse; ActingMaster, W. A. Griswold; Acting-Ensigns, Ezra Beaman, W. C. Bennett, A. S. Palmer and L. R. Hamersly; Acting-Master's Mates, T. Hopkins and Henry Marsh; Engineers Acting-Chief, N. P. Baldwin; Acting-First-Assistant, C. E. Arbuthnot; Acting-Second-Assistant; Joseph Blake; Acting ThirdAssistants, S. O. Babbitt and E. H. Austin; ActingGunner, Reuben Applegate; Acting-Carpenter, John ;

:

A. Stewart.

lEON-CLAD STEAMEE " OONESTOOA." Lieutenant Commander, Thomas O. Selfridge Acting- Assistant Surgeon, S. L. Adams; ActingAssistant Paymaster, E. D. Ilsley; Acting-Master, Gilbert Morton; Acting-Ensigns, Thomas Devine, ActS. J. Dwight, J. C. Peterson and Wm. Neil ing-Master's Mate, Alanson Hamilton Engineers -

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Acting-First- AssistActing-Chief, Thomas Cook ant, Alex. Magee; Acting-Second-Assistant, Chas. Fistadt; Acting-Third-Assistants, James O'Neil and ;

Andrew Lusk; Acting-Carpenter, John

J.

Hays.

;

Smith and C. W. Crocker; Engineers: First-Assistant, Francis Marsh Acting-Second- Assistant, E. H. Goble; Acting- Third-Assistant, Silas Haskey. ;

STEAMEE "POKT HINDMAN." Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, John Pearce; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, A. B. Adams; Acting-Ensigns, F. A. Oliver, Charles Marsden and F. H. Wait; Acting-Master's Mates, B. G. Van Dyke, S. N. Barker, C. F. A. McCord and H. Shoemaker; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant Thomas Girty; Aoting-Second-Assistant, D. B. Cox; Acting- Third;

and Reuben Yocum. STEAMEE "HASTINGS." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, A. R. Langthorne; Acting-AsActing-Assistant Surgeon, J. M. Flint Acting-Master, J. sistant Paymaster, P. J. Stone W. Morehead; Acting-Ensigns, W. C. Turner and C. H. Reed; Acting-Master's Mates, E. C. Urner, Frank Seymour and P. M. Clark; Engineers ActAssistants, Eli Powell

;

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ing-First-Assistant, John H. Scott; Acting-SecondAssistants, Edwin Senior and Samuel Weaver; Acting-Third-Assistants, A. M. Wasson and Geo. W.

Amsden. STEAMEE "BRILLIANT." Acting -Volunteer- Lieutenant, Charles G. PerActing- Assistant Surgeon, Milton James; kins ActActing- Assistant Paymaster, Horace Talcott ing-Ensigns, G. D. Little, J. J. Perkins and Richard Herron McAlUster Acting- Master's Mates, T. G. and J. H. Neely; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, ;

STEAMEE "moose." Lieutenant-Commander, LeRoy Fitch; Acting-AsPaymaster, J. W. Clarke Acting-Ensigns, Edwaid Morean. John Revall and J. H. Rice Actsistant

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THE NAVAL HISTORY

550

Wm.

A. Willey; Acting-Second-Assistants, and James Cutter. STEAMBB "ST. OLAIB."

Ecofl;

Samuel

:

Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant, T. B. Gregory; H. P. Browne; ActingActGr. W. Garrison ing-Master'sMates, E. C. WiUiams, J. H. Hurd and H. O. Proctor Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, Wm. McLean; Acting-Seoond-Assistant, Edward Lozier; Acting-Third-Assistant, P. A. Morse.

Ac ting- Assistant Paymaster, Ensigns, Warren Burch and ;

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:

STEAMER "SILVER CLOUD," Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, A. F. O'Neill; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, O. B. Damon; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. H. Hathorne; Acting- Ensigns, Robert Wilkinson and J. M. Reid; Acting-Master's Mates, Frank Middleton, R. S. Crltchell and J. M. Darrah; Engineers Actlng-Pirst-Assistant, B. F. Clark Acting-Second-Assistant, W. A. Collins; Aoting-Third-Assistant, James Polger. STEAMER " COVINGTON." Acting -Volunteer - Lieutenant, George P. Lord; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, EmlleGavarret; ActingAssistant Paymaster, John T. Lee; Acting-Ensigns, Edw. Alford and John Powell Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. English, C. W. Gross, J. W. Richards and Ignatius Dunn- Engineers Acting-First- As sistant, J. A. Burns; Acting-Second Assistant, W. R. Hoder; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. T. English and Southwell Lyons. :

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:

STEAMER "QUEEN CITY.' Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, George W. Brown; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Louis Westfall; Acting Assistant Paymaster, C. S. Sims; Acting - Master, Michael Hickey; Acting-Ensigns, H. E. Alexander, F. M. Hathaway Acting-Master's Mates, Geo. VV. Hall, W. P. Eakly and E. W. Johnson; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistants, Irwin Fox and Wm. Downey; Acting-Second-Assistant, G. W. Shellenberger; Acting- Third-Assistant, Geo. S. Read.

James Roberts and

;

STEAMER "TAWAH." Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Jason Goudy; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, H. S. Nicholson; ActingAssistant Paymaster, D. W. Hale Acting-Master, M. V. B. Haines; Acting-Ensigns, J. B. WilUams and Joseph Sawyer; Acting-Master's Mates, I. P. Neave and John W. Adams; Engineers Acting-Flrst-Asisistant, J. H. Linn; Acting Second-Assistant, T. J. Beed Acting-Third-Assistants, John Henry and Walter Mossington. STEAMER "KET WEST." Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, E. M. King; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, R. W. Gifford; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. B. Crosby, Jr. Acting-Master, M. J. Cronin; Acting -Ensigns, John H. Welsh ft-nd N. A. Closson; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. Hammett, Jr., Menzies Dickson and John Wlnram; Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, R. J. Stone; Acting-Second-Assistants, G. W. Dean and G. L Mortimer; Acting-Third-Assistant, Michael Sodon. STEAMER "PEOSTA." Acting -Volunteer-Lieutenant, Thos. E. SmithActing- Assistant Surgeon, John Wise Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. C. Spalding; Acting-Ensigns Edw. Manser, C. H. Gulick and A. S. Hurlbut Actmg-Master's Mates, R. T. Nelson and Geo. P.' Vance; Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, Geo. H Warner; Acting-Second -Assistant, S. W. EvansActing-Third-Assistants, D. E. Nugent and G. Makefield Gunner, J, A. McDonald; Acting-Carpenter, Wm. B. Reid. STEAMER REINDEER. Actlng-Volunteer-Iiieutenant, Henry A Glassford- Acthig-Assistant Surgeon, W. C. Foster- Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. W. Barry; Acting-En.signs, A. C. Sears and W. H. Hall Acting-Master's ;

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W

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Mates, N. F. Vaughan, T. M. Lewis and J. E. Wright; Engineers Acting-First -Assistant, A. H. Bagby; Acting-Third-Assistant, G. M. Hayman. STEAMER "GENERAL PRICE." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. F. Richardson; Acting Assistant Surgeon, Geo. Harvey; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. W. McLellan- Acting-Ensigns, G. W. Pratt, J. H. Seever and D. P. Bos-worth; Acting- Master's Mates, D. McKay and Peter Barclay; Engineers: Acting - First - Assistant, D. E. Weaver Acting Third-Assistants, W. H. Coulter, Alex. Campbell, J. B. Baldwin and R. A. Kyle. IRON-CLAD STEAMER " PITTSBURG. Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, W. R. Hoel Acting-Assistant Surgeon, F. M. Follett; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Gould- Acting-Master, Geo. AV. Rogers; Acting-Ensigns, C. N. Hall, Jas. Ovatt, Freeman Vincent and G. W. Garlick Acting-Master's Mates, H. N. Wells, John Scott and C. B. Jones Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, S. B. Goble Acting - Second - Assistants, E. R. Pavy, W. H. Mitchell and Julius Blliter; Acting-Gunner, P. C. Green; Acting-Carpenter, Charles Poplar. IRON-CLAD STEAMER " CHILLICOTHE." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. P. Couthouy Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. C. Osgood; ActingAssistant Paymaster, J. H. Hathaway- Acting-Master, W. T Power; Acting-Ensigns, W. Muir, J. C. HaU and H. A. Hannon Acting-Master's Mates, James Harrington and C. S. Wells Engineers: Acting-Chief, A. W. Hardy Acting-First-Assistant, Charles Trotter Acting-Seoond-Assistant, J. W. Hymen; Aoting-Third-Assistants, J. W. Terrell and Anthony Lane; Acting-Gunner, W. E. Keyes; Acting-Carpenter, J. H. Fink. STEAMER "general BRAGG." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Cyrenius Dominey Acting Assistant Surgeon, F. A. Castle; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Jenkins; Acting-Ensigns, Thomas Burns, T. J. McLaughlin and M. Huston Acting- Master's Mates, James Williams and P. M. Frost; Engineers Acting-Chief, J. Miller ActingFirst-Assistant, Jonah Slocum; Acting-Second-Assistant, L. Bouchard; Acting-Third-Assistant, Joseph Anderson Acting - Carpenter, J. W. Kennedy. IRON-CL.AD STEAMER "NEOSHO." Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Samuel Howard Acting-Assistant Surgeon, M. A. MiUer; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. H. Bvrn; Acting Ensigns, E. F. Brooks, Jas. Downs, E. P. Bragg and R. Howden; Acting- Master's Mates, H. J. Kiskadden, Alex. Sempleand H. B. Purdy; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Wm. Mills; Acting-First-Assistant, W. C. Sanford; Acting-Second-Assistant, J. L. Miles; Acting-ThirdAs.sistants, J. F. Humphrevs and M. C. Noland; Acting-Gunner, W. T. Devian Acting-Carpenter, J. O. Baker. STEAMER KATTLEB. Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, James Laning; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, ScoUay Parker; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Geo. P. Peck Acting-Master, D. W. Glenny; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. Ferguson and E. P. Nellis; Acti ng- Master s Mates, H. E. Church, M. C. Pickering and John Cronin; Engineers: Acting First-Assistant, James L. Smith; Acting-SecondAssistant, G. W. Shields; Acting-Third- Assistants, Robert Russell and James H. Hume. STEAMER " BXCHA NOB. Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. S. Hurd; ActingAssistant Surgeon, G. E. Francis; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. W. Gardner; Acting-Ensigns, C. L. Manly and Daniel Jones; Acting-Master s Mates, B. W. Brown, H. M. Scott and G. T. Miller; Engineers: Acting - First - Assistant, A. G. Perkins; ActingSecond- Assistant, C. C. Streepev; Acting-Third- Assistant, B. T. Graham. ;

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:

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;

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;

C

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;

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;

OF THE

CIVIL

551

Wm.

STEAMBK "BBOWN." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. A. French; Acting-Ensign, Jacob Shinn Acting-Master's Mates, Martin Kellj^ and H. A. Tlioburn; Engineers: Acting-Pirst-Assistant, Eensler Cutter; Acting-SecondAssistant, P. Johnson Acting-Third-Assistant, A. N. French. ;

N

WAR.

;

HOSPITAL STEAMER " EBD BOVEB." Acting -Volunteer- Lieutenant, Wm. R. "Wells; Acting-Assistant Surereons, Geo. H. Bixby, Wm. F. MoNutt and Wm. H. Willson; Acting-Master, Henry E. Bartlett; Acting-Ensigns, J. G. Waters, Charles King and Jos. Beauchamp Acting-Master's Mate, Acting- First- AssistC. B. Plattenburg; Engineers ants, W. J. Bufflngton and W. O. Logue; ActingSecond-Assistant, W. P. Holmes; Acting-Third- Assistants, J. A. Goodloe and G. W. Voice; ActingCarpenter, Harlow Kinney. STEAMEB "LINDEN." Acting-Master, T. M. Parrell; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J P. Field Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Arthur Sibley; Acting-Ensigns, R. H. Cameron, Cassilly Adams, Chas. Swendson and Joseph McDonald; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. C. Williams,

Cassidy; Engineers: Acting - First - Assistant, Cage; Acting-Second-Assistant, J. A. McCormack; Acting - Third- Assistant, James B. Byland.

Edmund

STEAMEB "SILVEE

LAKE.''

Acting-Assistant Acting-Master, Jos. C. Coyle Surgeon, J. H. Mills; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. D. Rand; Acting-Ensigns, G. W. Bone, F. G. JoV>son and H. H. Pierce; Acting Master's Mates, John Fisher and Samuel McKee; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, John Connolly; ActingSecondAssistant, Orrin Burroughs; Acting - Third - Assistant, J. C. Jones. ;

;

STEAMEB "CHAMPION."

:

;

P. Brown and W. C. Frost; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, Wm. C. Perry; Acting-Second- Assistant, Wm. M. Fletcher; ActingThird- Assistant, C. M. Milligan. R.

S. Ballester,

]SI.

STEAMEB

•

'

;

;

;

;

;

Jas.

Cunningham, John Gregg and David

Pullman; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, R. L. McLean Acting - Third - Assistant, Morris Van ;

Fossen.

STEAMEB "EAWN." Acting-Master, John R. Grove; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, A. 8. Apgar; Aoting-Enslgns, John Sullivan and M. A. Knox Acting-Master's Mates, Charles Murray, E. D. O'Bryan, J. A. Seaman and John Cowdon; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, Edw. C. Peck Acting-Second-Assistant, G. W. Gough; Acting-Third- Assistant, Michael O'Riley. ;

;

STEAMEB "PAW PAW." Acting-Master, A. F. Thompson; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Jos. Honnan, Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Alex. S. Mc Williams Acting-Ensigns, W. L. Const an tine, Pat. Donnelly and J. H. Rivers Acting-Master's Mates, John Pybus, W. A. Birchard and Juhen D. Coriell Engineers Acting-First- As distant, Ezekiel Reynolds; Acting-Second- Assistant, B. S. Bull; Acting-Third-Assistant, T. K. Hill. ;

;

:

;

STEAMEB "NATJMKEAG." Acting- Assistant Acting-Master, John Rogers Surgeon, E. LeRoy Draper Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. B. Mears Acting- Ensigns, Arthur O'Leary and Jos. Meyer; Acting - Master's Mates, ;

;

;

Assistant, John Johnston Acting -Second - Assistants, Geo. Waddle and C. A. Fisher; Acting- ThirdAssistant, J. J. Suor STEAMEB " ALEXANDKIA. ;

Acting - Master, D. P. Rosenmiller Engineers : Acting-First- Assist ant, H. C. Snibley; Acting- ThirdAssistant, J. S. Willcoxson. ;

STEAMER "GREAT WESTEBN." Acting-Master, Thomas Bates Acting- Assistant Surgeon, G. A. Warren; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Marshall; Acting- Ensigns, A. M. Rowland and P. R. Starr; Acting-Master's Mates, Richard ActingMitchell and L. M. Knapp; Engineers First- Assistant, Jos. Chief, C. H. Christopher Goodwin; Acting-Third-Assistant, Edward Lodge; ;

KENWOOD.

Acting-Master, John Swaney Acting-Assistant Surgeon, P. Treadwell Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. B. Witherell; Acting-Ensigns, J. C. Wells, O. R. Mott and J. L. Read; Acting-Master's Mates, N. H. Conklin, W. R. Moffatt, H. A. Vaughan and Claren Laird; Engineers: Acting First- Assistant, Thomas Sheffer Acting-Second- Assistant, T. J. Malbon; Acting-Third-Assistant, J. B. Holman. STEAMER " PAIB PLAY." Acting-Master, Geo. J. Groves; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. W. Howard Acting- Assistant PayTuaster, J. G. Sankey; Acting-Ensign, W. C. Coulson; Acting-Master's Mates, W. S. Scott and A. Diserens; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, R. A. Mattratha; Acting-Second-Assistant, G. S. Collins; Acting-Third- Assistants, Wm. Bell and C. W. Egster; Acting- Carpenter, Thomas Manning. STEAMEB " SPEINGFIELD. Acting Master, Joseph Watson Acting-Ensign, H. T. Keene; Acting-Master's Mates, S. H. Harbeson,

Acting-Master, Alfred Phelps, Jr.; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, A. L. Vail; Acting-Assistant i^aymaster, G. T- Bemis; Acting-Ensigns, Felix McCann, Mervin Allen and Anthony Hagerup; Acting-Master's Mate, Herman Alms; Engineers: Acting-First-

:

;

Acting-Gunner, Robert Sherman. STEAMEB "JUDGE TOBEENCE." Acting-Ensigns, Acting- Master, Jeremiah Irwin Wm. Sill; Acting-Master's Mates, Edw. Perkins and Edwin Boyce; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Peter Hart;

wig- Acting-First-Assistants, W. Y. Sedman and S. L. Walkenshaw; Acting- Second-Assistants, Livingston Cook and Jasper Holman. lEON-CLAD STEAMER " OAEONDELET." Acting- Master, James C. Gipson; Assistant-Surgeon, D. R. Bannon Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. G. Worden Acting-Ensigns, Oliver Donaldson, S. D. Jordan, E. W. Miller and T. A. Quinn; Acting-Master's Mates, L. W. Hastings and W. H. H. DeGroot; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Chas. H. Caven; ActingActing-First-Assistant, G. H. Atkinson Second- Assistants, M. Norton and W. B. Barton ; Acting-Third- Assistants, John McWhliams; ActingCarpenter, Geo. W. Kenney. ;

;

;

IRON-CLAD STEAMER "OSAGE." Acting-Master, Thomas AVright; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, P. P. Gilmartin; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. W. Dougherty; Acting-Ensigns, W. S. Pease, Geo. Dunn, J. L. Mickle and R. K. Hubbell; Acting-Master's Mates, M. J. Durney, J. C. AVinslow and B. C. Wheeler; Engineers: ActingChief, Thomas Doughty; Acting- First- Assistant, Geo. H. Hobbs; Acting-Second-Assistants, Wm. Galbreath and A. F. Fox.

STEAMEB "MABMOEA." Acting- Master, Thomas Gibfeon; Assistant-Surgeon, B. F. Pierce Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Acting-Ensigns, Elliott Callender C. R. Howard and D. D. Bond; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. Arnold and E. C. Nye; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, W. C. Armstrong; Acting-Second-Assistant, David Hawkeswortli; Acting-Third- Assistant, F. A. Cra;

;

mer.

STEAMER "ROMEO." Thomas Baldwin; Acting-Assist-

Acting-Master, ant Surgeon, D.

W.

Jones; Acting- Assistant Pay-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

552

Shaw; Acting-Master's Mates, Johnston and Geo. 8. Oox Engineers: Aoting-First-Assistant. J. N. McCurdy; Acting-Second- Assistants, Jos. Grippin and W. li.

J. B. Petty and R. B. J. E. Ernest, C. W.

Taylor; Acting-Third- Assistant, Wm. Teal. STEAMER "JULIET." Acting-Master, John S. Watson; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Geo. W. Winans; Acting Ensigns, W. L. Holcomb, Hugh Kuhl and D. T. Davids; ActingMaster's Mates, S. J. Phillips; Engineers: ActingFirst- Assistants, John Wybrant and Jos. Bolejack; Acting- Third-Assistant, James Van Zant. STBAMEE "PETKEI;." Acting- Master, Thomas McElroy; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. T. Skelding; Acting-Ensigns, M. E. Plannigan and 8. R. Holmes; Acting-Master's Mates, H. W. Bryan, J. W. Poster, L. C. Ball and J. G. Abbott; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistants, A. W. PhiUips and Edw. Roberts; Acting-SecondAssistants, J. T. Stone and Geo. Britton; ActingThird-Assistant, W. M. Mix. STEAMEB "OBICKET." Acting- Master, Henry H. Gorringe; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, H. A. Bodman; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. M. Chester; Acting-Ensigns, D. P. Slattery, W. H. Read and J. McLeane; Acting-Master's Mate, John Wilson; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, Benj. Hand; Acting Second- Assistants, David Chillas, 0. P. Parks and T. M. Jenks. STEAMEE "NEW EBA." Acting-Master, James Marshall; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Wm. B. Purdy; Acting-Ensigns, C. A. Schetky and W. B. Shillito; Acting- Master's Mates, P. H. Sullivan, W. F. Remer and E. A. Bangs; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, Israel Marsh; Acting-Second -Assistant, Richard Feugler; ActingThird-Assistant, A. W. Smith; Acting-Carpenter, B. Martin. STEAMEE " SIGNAL."

Acting-Ensigns, Wiu. P. Lee and Wm. F. Loan Acting-Assistant-Surgeon, N. Brewster; Acting-A.ssistant-Paymaster, E. D. Hayden; Acting-Master s Mates, R. P. Craft, E. D. Lovell and Andrew Donaldson; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, W. N. Harden Acting-Second-Assistants, J. G. Briggs and E. H. Kidd. STEAMEE " PKAIEIE BIED." Acting Ensigns, John W. Chambers and W. M. Ernst; Acting - Assistant - Paymaster, L. Barter; Acting-Master's Mates, J. B. Morton, J. K. Lull, Jr., and Wm. D. Bangs; Engineers: Acting-First-AssistActing-Second-Assistant, ant, Geo. Radabaugh ;

;

;

Mathew Fleming.

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:

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Bartlett.

STEAMER

' •

ROBB.

Acting-Ensigns, Lloyd Thomas and James Tuohy; Acting-Master'? Mates, J. C. Burnett, J. J. Irwin and Edw. Lincoln; Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, Benj. Everson Acting- Second- Assistant, John Miller; Acting-Third-Assistant, N. J. Brooks. :

;

STEAMER "ARGOSY." Acting-Ensigns, John C. Morong, G. J. Haslett, R. W. Alson and T. J. Dean; Acting- Assistant-Surgeon, L. M. Rees, Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, R. E. Patterson; Acting-Master's M.ates, A. B. Homer, Peter Lake and J. A. McCreary; Engineers: ActingFirst- Assistant, Thomas Blanchard Acting-SecondActing-Third-AssistAssistant, Chas. Silverchan ant, Albin Donnelly. STEAMER "OUICHITA." Acting-Ensigns, Eugene Zimmerman and P. C. Wright; Acting- Assistant-Paymaster, J. R. Meeker; Acting - Master's Mates, J. W. Litherbury, E. P. Marshall and A. W. Widup; Engineers: ActingActing- First-Assistant, G. Chief, Thomas Hebron W. Taylor; Acting-Second -Assistant, G. T. Wilson; Acting-Third- Assistant, Thomas Reed. ;

;

;

STEAMER "new NATIONAL." M. Grant; Acting-Assistant-PaymasActing-Ensign, J. M. Farmer; Acting Master's Mates, J. D. Holmes, E. R. Bradley Pilot, Alex.

ter,

J.

W. Keely

;

and A. A. Mann; Engineers:

Acting-First-Assistant, Acting-Seeond-Assistant, Geo. W. A. Wells Aikin; Acting-'Third- Assistant, Geo. R. BeU, Oliver Rosebush and D. L. Winton. STEAMEE " GENERAL LYON."

Wm.

;

Pilot, Richard E. Birch; Acting-Assistant Paymaster W. H. Doane; Acting-Ensigns, James Mar-

tin

and Thomas Cordwell; Acting-Master's

Mates,

M. Hurd and E. W. Robeson; Engineers: ActingFirst-Assistant, H. L. Ince; Acting- Second-Assistant, W. J. Hamilton Acting Third- Assistants, James J.

;

Baldwin and

Wm.

Daizley.

STEAMEB "SAMSON." Acting-Ensign, J. M. Holmes Acting-Master's Mate, G. W. Tainter Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, Wm. Paul, Jr. Acting - Second - Assistant, C. F. Teager. STEAM-TtJG "PANSY." Acting -Ensign, Wm. Harris; Acting - Master's Mate, Ant'y McCarty Engineers: Acting-SecondAssistant, John Gillis; Acting-Third- Assistant, A. F. Gardiner. STEAM-TUG " PEBN." Acting-Ensign, John M. Kelly; Acting-Master's Mate, Jacob Bomgarnar; Engineers: Acting-Second;

STEAMEB " CUELEW." ;

;

:

;

Everson and Wm. Quinn. STEAMEE "LITTLE REBEL." Acting-Ensign, N. T. Rennell Acting-Master's

sistants, L. J.

;

Mates, N. F. Jacobs, R. G. Van Ness, J. W. HamActing - First brick and J. T. Bulo Engineers Acting-Second-Assistant, Assistant, A. E. Giles Philip Allman; Acting-Third-Assistant, E. H. Bur:

;

;

ton.

STEAMEE "VICTORY." Acting-Ensigns, Fred'k Read, W. B. Trufant and Acting- Assistant-Surgeon, G. W. J. H. Singleton Shields Acting- Assistant- Paymaster, Benj. Page Acting- Master's Mates, David Wagener, R. L. TayEngineers lor and John Malony Acting-FirstAssistant, J. L. Winston; Acting-Third- Assistants, ;

;

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J.

W.

:

Street.

:

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Acting-Ensigns, H. A. B. O'Niell, Milton Griffith Wm. Zimmerman Acting-Assistant-Surgeon, Acting- Assistant- Paymaster, J. J. Mcllhenney J. R. Morris; Acting-Master's Mates, E. C. Huggins, and ActingM. G. Bailey J. A. Kilby; Engineers First-Assistant, Benj. Hoffman Acting-Third-As-

and

Fred'k Heuse and

STEAMEB "TENSAS. Acting-Ensigns, E. C. Van Pelt and Jacob Rutherford; Acting- Master's Mate, Henry Van Velsor; Engineers: Aoling-Second-Assistants, Andrew WilActing-Third-Assistants, son, Ant'y Courtenay Nathan Spear and Patrick Scanlan. STEAMER "GENERAL PILLOW." Acting-Ensigns, T. M. Halstead, E. M. Wood and Acting- First-Assistant, Engineers C. M. Bragg Acting-Second-Assistant, E. P. G. W. Crawford

;

;

John Reed Acting - Third Assistant, Moses Andrews. STEAM-TUG "THISTLE." Acting-Ensign, R. E. Ettingham; Acting-Master's

Assistant,

;

Mate, John Thompson; Engineers: Acting-SecondAssistant, Wm. Clugston; Acting-Third- Assistant, L. B. Jones. STEAM-TUG " LAUBEL." Acting-Ensign, W. R. Owens; Engineers: ActingSecond-Assistant, C. H. Hilhng; Acting-Third-AssistantL. Rider

C

OF THE CIVIL WAR. STBAM-TTja "MIGNONETTE." Acting-Ensign, Henry D. Green; Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. Edgar; Engineers, Acting-Second- AsAeting-Tliird-Assistant, sistant, Ban'l Barnum;

Mark Wade.

:

;

Thompson Guernsey. STEAM-TUG "DAHLIA."

Acting-Ensign, W. H. Strope; Acting-Master's Mate, Thomas Roach; Engineers: Acting - FirstAssistant, J. H. Everhart; Aoting-Second-Assistant, John Cook.

STEAM-TUG "HYACINTH." Acting-Ensign, J. B. Hiserman; Acting- Master's Mate, James Nelis Engineer Acting-Second- As;

sistant,

ing-Boatswain, William Allen Snyder and L. K. Ellis.

;

A

Acting-Gunners

P.

'

'

MARINE 0PPICER8. Captain, M. R. Kintzing; Second-Lieutenants, F Church and C. H. Humphrey. NAVAL STATION, MEMPHIS, TENN. Lieutenant Commander, Thomas Pattison; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Benton; Acting Master, H. 8. Wetmore; Acting-First- Assistant Engineer, Wm. Apperly. EECEIVING SHIP " OLABA DOLSEN." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, John Scott; ActingAssistant Surgeon, C. E. Vaughan; Paymaster, Edward May; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. F Hamilton; Chaplain, Wm. H. Stewart; Acting-Master Beni Sebastian: Acting-Ensigns, L. Gardner and D. W. Sainter; Acting-Master's-Mates, W. H. Gray and A. E. McLean; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, G. W. Fulton; Acting-Second- Assistant, JereL.

STEAM- TUG "DAISY." Acting-Master, Daniel C. Bowers; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, ,F. M. Magers; Acting-ThirdAssistant, H. A. Cady. STEAM-TUG " MISTLETOE," Acting-Ensign, James L. Quigley; Acting-Master's Mate, James Anderson; Engmeers: Acting-SecondAssistants, P. P. Seavy and Cliarles Metzger. STEAM-TUG "MYETIiE." Acting-Ensign, I. N. Goldsmith; Acting- Master's Mate, Charles Lyon Engineer Acting-Second- Assistant,

553

Thomas

;

Bell.

STEAM- TUG " IVY. Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, Eugene Callahan; Acting-Third- Assistant, T. H. Neely. NAYAL STATIONS AT OAIBO AND MOUND CITY, Captain Alex. M. Pennock, Fleet - Captain and Commandant of Station; Commander Fabius Stanley, Ordnance Officer; Fleet-Paymaster, E. W. Dunn; Paymasters, W. B. Boggsand A. H. Gilman; Assistant-Fleet-Paymaster, John Reed; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Harvey; Surgeon, J. W. Shively; Acting-Chief-Engineer, Wm. D. Faulkner; ActingMasters, P. O. Kell and J. W. Atkinson ActingEnsigns, C. F. Nellis and J. M. Bailey; Acting-Master's Mate, Rivers Drake; Gunner, -J. C. Ritter; Act;

miah

Wetzell.

EECBIVING-SHIP "GRAMPUS." Acting-Master, Elizah Sells; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, M. AV. Reber, Acting-Ensign, C. W. Lithurbury; Acting-Master's Mates, J. L. Williams, C. F Clarkson and J. C. Wittsee. INSPECTION-SHIP "ABRAHAM."

Paymaster, A. E. Watson; Acting-Ensign,

Wagner; Acting Hoshier.

-

First

-

Assistant Engineer,

Wm Enos

HOSPITAL, MEMPHIS, TENN. Surgeons, Wm. Grierand H. F. McSherry; ActingAssistant Surgeons, Henry Beauchamp, J. B. Parker and Abner Thorpe.

RECRUITING RENDEZVOUS, CHICAGO. Acting- Master, J. D. Harty; Acting- Master's Mate, Wm. A. Daniels; Surgeon, Samuel J. Jones. RECRUITING RENDEZVOUS, CINCINNATI. Acting- Master, A. S. Bowen; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Geo. E. Jones; Assistant-Paymaster H.

Wm

Sells.

CH A PTER XLII

1.

OPERATIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, UNDER ADMIRAL PORTER, AFTER THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION. Operations ON the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.— Suppressing Guerillas.— Gun-boats Co-operating with Sherman in Expedition to Meridian.— Silencing Batteries at Liverpool.— Gun-boats Damaged.— Pushing up the Yazoo.— The Expedition Falls Back.— Dashing Attack on Waterloo.— The "Forest Important Services Rose " Drives Confederates out of Waterproof. Rendered by "Tin-clads."— Expedition up Black and Washita Rivers.Gun-boats Drive Confederates Out of Trinity and Harrisonburg.— Heroic Seamen.— Plot to Blow Up Fleet.— Confederate Secret Service.— Letters OF Confederate Secretary of the Navy and Others.— Names op Persons in Confederate Secret Service.— Report op Commission on Singer's Torpedoes. —Capture op Yazoo City.— Three Sailors Distinguish Themselves.— Capture of Fort Pillow.— Horrible Massacre.- Atrocities Committed.— Fort Pillow Retaken by Lieutenant-Commander Fitch.— Confederates Capture the " Petrel." —The "Exchange" Attacked by Masked Batteries.— Batteries near Simmsport Open on Gun-boats, but are Silenced.— Confederates make Good Use of Cannon Captured from Banks.— Zeal and Bravery of Louisiana and Texas Troops.— The "General Bragg" Attacked at Tunica Bend.— The " Naiad" Silences Battery.— Expedition Up Arkansas River.— The "Queen City " Captured and Blown Up. — Destruction of Batteries near Clarendon. Expedition from Clifton to Eastport.— Hard Fighting.— Transports Disabled.— " Tin-clads" Cut Up.— Non-

—

—

success of Expedition.

the conclusion of the Red fleet returned up the Mississippi to tlieir old stations. Fortunately the guerillas had not taken advantage of the absence of the gun-boats to attack unarmed vessels passing up or down. Only one at-

AFTER

River expedition the

tempt was made

—

by a Confederate fieldbattery to interfere with river navigation, and that one was unsuccessful.

—

The

different districts

were soon under

the supervision of their former commanders, and the people along the banks of the Mississippi were reassured with regard to the Navy giving its particular attention to the guerillas or any other species of soldiers that might attempt to show themselves in

an offensive attitude. While the squadron was employed up Red River, the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers became now and then the scene of

active operations. Tennessee, lying adjacent to so many Southern States, was open to the raids of the Confederates, and they seemed loath to abandon it altogether, hoping still to obtain possession of it and carry the war into the more northern States of Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri. It was a vain hope, however, and one not justified by the position or condition of the Federal armies.

InFebruary,1864,Lieutenant-Commander still commanded a fleet of gun-boats on the Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. The banks of these rivers were infested by bands of guerillas, who, posting themselves on prominent points, made it unpleasant for gun-boats, and all but impossible for transports, to pass up without a strong escort. Lieutenant-Commander Fitch put an end to this state of affairs by sending up the

LeRoy Fitch

THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE Cumberland River a reconiioitering force of gun-boats, which at the same time convoyed a number of transports to Carthage with supplies of provisions and munitions of war. This expedition was under the cliarge of Acting Olassford,

-

Volunteer

-

Lieutenant

H.

A.

and the Army co-operated by sending the steamer "Silver Lake, No. 2," with a detachment of 150 sharp-shooters under a gallant officer. Lieutenant Roberts. The duty was severe, the danger considerable, and the fighting incessant but the gun-boats were so well handled that their convoy reached its destination without accident, and the guerillas were taught a lesson they did not forget for some time. When Sherman was marching on Meridian, a naval expedition was fitted out under the command of Lieutenant - Commander E. K. Oweu to co-operate with him, and for the purpose of confusing the enemy with regard to the former's movements. The gunboats were attended by a co-operating force of troops under Colonel Coates. When they arrived near Yazoo City, it was discovered ;

that the

enemy were

in force at that place

with batteries of field-pieces on the hills. On the 2d of February the expedition reached Sartalia, and next day attacked the

enemy

at Liverpool,

where there were

2,700

men

with artillery, under General Ross. The gun-boats silenced the batteries, and the Federal troops landed and took possession of the enemy's position, which they occupied until night-fall and then re-embarked, and the vessels dropped down the river. The "Petrel," "Marmora," "Exchange" and " Romeo" were the gun -boats engaged. They were somewhat cut up, but drove the enemy away. The army lost eight killed and twenty-two wounded in this attack. This expedition had the effect which Sherman desired, viz., to draw the enemy toward Yazoo River. The gun-boats and army transports pushed on up the Yazoo as far as Greenwood, losing a few men by the way. At this place they fell in with General Forrest's command, when the army contingent landed and brought on a battle, or rather a skirmish, in which the Confederates were

defeated. The result of this expedition was, as Sherman had anticipated, the falling back of all the enemy's troops which had been scattered along the Yazoo, Sunflower and Tallahatchie rivers, upon Grenada, to defend it from attack; and he was thus enabled to proceed on his raid to Meridian without molestation in his rear. On the 15th of February the Confederates made a dashing attack on Waterloo, in the district

commanded by Lieutenant-Com-

—

mander James A. Greer an excellent and brave officer, who was always on the alert for such contingencies. This raid was con-

CIVIL WAR.

555

ducted by Colonel Harrison, an indefatigable Confederate ranger, who had given a great deal of trouble with his command. On this occasion he entered the town of

Waterproof with 800 mounted men, drove in the pickets, and pressed the Union troops very hard. Fortuiiately, the little tin-clad "Forest Rose" was at hand to assist the shore party, and, opening a hot fire of shell and shrapnel, soon compelled the ene-

my to retire.

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant V. Johnston, her commander, then got underway, and took positions where he J.

could constantly liaTass the Confederates. This was one of the places selected to be held by negro troops and, as these men were always offensive to the Southerners, and they never lost an opportunity of attacking them, it was necessary to keep gun-boats always at hand to defend them. The unwise measure of employing colored troops, who were inefficient and without discipline, always aroused the indignation of the guerilla element, who would run great risks to slaughter them. The officer commanding the troops asked Lieutenant Johnston to put him across the river, but that gallant officer refused to do so, telling him to stand fast and fight it out, which he was obliged to do, and the " Forest Rose," using her rifled guns with great effect, finally succeeded in dispersing the Confederate forces. This fight lasted a who'le day, and most of the work was done by the Navy. The Confederates left seven killed on the field, and took away a number of wounded. The place was soon after reinforced from Natchez, and the enemy de;

parted.

Captain Anderson, the conamander of the negro troops at Waterproof, was so grateful Forest for the service rendered by the Rose " that he wrote Lieutenant Johnston the following letter, which we give, with pleasure, as a memento of the gallant officer who fought his ship so well. It will be noticed that the name of the "Forest Rose frequently appears in this recital of events. She was a small vessel, but one that did good service under the gallant officers who ' •

commanded her. The following letter

is

Captain

Anderson's

:

Hbadquarters' Post, Waterproof, February

19, 1864.

La.,

/

(

— Permit me to

return you many thanks for the gallant manner in whicli you defended my the rebel force of Colonel little force against Mores, Colonel McNeal, and Major Johnson, in of Saturday, February 14th, their several attacks Sunday, the 15th, and Monday, the 16th of Febru-

Sir

ary, 1864. will not consider it flattering when never before saw more accurate artillery firing than you did in these engagements, invariably putting your shells in the right place ordered. My" ofBcers and men now feel perfectly secure 1

I

hope you

say

1

THE NAVAL HISTORY

556

lai-pre force, so long as we have the assistance of Captain Johnston and his most excellent drilled crew on board the No. 9. I am, Captain, your huml)le servant, J. M. Anderson, Captain Commanding Post. H. C. LUNT, Lieutenant and Adjutant.

against a

Captain Johnston, Commanding Qun-boat No.

The Confederates lost a great and wounded.

in killed

Ramsey then proceeded a long up the

river

distance

through narrow bayous and

shoal cut-offs, destroying grain and provisions of all kinds, nearly reaching Monroe, but was obliged to return owing to the rap-

—

9.

In the latter part of February, Admiral Porter fitted out an expedition to go, via the Red River, up the Black and Washita Rivers, under the command of LieutenantCommander F. M. Ramsey, for the purpose of breaking up the Confederate posts that were being formed along these rivers and The expedidestroying their provisions. tion consisted of the following vessels " Fort Hindman," Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant John Pearce " Osage," Acting-Master Thomas Wright; "Lexington," Lieu" Conestoga," Bache tenant George Lieutenant - Commander T. O. Selfridge " Cricket," Acting-Master H. H. Gorringe, and " Ouichita," Lieutenant - Commander Byron Wilson. The "Ouichita" was a converted river steamer and carried 39 guns in three tiers. They were mostly 34 and 13 pound howitzers, but she had a battery of 8-inch smoothbores and some rifle-guns on the lower deck. Two 12-pounders were mounted on wooden turrets above all. She was a yery formidable vessel for such operations. On the 39th of February the expedition proceeded up the Red River into tlie Black, as far as the town of Trinity, where they Avere attacked by a battery of field-pieces, under the Confederate General, Polignac, the town at the same time hanging out white flags. The gun-boats returned the enemy's fire and soon drove them away. The fire of the " Ouichita" is said to have been withering, and the astonishment of the Confederate commander may be well imagined when a vessel, which he supposed to be a transport, opened on him with forty guns, firing two shells from each gun a minute, the shells and shrapnel bursting in all directions and tearing the village almost :

;

M

the water.

many men

;

;

to pieces.

On the following day the expedition proceeded up the river to within two miles of Harrisonburg, where it was again attacked by General Polignac, with a large number of sharp-shooters and some 12-pound rifleguns, from behind the levee. The fire of the guns was directed chiefly upon the " Hindman," the flag-ship, and she was struck twenty-seven times by shot and shell, one' shot disabling the starboard engine. But when the "Ouichita" got into position and opened her broadside, the enemy fled in all directions, leaving their guns on the fleld, after dragging them some 600 yards from

idly falling water not, however, until tlie object of the expedition had been accomplished. Harrisonburg had always been a troublesome place, from which constant expeditions were fitted out to raid along the Mississippi. The approaches to it had been strongly fortified, four forts on high hills commanding the river for two miles below the town

and one mile above. Lieutenant - Commander Ramsey landed a force at this place and burned several of the largest houses, as a warning to the inhabitants not to assist in attacking river -boats, which often had women and children on board. Two excellent earth-works were found at Trinity, in which were mounted three 32pounders. These were hoisted on board the vessels and carried away. This expedition was well planned and executed, and put a stop to the practice of firing upon unarmed vessels along the Mississippi River.

It offers

the opportunity of

mentioning the gallantry of three seamen of the " Fort Hindman," James K. L. Duncan, Hugh Melloy, and William P. Johnson. A shell burst at the muzzle of one of the guns,- setting fire to the tie of the cartridge which had just been put in the gun. Duncan immediately seized the burning cartridge, took it out of the gun, and threw it overboard. shell pierced the bow casemate on the right of No. 1 gun, mortally wounding the first sponger, who dropped his sponge out of the port on the forecastle. Melloy immediately jumped out, picked it up, and sponged and loaded the gun under a heavy fire from sharp-shooters. Johnson, though very severely wounded himself in the hand, took the sponge from a wounded comrade and continued to use it throughout the action. The casualties in the flotilla were only two killed and eleven wounded. On March 30th, a plan was discovered to blow up by torpedoes all the vessels of the fleet. Confederate mail carrier was captured, crossing the Mississippi with a mailbag full of official correspondence, in which an atrocious scheme was exposed. It was nothing more nor less than to introduce torpedoes in the shape of lumps of coal into the coal piles or bunkers of the naval and merchant vessels, in hopes that they would be shovelled into the furnaces by the flremen, and there explode. Acts of this kind were attempted on several occasions by the Confederates, and one would suppose that only the lowest grade of hu-

A

A

OF THE

—

—

CIVIL

WAR.

557

manity men of the basest minds would embark in such infernal enterprises. But it can be shown that some of the highest personages in the Confederacy were engaged in this business, or, at least, gave

duty, under the orders of the President, or by his

it, not in open, manly fashion, but with the appai-ent idea that they had no authority to stop it. See the following

fence,''

their assent to

letters

•

Confederate States of America, Navy Department, Richmond, September

There

no

is

legislation of

which

I

am

aware

that satisfies precisely the conditions required. The Act of May 6, 1861, recognizing the existence of war with the United States, and providing for privateering, is not construed to permit privateering on inland waters. A reference to the law for the establishment of a Volunteer Navy, a copy of which I enclose herewith, will show you that it cannot be made to embrace the parties to -which you refer. To facilitate organizations of parties to operate as you propose, in boats or otherwise, against the enemy on our Western I'ivers, they could be received into the Navy if they shipped regularly in accordance with existing laws, and then assis;ned to duty under an acting-master upon those rivers. In this case, however, they would form a part of the regular Navy establishment, drawing its pay and subsistence. I infer from your letter that such is not the object of the parties in question, but that they desire to organize in small parties, to operate as independent river gueriUa parties, under their own leaders, and to look to prize-money or reward from the country for destroying enemy's property, to defray expenseSj etc., using an appointment from the Oovernment to secure to them the rights of prisoners of war, if captured. Judging from what you say, that you have not the Acts of Congress at hand, I inclose copies of two Acts, one of which possibly serves the desired purpose. The President has authority to make such an arrangement as you refer to, and I would suggest that parties wishing to engage in the enterprise present to him their names, purposes and terms, either directly or through your obedient servant, 8. R.

Mallory,

ISecretary of the Colonel E. C. Cabell, C. S. A., Headquarters Price's Army,

Navy.

Jaoksonport, Arkansas. [No. 329.]

An Act

to Provide for Local Defence and Special Service. Section 1. The Congress of the Confederate States do enact That the President be and he is hereby authorized to accept the services of volunteers of such kind and in such proportion as he may •deem expedient, to serve for such time as he may prescribe, for the defence of exposed places and localities, or such special service as he may deem :

expedient.

Section

3.

And such

forces shall

be mustered

into the service of the Confederate States, for the local defence or special service aforesaid, the mus ter-roll setting forth distinctly the services to be performed and the said volunteers shall not be eonsidered in actual service until thereunto ordered by the President, and they shall be entitled to pay cr subsistence only for such time as they may be on ;

Section 3. Such volunteer forces, when so accepted or ordered into service, shall be organized In accordance and subject to all the provisions of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the public deapproved March 6th, 1861, and may be attached to such divisions, brigades, regiments or battalions as the President may direct; and, when not organized into battalions and regiments before being mustered into service, the President shall appoint the field-oflBcers of the battalions and regiments when organized as such by him.

An Act to Authorize the Formation op Vol-

10, 1863.

—Tour letter of

the 13th July, from Jacksonport, Arkansas, reached me a few days ago. You inform me that a certain party desires to obtain proper authority from the Confederate government to undertake the destruction of gun-boats, transports, etc., for such per centum of the value of the boats destroyed as may be oilered, etc.

Sir

direction.

unteer Companies for Local Defence. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact: That for the purpose of loca 1 defence in any portion of the Confederate States, any number of persons, not less than twenty, who are over the age of fortyotherwise not liable to military duty, associate themselves as a military company, elect their own officers, and establish rules and regulations for their own government, and shall be considered as belonging to the Provisional Army of the Confederate States, serving without pay or allowances, and entitled, when captured by the enemy, to all the privileges of prisoners of war. Provided, That such company shall, as soon as practicable, transmit their muster-roll or list of the names of the officers and privates thereof to the Governor of the State, the commanding general of the department, or any brigadier-general in the State or Confederate service, to be forwarded to the Secretary of War but the President or commander of the district may, at any time, disfive years, or

may

;

band such companies. Provided, That in the States and districts in which the Act entitled " An Act to further provide for the public defence,"

approved April

16th, 1863,

and the Acts amendatory thereof, have been suspended, persons of any age, resident within such States or districts, may volunteer and form part such companies, so long as such suspension may continue. Provided, That no person shall become a member of said company until he shall have first taken the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America, in writing, a copy of which shall be filed with the muster-roll of said company, as above prescribed. Approved October IStli, 1802. of

[Extract.]

Headquarters District of Arkansas, Little Rock, August

18, 1863.

******* *******

Special Orders No.

)

J

i

135.

—

VI. Thomas E. Courtenay, Esq., is, by direction of the Lieutenant-General commanding the department of trans-Mississippi, authorized to enlist a secret service corps, not exceeding twenty (20) men, to be employed by him, subject to the orders of the district

commander.

By command Thomas

E.

of Major-General Price, Thomas L. Snead,

Assistant-Adjutant General. Esq.

Courtenay,

[Form op Appointment.] 1864 In accordance with the above, I hereby appoint a member of the secret service corps, to report to me at on or before the .... day of 1864. ,

Thomas

E.

Courtenay,

Captain Secret Service Corvs.

THE NAVAL HIS TOR F

558

Confederate States of America,

La.; B. F. Murdock, Rapides and Aveyellos Parish, La.; B. C. Crow, Esq., Lafayette Parish, La.; Hon.

War Department, Engineer Bureau, Richmond, Va.,

Sept.

John Moore,

15, 1863.

W. Dunn, having been

selected for special service, is authorized by the Secretary of War to proceed to the headquarters of Lieutenant-General E. Kirby Smith, commanding trans-Mississippi department, to be attached to one of the companies of engineer troops now being organized in that department, under the Act of Congress " to provide and organize engineer troops to serve R.

during the war." Approved March 20, 1863. A. L. Rives, Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting-Chief of Bureau.

Approved James A. Seddon,

Parish

;

William Robert-

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

Caddo, La.

We must help one another, efficient in

and those who can be

our cause must receive

hospitality, aid

and information.

I

but the worthy.

Secretary of War.

Confederate States of America,

War Department, Engineer Bureau General—I

St. Martin's

son, St. Martin's Parish ; Judge Baker, St. Mary's Parish T. J. Foster, St. Mary's Parish Judge Palfrey, St. Mary's Parish Daniel Dennett, editor Planters Banner, St. Mary's Parish Mr. Sickles, editor Planter'' 8 Banner, Kindred Spirits, St. Mary's Parish Phanor Prudhommer, Esq., St. Mary's Parish John Blair Smith, Naehitoches Parish, La.; Colonel H. J. G. Battle, Caddo, La. Reuben White,

to the names specified in my letter of the 20th ultimo, the following list of men, wlio, by wish of the Honorable Secretary of War, are to be employed in your department, on the special service of destroying the enemy's property by torpedoes and similar inventions, viz.: [Names.] These men should each be enlisted in and form part of an engineer company, but will nevertheless be employed, so far as possible, on the service specified above. When the public interest in your judgment, requires it, details of additional men may be made, either from the engineer troops or from the line, to aid them in their particular duties, and they may be furnished by the military authorities with the necessary ammunition. Their compensation to be fifty per cent, of the property destroyed i)y their new inventions, and all the arms and munitions captured by them, by the use of torpedoes or Ijy similar devices. Beyond this, they will be entitled to such other rewards as Congress may hereafter provide. Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, A. L. Rives, ,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting-Chief of Bureau. James A. Sbddon, Secretary of War.

Approved

Names of persons in secret service, to introduce R. W. Dunn, E. C. Singer and J. D. Braman to my friends B. C. Adams, Grenada Captain Samuel Applegate, Winona; Colonel H. H. Miller, commanding regiment west of Grenada and Carrollton W. P. Mellen, Natchez Major John B. Peyton. Raymond Judge D. H. Bosser, Woodville F. A. Boyle, Woodville Henry Skipwith, Clinton, La. Conrad McRae, Fordocke, La. W. Barton, Atchafalaya River^ La. J. J. Morgan, Atohafalaya River, La.; T. G. Caivit, Atchafalaya River, La.; James E. Lindsey, Atchafalaya River, La.; William N. Lindsey, Atchafalaya River, La.; William H. Neilson, Atchafalaya River, La.; Samuel Faulkner, Atchafalaya River, La. Colonel Ja,mes M. Porter, St. Landry, La.; Colonel Wm. B. Davis, St. Landry, La.; Colonel Wm. Offat, St. Landrv, La.; Captain James Cappes, St. Landry, La.; S. A. Scribner, St. Landry, La.; Elbert Goull, St. Landry, La.; T. C. Anderson, St. Landry, La.; Simon Richard, St. Landry, La.; Henderson Taylor, Marksville, La.; S. L. Taylor, Marksville, La.; H. Robertson, Alexandria, La.; S. W. Henarie, Alexandria, La.; Governor T. O. Moore, Alexandria, La.; Colonel C. Manning, Alexandria, La General M. Wells, Rapides and Aveyellos Parish, La. General P. F. Kearny, Rapides and Aveyellos Parish, La. Hugh M. Kearny, Esq., Raiiides and Aveyellos Parish, :

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

necessary-

Report op a Commission on Singer's Torpedo. Engineer Headquarters, Depot Northern Virginia, \ )

September 15, 1863. have the honor to send, in addition

;

all

introduce none R. J. Page.

July

Colonel —In accordance with your

14, 1863.

order of

\

t*i&

13th, appointing the undersigned a commission to examine and report upon the merits of Mr. E. C. Singer's torpedo, we beg to state that we have carefully examined the same, and submit the following^

report First. "As to the place for exploding the charge. In this plan or lock, in our opinion, consists the great merit of the invention. The lock is simple, strong, and not liable at any time to be out of order; and as the caps which "ignite the charge are placed within the powder magazine, they are not likely to be affected by moisture while the percussion is upon the exterior of the magazine, actual contact with the rod, which acts as a trigger, is necessary; but by mechanical contrivances the contact may be obtained in various ways. Second. "The certainty of action'' depends, of course, upon contact but by the peculiar and excellent arrangement of the lock and plan of percussion mentioned above, the certainty of explosion is almost absolute. One great advantage this torpedo possesses over many others is that its explosion does not depend upon the action or judgment of an individual that it is safe from premature ignition, and at the same time is cheap and portable, while its position in river or harbor cannot readily be ascertained by an ;

;

;

enemy's

vessels.

Third. "The efficiency of its explosion, if made in deep channels," cannot well be ascertained without experiment, but would be the same as sub-marines fired by any other contrivance. are of the opinion, however, from the best information accessible, that if the powder, say 100 pounds in quantity, is within the distance of fifteen feet from the keel of the vessel when exploded, its efficient action is not materially affected by the depth of channel. Of course, the quantity of powder required would have to be determined by experiment. Rifle powder, from its more rapid combustion, would be ]>i-eferable in deep water to cannon powder, while some of the detonating compounds would doubtless effect certain destruction to vessels passing over torpedoes at even much greater depth. The peculiar arrangements for firing the batteries would have to be determined by the circumstances of position and draft of vessels and motion of currents, depth and width of channels, and would require the exercise of great judgment on the part of those intrusted with the dutv of placing them. We are so well satisfied with the merits of Mr. Singer's torpedo that we recommend the engineer department to give it a thorough test, and, if practicable, to have some of them placed at an early day in some of the river approaches of Richmond.

We

General Remarks: of loading this torpedo dispenses with

The mode

OF THE CIVIL WAR. any connection through the ease of the magazine, involving no packing of any liind. The risk of the locli fouling by sand or mud, if on the bottom of a stream, we think can be prevented by enclosing it in a metal case, which would be nearly water-tight. Id narrow streams these could be placed in quincunx, so that a vessel attempting to pass would be sure to come in contact with some one. The inventor also claims to be able to go to a vessel with one or two and get them in contact so as to explode.

This can be done, but so much depends on the nerve and daring of individuals that there is no certainty of it. Judging from the success of blasting rocks by powder, superposed upon the rock with a deep column of water over it, we are of the opinion that the depth of water below a torpedo would not interfere

with

its success.

Lieutenant Bolton, who saw and blasted a great deal in East River, near New York, says: " One hundred pounds of powder, fifteen feet from the bottom of a vessel, would break her sides or bottom." We would add that a proposed adaptation of these locks to the explosion of sheU or batteries under railroad tracks, for defences of approach to fortified works, and for blowing up bridges, seems to us very simple and effective; also an ingenious plan for affixing torpedoes to spar or bow of an iron-clad.

We

consider the employment of submarines as a legitimate mode of defence, and, as officers connected with the defence of Richmond, feel it our duty to recommend torpedoes as a powerful accessory to our limited means. The moral effect of an explosion upon an enemy would be incalculable, and would doubtless deter them from attempting to bring troops, by transports, to points accessible to the city, as White House or Brandon.

Respectfully submitted,

W. H. Stevens,

John W.

G.

Colonel Engineers. A. Williams, Major Engineers.

TURPIN, Capt. Engineers.

Colonel J. T.

Gilmer,

Chief Engineer. Official

copy. A. L. Rives,

Lieutenant-Colonel

Letter of

and Acting-Chief of Bureau.

Coubtbnat to Col. H. E. Clark. Richmond, Virginia, Jan. 19, 1864. Mt Dear Colonel — I hope you have received all my letters. I wrote two to Mobile, one to Columbus, and two to Brandon. I now send this by a party who is going to Shreveport, and promised to T. B.

learn your whereabouts so as to forward it to you. I have met with much delay and annoyance since you left. The castings have all been completed some time, and the coal is so perfect that the most critical eye could not detect it. The President thinks them perfect, but Mr. Seddon will do nothing without congressional action, so I have been engaged for the past two weeks in getting up a bill that will cover my ease. At last it has met his approval, and will to-day go to the Senate, hence to the House in secret session. It provides that the Secretary of War shall have the power to organize a "secret service corps" commission, enlist and detail parties who shall retain former rank and pay, also give such compensation as he may deem fit, not exceeding 50 per cent, for property partially and totally de stroyed; also to advance, when necessary, out of the secret service fund, money to parties engaging to injure the enemy. As soon as this bill becomes a law, I have no ^

means

559

and that all the appointhave made will be confirmed. * * *

to progress with,

ments you or

I

T. E.

Courtknay.

Colonel H. E. Clark, 1th Missouri Cavalry. Maj. Gen. Price's Headquarters, Arkansas.

The

little

" tin-clads " of the Mississippi

squadron made a good deal of history for the Navy. They often performed duties that ought to have been assigned to ironclads; but these latter were few in number,

and too large to penetrate the small and narrow streams where the Confederates had an idea they were secure, and from whence they would start expeditions towards the great river to prey upon peaceful commerce. The "Petrel" more than once distinguished

in these river exin the Yazoo River performed service that should be remembered. Colonel Coates, who had started out with Lieutenant - Commander Owen, as mentioned on a former occasion, to keep the Confederates from following in Sherman's rear, had, with the assistance of the Navy, occupied Yazoo City, which seemed to be an object of attack from both parties. First one side and then the other had thrown up earth-works until it had become a formidable place. Colonel Coates was quietly resting here,

peditions,

herself

and while

keeping a good look-out on the enemy, who were in force a few miles back, when, on the 5th of March, at 9:30 a. m., the Confederates made a fierce attack on the redoubts at a point occupied by part of the 11th Illinois Volunteers, supported by a 12pound howitzer belonging to the gun-boat "Exchange." Acting-Master Thomas McElroy, of the " Petrel," had been left in charge of the naval force in the Yazoo River by Lieutenant-Commander Owen. After firing the howitzer several times, it had a shell jammed in the bore which could not be removed. Mr. McElroy then ordered Acting-Master Gibson, of the "Marmora," to dismount one of his rifled howitzers, mount it on a field carriage, and send it on shore with a crew to work it but before he could get the gun to the redoubt the enemy had completely surrounded the

hill.

At this time the fighting in the city was hand to hand the gun was placed in position and opened fire rapidly on the enemy. At one time the crew were driven from their piece by superior numbers but the Union ;

;

soldiers, seeing that the sailors needed support, went to their rescue, charged the en-

emy, and retook the gun. The " Petrel " and "Marmora" kept up a rapid fire with shrapnel, until the battle was over, and McElroy was requested by Colonel Coates to cease firing, as the X

i.'.

iT^Trn

J_l_

enemy J.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

560

shore, took the howitzer, and pursued the retreating enemy, firing upoji their rear until they escaped to the hills.

Three sailors highly distinguished themBartlett Laffey of the "Petrel," and James Stoddard and Wm. These men, J. Franks of the " Marmora." though surrounded at their gun, fought hand to hand with their cutlasses to the last, and when the enemy retreated, turned selves in this battle

:

—

the gun upon them this, too, after their officer (an acting ensign) had retreated, and behaved so badly that his resignation was afterwards demanded. Here was a great difference between the men and their officer, and it is to be hoped that the former will live to see their names honorably mentioned while that of their leader is withheld as unworthy of notice. On the 13th of April, the Confederates, taking advantage of the absence of the gun-boats, marched on Columbus, Ky. but when Colonel Lawrence, who commanded the post, refused to listen to a demand for its surrender, they turned upon Fort Pillow, and captured it after a desperate ;

conflict.

Fort Pillow was retaken by LieutenantFitch, but the enemy carried off with them everything it had contained in the shape of guns or stores, and retreated The Union transports then to Ashport. landed troops at the foot of the hill, who reoccupied the fort, where traces of the massacre were still visible, and where ruin and desolation went hand-in-hand. Terrible scenes had been enacted when the place was taken by the Confederates, and they behaved as if they considered the brave defence of the Federal soldiers a grave offence, to be avenged by an indiscriminate

Commander

The atrocities which these men committed will always remain a stigma upon their character, for no possible excuses or explanations can ever justify slaughter.

them. All of the successes gained by the Confederates were owing to the unfortunate Red River expedition, which had withdrawn the gun-boats from their posts. In the meantime the small gun-boats, which were acting on the Yazoo River in connection with Colonel Coates, were making themselves felt in that region. An expedition under Colonel Schofield was about to start up the Yazoo River by order of General McArthur, when, by request of the former, on April 21st, the gun-boats "Petrel" and "Prairie Bird" preceded the army-transport up to Yazoo City. No enemy being in sight, the "Petrel" went on up, leaving the "Prairie Bird" and transport " Freestone" at the Navy Yard. When abreast of the city, the little gun-boat opened fire on some Confederate troops just then

in sight on the hills, which was returned briskly by musketry and cannon. The river, being too narrow to turn in, Acting-Master McElroy determined to run the

coming

go up the river where there was more room, turn about, and then run down again. It was not found practicable to rebatteries,

turn immediately, however, so the "' Petrel" remained where she was until the On this day she hauled into the bank 23d. and commenced wooding, when she was attacked by the enemy with a strong force of infantry and several pieces of cannon, the shot from their guns passing through Not being able to bring his the vessel.

guns

to bear,

McElroy armed

his

men

as

sharp-shooters and returned the fire, at the same time getting underway. While starting off, two shots entered the ship, one striking the cylinder, the other cutting the steam-pipe and disabling the engines, when the Confederates closed in on her. The crew went to their quarters and commenced firing, but the sharp-shooters picked them off through the ports, and McElroy, finding it impossible to work his guns, gave the order to set fire to the ship and abandon her. At this moment a shot went through the boiler, enveloping the "Petrel " in steam. This was unfortunate, for the steam extinguished the fire, and in consequence the vessel fell into the hands of the enemy, with all her stores, guns and

ammunition. There were some unpleasant features connected with this affair, but McElroy redeemed his own mistakes by his gallantry after most of his officers and men had left the vessel. The pilot, Kimble Ware, and a quartermaster, J. H. Nibble, stood by their commander when all the officers had deserted their flag. As soon as the steam cleared away, McElroy, with the assistance of Quartermaster Nibble, got the wounded off the guards on to the bank, and got ready to set fire to the vessel again (all this time under an incessant fire). He obtained some live coals from the furnace and spread them about the decks, but soon had to desist on account of the heat below. At this time, the enemy seeing the officers and men escaping across the fields, crossed the river above and below the " Petrel," and, surrounding her on all sides, forced McElroy to surrender. The fires on board the steamer were at once extinguished, and the captain was taken away before he had time to find out how many of his men were killed

and wounded.

As an excuse for

the conduct of the crew,

must be remarked that there were only ten white men and boys on board the vessel; the rest were all " contrabands," and some of these were sick. But it was one of the it

OF THE few cases where

officers behaved badly on hoard a vessel of the Mississippi squadron. If the " Petrel" had been properly seconded hy the troops, the disaster would not have

occurred. This affair threw quite a gloom over the fleet, as the " Petrel" had always been one of the favorite "tin-clads," and her name appears in many expeditions and forays. This disaster was redeemed a short time afterwards by the gallant conduct and good

Acting -Master James C. Gipson, in the gun-boat "Exchange," who, while passing Columbia, Arkansas, was •opened upon by a masked battery, consisting

management

of

of four 13-pound shell guns, rifles,

and one

10,

one

18,

two 12-pound

and one

6

pounder

rifles.

The battery was divided into two

sec-

planted about 200 yards apart, behind the levee. The Confederates waited until the " Exchange " had passed the lower battery, and then opened upon her a tions,

destructive fire. Acting - Master Gipson could not back down on account of having turned the point of a sand-bar, and he at once saw that his only alternative was to run the upper battery. This he attempted to do, opening fire at the same time with all the ^uns which he could bring to bear upon the enemy ; but, unfortunately, the port engine was struck by a shot and disabled, reducing the speed of the vessel and keeping lier under fire for forty-five minutes. The "Exchange" had hardly got out of Tange of the enemy's guns when her engine stopped entirely, and it was found necessary to anchor while the engineers were making repairs. The work was quickly and energetically done, and the little vessel was enabled to move slowly up the river with one engine. It was expected that the Confederates would move the battery above the vessel while she was disabled, and open fire upon her again ; but this was not done, and she finally escaped, though badly cut up. The " Exchange " was pierced thirty-five times with shot and shell; eight times near the water line and five times in the casemarte. Several shells exploded in the coal bunkers, near the boiler, and one entered

the shell-locker, overturning shell-boxes, hut, fortunately, not reaching some percussion shell that were stored there. One shot passed through the pilot-house, wounding Acting-Master Gipson and rendering him senseless for fifteen minutes; but the brave pilot steered his course as coolly as if it was an every-day affair. The gallant commander Tvas wounded in three places, but in all this firing only one man was killed outright. That, however, does not detract from the credit of this fight, and it shows how a cool and brave commander can get

out of a difficulty

if

he is determined to do so.

CIVIL WAR.

661

Though the volunteer

officers in the Misalmost always deported themselves with great gallantry, few affairs were better managed than the one we have just described. We cannot always give the

sissippi fleet

names

of all the officers engaged in these adventures, but they will generally be found in the lists. There were a number of such affairs, and in many of them the brave character of the

Western men was

clearly exhibited.

On the 8th of June, 1864, LieutenantCommander F. M. Ramsey, while employed in the Atchafalaya River, started down the "Chillicothe," "Neosho," and "Fort Hindman." When about one and a half miles from Simmsport, they were fired upon by a battery of two 30- pounder Parrotts. When the vessels opened fire

with

in return, the enemy did not wait to load, but scattered in all directions, leaving their guns and muskets behind them. A deserter stated that these guns had been taken from General Banks when he was on his Red River raid, and the naval officers were thus sometimes reminded that Banks had furnished the guns which so often attacked them along the river. This affair was well managed and with but little loss of

life.

Five or six batteries, which had been captured from the Federals, were now raiding

upon different parts of the river, and firing upon merchant steamers carrying passengers, frequently women and children. We regret that we are obliged to mention these acts of wanton vengeance on the part of the Confederates. It was not legitimate warfare, and it detracted very much from the credit which they had fairly earned by their undoubted bravery on other occasions.

looked sometimes as if the " chivalry " the of South was dying out. The gunboats, with as much propriety, might have fired on the defenceless houses of people who were taking no part in the war. It is true that the Union men did sometimes disgrace themselves by burning houses, but it It

was always done in retaliation for some wanton act on the part of the Confederates, and the women and children were always given time to get out of the way. It was all wrong on either side, and shows how the most humane people will become demoralized when engaged in a civil war. May God save us from any such war in the future

There was no doubt about the energy, and bravery of these Louisiana and Texas troops thej^ never relaxed for a moment, and were encountered when least expected. As they attacked everything that came along, they would sometimes "catch zeal

;

a Tartar."

THE NAVAL HISTORY

563

On the 26th of June, while the gun-boat " General Bragg " was at anchor in Tunica Bend, she was opened on by the enemy with four guns. Acting - VolunteerLieutenant C. Dominey (commanding) slipped his cable and went to quarters, replying rapidly to the enemy's fire. After being engaged about five minutes, a shot struck the working - beam of the steamer, and disabled her engines completely. But Dominey did not mind that. He drifted along, silencing the enemy's guns, and they went away, apparently satisfied with having put 32 shot and shell into the " General Bragg."

The little "tin-clad," "Naiad," hearing the firing, ran to the assistance of the " Bragg," and when within half a mile of the latter another battery opened upon her, in a few moments completely disabling her steering gear and severely wounding the pilot, James M. Herrington. The "Naiad's " wheel being shot away, her commander, Acting-Master Henry

T. Keene, rigged relieving tackles, steered for the battery and continued a close and brisk fire until it was completely silenced. In this affair the little vessel was struck nine times; and, to show how these frail boats would hold on amidst a pitiless storm of shot and shell, we will enumerate the damages inflicted on the " Naiad:" " The first shot passed through the smoke-stack the second and third shots passed through the pilothouse, the third striliing the barrel of the wheel, cutting the tiller rope, and literally tearing the wheel to pieces the fourth shot passed a few feet abaft the pilot-house, shattering the steerage and skylights, but doing no further damage the fifth shot passed through the cabin. * * * * also * * four shots through the starboard casemates one striking abreast of the boilers, one abaft of No. 2 gun, tearing up the decks and exploding within a few feet of the shell-room one abaft of No. 3 gun, killing John J. Crennell, ordinary seaman, and wounding three others another passed through the port of No. 4 gun, tearing away the shutter and exploding in the dispensary." ;

;

;

;

;

This was a gallant combat on the part of these light-armed gun-boats, and showed the persistency with which the Confederates kept up the war. Now that the great strongholds of the enemy had all been abandoned, the guerilla warfare was carried on along the Mississippi as it had been on the upper rivers. The guerillas never accomplished anything of importance, and soon became a source of great annoyance to the wretched inhabitants, who were obliged to feed and clothe them in order to make it appear that they were loyal to the Confederate cause. No discipline existed among these wandering bands, and they preyed on friends and foes alike. On the 39th of June, a fleet of nine transports, containing troops under the com-

mand

of General Steele, started on an expedition up the Arkansas River, for the purpose of meeting a Confederate force

under General Marmaduke, who had assembled quite an army on both sides of the river and was obstructing navigation. The transports were accompanied by the gunboats "Taylor," "Fawn," "Naumkeag"and " Queen City," under the command of Lieutenant George M. Bache. The smaller vessels had gone on ahead, while the " Taylor" (Lieutenant Bache's vessel) kept with the convoy. When within ten miles of Clarendon, Lieutenant Bache picked up some sailors on the left bank of the river, belonging to the " Queen City," who stated that that vessel had been captured by General Shelby at 4 o'clock that morning. Information was also obtained that the enemy were in much greater force than General Steele had anticipated, which caused a. change in the programme. It appears that while the "Queen City"" was lying at anchor off Clarendon, she was suddenly attacked by General Shelby with two regiments of cavalry (dismounted) and four pieces of artillery. The officers of the vessel were taken by surprise, no intimation of the enemy's approach having been given until the attack was made. At the first or second round the starboard engine was disabled by a shell, and the effectiveness of the port engine was much injured by a piece of the same shell passing through the steam -pipe. After fighting twenty minutes,

Acting-Master M. Hickey, who commanded the gun-boat, seeing that she was completely riddled with shot, shell and rifle-balls, decided to surrender, not having the bravery to fight it out, as many of his contempo-

would have done. He ordered hisand men to abandon the vessel, and most of them escaped to the opposite shore. One man was killed, nine wounded and 35 taken prisoners. Lieutenant Bache received intelligence of the capture of the " Queen City" aboutraries

officers

hours after it occurred. He at once started up the river to prevent the enemy five

from using her against the Union

forces-

or getting out her stores. When within a. few miles of Clarendon, however, two successive reports were heard up the river, which proved to be the explosion of the unfortunate gun-boat's magazine. General Shelby, hearing of the approach of the other

had destroyed her. The gun-boats approached the point where the enemy was stationed in the following order: "Taylor," " Naumkeag," "Fawn;" and when they were abreast of Cache River the enemy opened fire, vessels,

putting one of his first shots through the pilot-house of the "Taylor." This vessel could only reply with one gun untik

OF THE abreast of the enemy's position, when she fired broadsides of shrapnel and canHaving passed the batteries, the ister. gun-boats rounded-to and steamed up at them again (at this time the " Fawn's " pilot had been mortally wounded and her signalbell arrangements carried away, which prevented her from participating in the second attack). The Confederates thought

Bache merely intended to run by their batteries, and they gave three cheers when they saw him steaming away as they supthat

when he returned to the attack they exclaimed in despair " Here comes that black devil again!" After getting abreast of them again, the "Taylor" and "Naumkeag" kept up such a terrible fire that in five minutes the enemy began posed, but

:

•escaping in all directions, throwing away everything they had captured. The Confederates had six guns of their

own, of different

and a 12-pounder howitzer, which they had taken from the " Queen City." These guns were placed sizes,

in four different positions, making four batteries; but the fire of the gun-boats

was

withering that the artillerymen were driven off after an action of 45 minutes. The Confederates must have been roughly handled, for they abandoned everything they had captured from the "Queen City," as well as some of their wounded -SO

prisoners.

This was a very gallant and well-managed and Lieutenant Bache gained great credit for the handsome manner in which he had handled his vessels and defeated so large a force of the enemy. Acting - Master John Rogers of the "Naumkeag" was also mentioned handsomely for the cool and efficient manner in which he had fought his vessel. In fact, all behaved well and redeemed the unfortunate loss of the " Queen City," which lay a shattered wreck at the bottom of the river. Her guns were finally raised and everything of value recovered. Lieutenant Bache was now warned by the falling water that it was time to go below, if he did not wish to be caught in a trap. Having satisfied himself that he had completely driven Shelby and his force away from the river, he left the " Naumkeag" and "Fawn" at Clarendon, to protect that place and started down the river, in the " Taylor," to communicate with Genaffair,

CIVIL WAR.

men.

Most of the crew

and distributed among the other vesThe enemy retired towards Little Rock and did not trouble the gun-boats again for some time. The flotilla had sixteen men wounded, two of whom died the

river sels.

next day.

We have nothing to say against this attack of the Confederates it was all legitimate enough, and, no doubt, they suffered severely for their tenaerity. General Shelby showed no want of gallantry, his only fault being that he had not fairly considered the enemy he was about to attack. He had so easily overcome the "Queen City" that he thought he could do the same with the rest. The result of the fight was that General Steele followed the enemy to Little Rock, Arkansas, on which place General Marmaduke had intended to make a raid and the Confederates, finding that they could not assemble on the banks of the White River while the gun-boats were so active, transferred their operations to some other quar-

—

;

ter.

With the exception of some trouble with the guerillas up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, the operations for the year 1864 ended favorably for the Union cause, as far as the Navy was concerned. The Confederates continued to show themselves in Kentucky and Tennessee, however, and sometimes took advantage of transports that were not convoyed by gun-boats. Even as late as December, 1864, there was no diminution of zeal and energy on the part of the enemy, though they must have seen by that time that the Confederacy was doomed. An artillery company would sometimes travel for miles just for the pleasure of firing a few shots into a gunboat or transport. There was not cavalry enough on the Federal side to pursue these raiders; and, if an expedition was organized for that purpose, it generally consisted of an army contingent in transports convoyed by gunboats.

Sometimes the naval commander of a from a feeling of over-security, sent an insufficient force of gun-boats, when trouble would ensue and the underdistrict,

was an expedition under

command of Colonel Hoge,

was then sent up convoyed by the "Taylor," Clarendon without meeting any opposition. This force, under General Carr, immediately gave chase to the enemy, who numbered 2,600 men, and skirmished

strong

force of troops

One of these cases frona Clifton to Eastport

taking be a failure.

of the liath

A large

of the unfortunate

"Queen City" were picked up along the

eral Steele. in a transport, and landed at

563

;

strong, artillery

and 120th

61st

U.

S.

consisting

Illinois infantry, 660

colored infantry,

and Battery G, 2d Missouri (four rifled 12-pounders).

600 light

These

with them for twenty-five miles, capturing

embarked on the 9th of October, at Clifton, on the transports " City of Pekin," " Aurora" and " Kenton," and they set out for Eastport under convoy of the "Key

wounded

West," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant E. M.

several nieces of artillerv

and

60

troops

THE NAVAL HISTORY

>64

King, and the " Undine," Acting-Master L. Bryant.

John

On

the 10th the vessels arrived off EastAfter passing Line Island, ten miles below, signal was made from the "Key West " to be cautious and proceed in close order. On approaching Eastport, everything seemed quiet and as there were no signs of troops or batteries on the hill commanding the landing. Lieutenant King signalled to the transports to land their troops, and took a position with the gunboats in the middle of the river, so as to cover the movement with their guns. The troops commenced disembarking immediately. Colonel Hoge then went on board the " Key West," and informed Lieutenant King that he should move immediately for luka. As the Colonel was returning to the "City of Pekin," a masked battery of six rifled guns from the hill at Eastport and three rifled guns from the " Chickasaw " opened on the boats. The transports were struck several times, and a caisson exploded on board both the "Aurora" and "Kenton," setting them on fire. This caused great confusion among the port.

;

many of them jumping overboard from the burning steamers. A company that had been sent out as skirmishers imtroops,

mediately returned to the boats, while the troops that were forming in line on the bank broke and fled down the river, abandoning a battery of four guns. The transcut their lines and drifted down stream, the "Kenton" and "Aurora "disabled, and the "City of Pekin" with several shot through her it seemed to be "every man for himself." During this time the "Key West" and "Undine" were both hit twice with rifle projectiles. One shell passed down through the boiler-deck of the "Key West," and exploded in the bag-rack, near the after-part of the boilers another passed through the steerage and out on the port side. The " Undine" had her bell-wires cut by a shell, also her port wheel-rope. The gun-boats for half an hour returned ports

—

—

the

fire of

the enemy,

whose shot

fell

thick

around them, when Lieutenant King, seeing that he could do nothing with

and

fast

his smooth-bores against the Confederate dropped down out of range to look after the convey. The troops had quenched rifles,

the fires on the transports, but they were disabled; and this was the end of an expedition that might have produced better results if the troops had been landed out of sight of Eastport and marched up. It seems reasonable to suppose that 1,320 soldiers could have captured these batteries

proper means had been taken to do so; but sometimes the soldiers seemed helpless, and inclined to wait for the Navy to capture a place before occupying it, forgetting, or not knowing, that a "tin-clad" was not an iron-clad, and that the former were not qualified to go under the fire of heavy batteries. But it was not often that Army men behaved as they did on this occasion, and it can be partly accounted for by the presence of the colored soldiers, who were raw and undiscipline4- This expedition was certainly a complete failure, much to be regretted by all concerned. On the whole, however, the Xavy in the West had nothing to be ashamed of during the year 18G4, and it will be observed that throughout the campaign it had fighting enough to satisfy the most ardent temperament. This river-fighting may seem uninteresting to the reader, l3ut it was a link in the great chain that helped to bind the Briarean arms of the demon of rebellion. The services of the Navy in the West had as much effect in reducing the South to submission as the greater battles fought in the East; and the brave Westerners who entered the Navy with no previous knowledge of the profession, having to learn everything from a handspike to a ten-inch gun, may well feel proud at the manner in which they conducted themselves, and glory in the results of their labors, which cost the lives of many of their comrades, but which were generally attended with success. if

CHAPTER XLIV. BATTLE

OF

MOBILE BAY.

— Faeragut's Fleet Crosses the Bar and makes Recon— Confederate Iron-clads. — Forts Morgan, Gaines and Powell and Light-house Battery. — Bombardment of Fort Powell. — Evacuation of Fort. — Iron-clad "Tennessee" makes her Appearance. — Arrival of Monitors.— Cooperation OF General Canby. — Preparing to Attack Forts. — Farragut issues his famous Orders of Combat. — Bombarding Fort Morgan. — The " Tennessee " Engaged. — The " Tecumseh" Sunk.—" D n the Torpedoes — follow me! " Farragut IN THE Rigging of the "Hartford" passing Fort. — The "Selma" Surrenders. — The "Morgan" and "Gaines" Ashore. — The "Tennessee" engages Fleet. — Remarkable Combat. — The " Monongahela" and "Lackawanna "Damaged. —The "Tennessee" and "Hartford" Fight at Close Quarters. — Game to THE Last. — The "Tennessee" Surrenders.— Incidents of Battle. — The Wounded transferred to Pensacola. — Names of Killed and Wounded. — Farragut's detailed. Report OF Battle. — Reports of Officers. — Farragut Returns Thanks to Officers and Men. — Individual Acts of Heroism. —^Incidents attending Sinking OF " Tecumseh." — Surrender op Fort Gaines — Bombardment of Fort Morgan.— Surrender op Fort.— List of Officers of the "Tennessee" and "Selma." — Wanton Destruction of Property at Fort Morgan. — List of Killed and Wounded. — Loss of the "Phillippi." — History anu Description of Confederate Iron-clad "Tennessee." — List of Vessels and Officers of West Gulf Squad-

Defences of Mobile Bay. naissance.

ron,

January

1st, 1864.

1864, Admiral Farragut beto turn his attention to the forts in Mobile Bay, which up to that time had been a complete protection to the blockade - runners, which passed in out almost with impunity in spite of

January,

gan

IN and

the greatest watchfulness on the part of the blockading fleet. There were several channels in the Bay with wide shoal grounds in and about their approaches, over which the Confederate light-draft vessels could pass, but where the Federal shipsof-war could not follow them. The city of Mobile, in consequence, became one of the most important rendezvous for blockade - runners, as it was situated some miles up the bay, and could only be reached through tortuous channels, with ixrrin^h

*-M->ltr

zi-vi-»jaT>'i/:iT-i/-»*:a*^

T-vil*-vfc
f ;

THE NA VAL HISTORY

690

sion of the vessels. The Tennessee is in a state to do good service now. To restore her to the state of efficiency in which she was when she went into action with this fleet on the 5th instant, it will be necessary to overhaul much of the iron plating on the port and after-sides of the casemate, and replace some of it. " The iron gun -port slides or shutters, which were damaged, must be either removed or repaired. " A new smoke-stack is required, and additional '

" There are also a few other marks, being, howol the ever, merely scratches or slight indentations plating. -4. 1 " The smoke-stack was shot away, although it is •

not improbable the heavy ramming by the M""}""," had gahela,' 'Lackawanna,' and the 'Hartford '

previously prepared it for its fall. " Three of the wrought-iron port shutters or slides were so much damaged by shot as to prevent the firing of the guns. " There are no external visible marks or evidences of injury inflicted upon the hull of the Tennessee^ by the severe ramming of the Monongahela,

ventilators should be fitted. 'Blowers are required to produce proper ventilation iu the engiiie-room and on the berth-

.

'

'

but inasmuch as the decks leaked badly, and when there is a moderate sea running in the bay, her reported usual leakage of three inches an hour being now increased to five or six inches an hour, it is fairly to be inferred that the increased leakage is caused by the concus'

Lackawanna,' and

'

Hartford

'

'

"

;

When

these small repairs

and additions

shall

have been made, the iron-clad Tennessee will be a most formidable vessel for harbor and river service, and for operating generally in smooth water, both offensively and defensively." '

'

WEST GULF SQUADRON, JANUARY

1st,

1804.

Rear-Admiral David G. Farragut.

CAPTAIN PERCIVAL DRAYTON, [Vessels

CAPTAIN.

and Commanders marked with a * were in the Battle o£ Mobile Bay.]

—

•steamer "HARTFORD" PLAG-SHIP. Captain, Percival Drayton, at Mobile Lieutenant-Commander, L. A. iCimberly, executive officer at Mobile Lieutenants, H. B. Tysou and J. C. Watson; Fleet Surgeon, James C. Palmer- Fleet Paymaster, Edw. T. Dunn- Surgeon, John J. Gibson; Assistant-Surgeon, Wm. Commons; Paymaster, Wm. T. Merideth; Marines: Captain, Charles Heywood First-Lieutenant, C. L. Sherman; Ensigns, C. D. Jones and LaRue P. Adams ActingEnsigns, Wm. H. Whiting, G. D. B. Glidden, C. W. Snow and Geo. Munday Pilot, Martin Freeman Acting-Master's Mates, J. J. Tinelli, Wm. H. Hathorne, W. H. Childs, R. P. Herrick, G. R. Avery and H. Brownell: Fleet Engineer, Wm. H. Shock; Chief Engineer, Thom Williamson; Second-Assistants, E. B. Latch, F. A. Wilson, Isaac DeGrafT, C. M. Burchard and John Wilson; Third- Assistants. J. E. Speights, H. L. Pilkington and Alfred Hoyt; Boatswain, Robert Dixon; Gunner, J. L. Staples; Carpenter, O. 8. Stimson; Sailmaker, T. C. Herbert. ;

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STEAMER "PENSAOOLA." Commodore, Henry H. Bell, commanding squadron pro tern.; Lieutenant - Commander, Samuel R. Franklin; Lieutenants, F. V. McNair and G. AV. Sumner Surgeon, Wm. Lansdale Assistant-Sur;

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W. H. Jones Acting - Assistant Paymaster, H. Stevenson; Marines: First-Lieutenant, Norval L. Nokes; Acting-Masters, F. T. King, Thos. Andrews and S. B. Washburne; Acting-Ensign, V. W. Jones; Engineers: First- Assistant, JohnPurdy, Jr.; Second-Assistants, A. H. Able and Alfred Colin Third-Assistants, T. W. Fitch, F. C. Burchard and G. \V. Baird; Boatswain, James Herold; Gunner, David Roe; Carpenter, Edward Cox; Sailmaker, Chas. Lawrence. STEAM-FBIGATE "COLORADO." Commodore, Henry K. Thatcher; Lieutenants, H. W- Miller and Benj. F. Day- Paymaster, W. H. H. Williams; Chaplain, D. X. Junkin; AssistantSurgeons, A. W. H. Hawkins and Matthew Chalmers; Marines: Captain, Geo. R. Graham; SecondLieutenant, S. C. Adams; Acting Masters, Thos. Hanrahan and Charles Folsom Acting-Ensigns, Henrv Avery, F. P. Bibles and B. B. Knowlton; geon,

F LE E T -

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J.

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Acting-Master's Mates, A. O. Child, C. H. LittleW. G. Perry, J. L. Vennard and Leon Bryant; Chief Engineer, R. M. Bartleman; Acting-Pirst-AsActing-Second-Assistsistant, C. W. Pennington ant, G. S. Perkins Acting-Third-Assistants, T. J. Boatswain, Lavery, R. Wallace and H. B. Green A. M. Pomeroy; Gunner, R. H. Cross; Carpenter, John A. Dixon; Sailmaker, W. N. Maull. •steamer "ossipee." Commander, William E. LeRoy, at Mobile; Captain, John P. Gillis; Lieutenant, J. A. Howell; Surgeon, B. F. Gibbs Assistant-Surgeon, G. H. E. Baumgarten; Paymaster, E. Foster; Acting-Master, C. C. Bunker; Acting-Ensigns, H. S. Lambert, Chas. Putnam, C. W. Adams, W. A. Van Vleck and C. E. Clark ; Acting-Master's Mates, W. Wingood, W. W. Black and P. P. Hawkes; Engineers Acting-Chief, J. M. Adams; Acting-First- Assistant, Geo. Acting-Second-Assistant, J. W. Webb; L. Harris Third -Assistants, G. W. Kidder, John Mathews, Wm. Collier, W. W. Vanderbilt and James Ger-

field,

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mon; Boatswain, Andrew Milne Gunner, J. Q. Adams. • STEAMER RICHMOND. Captain, Thornton A. Jenkins LieutenantCommander, Edward Terry; Surgeon, L. J. Williams; Assistant-Surgeon, J. D. Murphy; Paymaster, Edwin Stewart; First-Lieutenant of Marines, S. W. Powell; Acting-Masters, P. S. Borden and C. J. ;

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Gibbs; Ensign, P. H. Cooper; Acting-Ensigns, J. F. Beyer, C. M. Chester and Lewis Clark; ActingMaster's Mates, Wm. R. Cox, James West, T. J. Warner and W. C. Seymour; Chief Engineer, Jackson MoElmell First - Assistant, E. J. Brooks Second-Assistant, A. J. Kenyon Third Assistants, A. J. Kirbv, Robert Weir, James Patterson, John D. Ford, W. H. Crawford and C. W. C. Senter; Boatswain, I. P. Choate Gunner, Wm. Cheney; Carpenter, H. L Dixon; Sailmaker, Wm. Rogers. ;

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•steamer "LACKAWANNA." John B. Marchand Lieutenants, T. C. Bowen and S. A. McCarty Surgeon, Thomas W. Leach; Paymaster, James Fulton Acting-Master, Felix McCurley; Ensigns. G. H. Wadleigh and Frank Wildes: Actine-Ensisn. Geo. T. Ohanman; Captain,

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OF THE

CIVIL

Acting-Master's Mates, Charles Welles and John Cannon; Engineers: Acting-Chief, W. A. R. Latimer; Second-Assistants, R. H. Gunnell and E. J. Whittaker; Third-Assistants, G. W. Roche, C. F. Marsland, B. E. Pike and I. B. Port Boatswain, W. B. Leeds; Gunner, J. G. Foster. * STEAMER "ITASCA." Lieutenant- Commander, George Brown, at Mobile; Acting-Master, Richard Hustace; Acting-Ensigns, C. H. Hurd and James Igo; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Henry Rockwood; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, George L. Mead; Acting - Master's Mate,

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* steamer "SEMINOLE." Commanders, E. Donaldson, at Mobile, and Henry Rolando; Lieutenant, A. T. Mahan; Sur-

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Raney and George C. Irelan. Note. — List not given in Navy Register uary, and is, therefore, incomplete.

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L. C. Sartori; Assistant-Surgeon, C.

S. Giberson; Assistant Paymaster, Caspar Sehenck; ActingFirst-Lieutenant of Marines, W. H. Hale Masters, G. Richmond, John Wallace and Eben Hoyt; Acting-Ensigns, John H. Allen and Abraham Rich Acting-Master's Mates, T. H. Jenks, W. F. Buel and Samuel Carpenter; Boatswain, John Ross; Sailmaker, L. B. Wakeman. ;

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*

steamer " ONEIDA "

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•STEAMBK "OCTORARA." Lieutenant-Commanders, C. H. Greene, at Mobile, and W. W. liOW; Lieutenant, C. M. Schoonmaker; Assistant-Surgeon, E. R. Dodge; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. H. Higbee Acting-Masters, E. A. Howell and W. D. Urann; Acting-Ensigns, G. F. Hollis, A. R. Jones and G. H. Dodge, Jr.; Engineers: First-Assistant, J. W. Whittaker; ActingSecond- Assistant, W. W. Shipman; Third-Assistants, C. R. Morgan and J. G. Cooper; Acting-ThirdAssistant, Joseph Knight. STEAMER "KANAWHA." Lieutenant-Commander. Wm. K. Mayo; Acting;

W. Brigham Acting- Assistant Paymaster. L. L. Penniman Acting-Ensigns, L. 8. Trickett, W. A. Purdie and H. Banks; ActingMaster's Mates, R. P. Boss and James Clark; Engineers: Second- Assistant, Edward Farmer; ThirdAssistants, W. S. Cherry, M. M. Murphy and M. W. Mather. STEAMER "GENESEE." Lieutenant - Commander, Edward C. Grafton; Lieutenant, Thomas S. Spencer Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. F. Hutchinson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. C. Alley; Acting-Masters, Wm. Hanson and C. M. Merchant; Acting-Ensigns, C. H. Baxter and E. W. Halcro; Acting-Master's Mates, W. J. Crosby and John Conner; Engineers Acting-PirstAssistant, John Cahill; Acting-Second-Assistant, Acting - Third - Assistants, ChristoC. H. Harrab pher Milton, Michael McLaughlin and Henry Webster. Assistant Surgeon, P.

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'STEAMER "GALENA." Lieutenant-Commander, C. H. Wells, at Mobile; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, C.W. Wilson; ActingMaster, D. C. Kells: Acting-Ensigns, Henry Pease, and S. S. Miner; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, George P. Wright Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Acting-Master's Mates, Francis Theo. S. Kitchen

Jr.,

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Commanders, J. B. M. Mullany, at Mobile, and W. E. LeRoy; Lieutenant, C. L. Huntington Surgeon, John Y. Taylor; Paymaster, C. W. Hassler; Acting-Masters, Thomas Edwards and Elijah Rose; ;

Ensign, E. N. Kellogg; Acting-Ensigns, C. V. Gridand John Sears Acting-Master's Mates, Edward Bird, D. H. Clark and Chas. Gainesford; Chief Engineer, Wm. H. Hunt; Second- Assistants, J. H. Morrison and R. H. Pitch Third- Assistants, JV. D. Mcllvaine and C. W. Breaker; Acting-ThirdAssistants, W. E. Dearer and Nicholas Dillon; Boatswain, H, Dickinson; Gunner, Wm. Parker. ley

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Commander,

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for Jan-

STOKE SHIP "POTOMAC.'' Commander, Alex. Gibson Assistant - Surgeon, Geo. R. Brush; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Wood; Chaplain, Robert Given; Captain of Marines, Geo. W. Collier; Acting-Master, Geo. D. Upham; Acting-Ensigns, Edwin Cressy and L. B. King Acting-Master's Mates, A. Whiting, W. H. Metz and James Connell; Gunner, Henry Hamilton; Acting-Carpenter, John C. Hoffman. 'STEAMER "MONONGAHEIiA." Lieutenant, Commander, James H. Strong Roderick Prentiss; Surgeon, David Kindleberger; Assistant Paymaster, Forbes Parker; Acting-Masters, Ezra Leonard and Chas. Higgins; Ensign, G. M. Brown; Acting-Ensigns, C. D. Sigsbee, D. W. Mullen and H. W. Grinnell; Acting-Master's Mate, W. S. Armand; Chief Engineer, Geo. F. Kutz; SecondAssistants, Joseph Trilly and N. B. Clark; ThirdAssistants, J. J. Bissett, Edw. Cheney, P. G. Eastwick and P. J. Langer; Boatswain, Wm. Green; Gunner, J. D. Fletcher. "steamer "metacomet." Lieutenant-Commander, James E. Jouett, at Mobile Acting - Masters, Henry J. Sleeper, N. M. Dyer and C. W. Wilson Acting-Ensigns, H. C. Nields, G. E. Wing, John White and John O. Morse; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Horace M. Harriman; Assistant Surgeon, Edw. D. Payne; Acting-Master's Mates, J. K. Goodwin, Miller, Chas. C. Jones and Henry Wyman Engineers First - Assistant, Jas. Atkins Second- Assistant, Joseph Morgan Acting-Third-Assistants, S. W. King and George B. Rodgers Acting - Gunners, James Lamen, at Mobile, and Peter McGovern January 1 ). SLOOP-OF-WAR "PORTSMOUTH." ;

geon, Charles Martin Paymaster, T. T. Caswell Acting-Master, C. G. Arthur; Ensign, G. K. Haswell; Acting-Ensigns, P. A. Cook, G. B. Stevenson and F. Kempton Acting-Master's Mates, D. K. Perkins, J. P. Knowles and John Dennett EngiActneers: Acting-First- Assistant, C. B. Babcock ing-Second-Assistant, A. R. Calden Acting-ThirdAssistants, Wm. Drinkwater, G. S. Thurston. P. J. Hughes and H. M. Quig; Boatswain, Paul Atkinson; Acting-Gunner, Wm. H. Herring. ;

Engineers Acting - Second - Assistant, M. H. Gerry; Acting - Third - Assistants, Owen ;

597

Acting- Assistant Paymaster, P. T. Morton; ActingMaster, P. J. Grover; Acting-Ensigns, T. H. Paine and P. A. Miller; Acting-Master's Mates, Freeman Langly and W. E. Cannon; Engineers ActingFirst - Assistant, Wm. Huntley Acting - SecondActing-Third- AssistAssistant, W. H. Thompson ants, Andrew Redmond, Charles Wolf and Peter Taylor.

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Henry Myron

WAR.

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EnTuttle, Jas. H. Delano and O. H. Bobbins H. Buehler Secondgineers: First- Assistant, Assistants, C. H. Greenleaf and J. A. Scott; ActingThird - Assistants, Patrick Burns and William Welcker; Captain's Clerk, Lesley G. Morrow. :

Wm.

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STEAMER " OWASCO." Lieutenant-Commander, E. W. Henry; ActingAssistant Surgeon, G. H. Van Deuseu; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. B; Coleman; Acting-Masters, Acting - Ensigns, E. A. Terrill and T. B. Sears T. H. Baker, W. H. Titcomb, and T. McL. Miller Acting - Master's Mate, R. N. Eldridge Engineers Second - Assistant, F. S. Barlow Third - Assistant, B. D. Clemens; Acting -Third -Assistants, T. H. ;

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STEAMER "PRINCESS ROYAL." Commander, M. B. Woolsey Lieutenant, ;

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C. E.

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THE NAVAL HISTORY

598

STEAMER " KATAHDIN. Lieutenant-Commander, P. C.Johnson; AssistantSurgeon, Ira Bragg; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, L. S. Bradley; Acting-Ensigns, M. W. MoBntee, G. A. Faunce, P". R. Maclaurin and George Leonard Act;

ing Master's Mate, Jolin Leeds; Engineers: SecondAssistant, T W. Rae; Ttiird-Assistants, W. J. Reed, W. W. Heaton, John Mclntyre and Thomas Tuttle.

*STBAMEB "POET EOTAL." Lieutenant -Commander, Bancroft Gherardi, at Mobile; Lieutenant-Commander, George U. Morris; PayActing-Assistant-Surgeon, E. R. Hutchins master, G. A. Sawyer; Acting-Masters, E. Van Slyck and Edward Herricls; Acting-Ensigns, William Hull and Peter Faunee Acting-Master's Mates, E. O. Tyson, H. D. Baldwin and W. A. Prescott; EnThirdgineers: Second-Assistant, W. C. Selden Assistants, E. M. Breeze, F. B. Allen, Henry Snyder and W. C. F. Reichenbach. ;

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STEAMER "CAYUGA." Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. H. Dana; ActingAssistant Surgeon, J. E. Parsons; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. N. Whiffen; Acting-Masters, E. D. Percy and John Hanscom; Acting- Master's Mates, F. P. Stevens, R. O. Longfare and I. A. Abbott; Engineers: Second-Assistant, J. M. Harris; ThirdAssistants, W. A. H. Allen, J. C. Chaffee and Ralph Aston.

STBAMEE "OAIiHOUN." Lieutenant-Commander, Geo. A. Bigelow; Assistant Surgeon, D. M. Skinner; Acting- Assistant Pay-

W. Riddle; Acting-Ensigns, J. S. Clark M. Chadwick; Acting- Master's Mates, J. L. Blauvelt, J. P. Sturgin and J. Mayo; Engineers; Acting-Third-Assistants, W. H. Brown, F. D. Stuart, Lucius Harlow and Richard Dwyer. master, D.

and

J.

STEAMER "ESTEELLA." Lieutenant-Commander, A. P. Cooke Assistant Surgeon, Thomas Hiland Acting- Assistant Pay;

STBAMEE "CHOOUEA." Lieutenant-Commander, Bancroft Gherardi; Acting-Asistant Surgeon, B. F. Hamell; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, E. L. Turner; Acting-Master, Alfred Washburn; Acting-Ensigns, D. M. Carver, Robert Beardsley and T. T. Tracy; Acting-Master's Mates, A. P. Atwood and Thomas Kennedy; Engineers: Second-Assistant, H. H. Maloney; Third-Assistants,

Theodore Cooper, Andrew Blytheand N. H. Lawton; Acting-Third-Assistant, O. D. Hughes.

STBAMEK '-PEMBINA." Lieutenant-Commander, L. H. Newman; ActingAssistant Surgeon, A. B. Holmes; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Walter Fuller; Acting-Masters, Bowen Allen and J. W. Saunders; Acting-Ensigns, William Lyddon, B. M. Chester and Olof Sandstrom; ActingMaster's Mate, H. T. Davis; Engineers: Second-Assistants, T. A. Stephens and J. W. Sydney; ThirdAssistants,, B. M. Hodgson, J. F. i3ingham and C. F. Nagle.

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master, F. J. Painter Acting-Master, G. P. Pomeroy; Acting-Ensign, W. W. Duley; Acting- Master's Mates, W. H. Wetmore and Thomas Kelly; Engineers: Acting-Second Assistant, R. G. Pope; Acting-Third-Assistants, G. R. Marble, W. D. Pancake, ;

Winters and John Gilbert. STEAMER " NBW LONDON." Lieutenant-Commander, Weld N. Allen; ActingAssistant Paymaster, E. A. Chadwick; Acting-Master, H. L. Sturgis; Acting-Ensigns, Edward PenJ. F.

dexter and Eugene Biondi; Acting- Master's Mates, Edward Hennessy and Francis Way; Engineers: Acting-Second Assistant, H. P. Powers; ActingThird-Assistants, Chas. Haskins, John Dunlap and James Creery.

STEAMER AROOSTOOK. Lieutenant -Commander, Chester Hatfield; Assistant Surgeon, H. W. Birkey Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. L. Pynchon Acting-Ensigns, J. S. Rugs and J. Griffin Acting- Master's Mates, C. S. Bellows, Wm. Barker and Edw. Culbert Engi'

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STEAMER Lieutenant-Commander, A. B. K. Benham; Act" PENOBSCOT."

ing-Assistant Surgeon, F. C. Sargent; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, F. H. Hinman; Acting-Master, C. E. Jack; Acting-Ensigns, H. D. Edwards, F. W. Hearn, J. B. Fairchild and W. G. Campbell; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, W. M. Rhodes; ActingSecond-Assistants, W. C. Barrett and A. E. McConnell; Third-Assistants, Warren Howland and J. F. Plant.

SLOOP-Or-WAE "VINCBNNES." Lieutenant-Commander, C. H. Greene; AssistantSurgeon, G. B. Slough; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Samuel Jordan; Acting-Masters, J. T. Seare'r and A. E. Hunter; Acting - Boatswain, A. O. Goodsoe; Gunner, William Wilson; Sailmaker, N. Lynch.

*STEAMEE "KENNEBEC."

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Acting-Second-Assistant, J. C. Cree; ThirdAssistants, James Entwistle, Samuel Gregg and neers

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Nathan Brown. STEAMER "SOIOTA." Lieutenant -Commander, George H. Perkins; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, E. P. Colby Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Lockwood; Acting- Master, B. Van Voorhis; Acting-Ensigns, S. S. Beck, S. H. Bevins and Geo. W. Coffin Acting- Master's Mates, W. A. Osborne, Charles Atkins and Richard Graham Engineers: Second-Assistant, Horace McMurtrie; Third-Assistants, A. H. Price, W. F. Pratt and Daniel Dod. ;

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STEAMER " ARKANSAS." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, David Gate Acting-Assistant Surgeon, E. D. G. Smith; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, E. G. Bishop; Acting-Master, James McDonald; Acting-Ensigns, B. F. Russell and F. H. Beers; Acting-Master's Mates, T. S. Ransom, G. F. Carey and Roger Farrill; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, James Blenkinsop; ActingSecond-Assistants, S. T. Reeves and Benjamin La Bree; Acting-Third-Assistant, James Crooks. ;

Lieutenant Commander, W. P. McCann Assistant Surgeon, C. H. Perry Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. L. Burnet; Acting-Master, Edward Balier; Acting-Ensigns, A. L. Emerson, J. J. Butler, J. D. Ellis and H. E. Tinkham; Acting-Master's Mate, H. C. Nields; Engineers: Third-Assistants, B. C. Gowing, E. E. Roberts, L, W. Robinson and G. -

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R. Holt.

STEAMER " PINOLA " Lieutenant-Commander, O. F. Stanton; AssistantSurgeon, L. M. Lyon; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, A. B. Robinson; Acting-Master, W. P. Gibbs; Acting-Ensigns, C. V. Rummell, G. M. Bogart and H. Crosby; Acting-Master's Mate, J. G. Rosling; Engineers: First-Assistant, John Johnson; Third-Assistants, John Everding, F. E. Hosmer, C. O. Farciot and S. A. Appold.

STBAMEE 'ALBATROSS. Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Theodore B. DuBois; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, I. C. Whitehead; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. R. Martin; ActingEnsigns, R. E. Anson and Alfred Hornsby; ActingMaster's Mates, James Brown, John Clark and J. Aeting-First-Assistant, T. Thompson Engineers Acting-Third-Assistants, E. H. Slack, J. Tucker and Pearce. J. J. Shields ;

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OF THE CIVIL WAR. STEAMEB "J. P. JACKSON. Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, L. W. Pennington; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, T. S. Yard Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. B. Perry; Acting-Masters, M. B. Crowell and J. F. Dearborn Acting-Ensign, J. S. Gellett Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. Howard Acting - SecondEngineers and Jer. Murphy Assistant, J. C. Mockabee; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. D. Cadwell, T. W. Harding and James Look;

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-wood.

STEAMEB "VIRGINIA." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Charles H. Brown; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, C. H. Mason; ActingAssistant Paymaster, B. C. Bowman Acting- Master, L. G. Cook; Acting-Ensigns, E. H. Thomas, J. H. Rogers, A. F. West and N. A. Blume; ActingMaster's Mate, F. E. Brackett; Engineers: Acting; Second- Assistant, S. S. Glass; Acting-Third- Assistants, E. J. Gillespie, Charles Goodwin and E. M. Clark. ;

STEAMER "PENGUIN." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, James R. Beers Acting-Assistant Surgeon, C. D. White; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, T. C. Hutchinson Acting-Mas;

599

STEAMER "GRANITE CITY." Acting-Masters, C. W. Lamson and A. H. Atkinson Acting- Assistant Sui-geon, E. C. Ver Mulen Acting- Assistant Paymaster, John Reed Acting Ensigns, 8. R. Tyrrell and A. H. Berry; Acting Master's Mates, T. R. Marshall, T. E. Ashmead and D. Hall; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, S. Green; Acting-Third-Assistants, E. M. Schryver, J. H. Rollins and R. H. Gordon. ;

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STEAMER "JASMINE." Acting-Master, Wm. A. Maine; Acting-Ensign, F. J. Brenton; Acting- Master's Mates, L. E. Heath and F. W. Kimball; Engineers Acting-Second-Assistant, Samuel Lemon; Third-Assistant, Jay Dinsmore; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. M. Cheeney and J. H. Pelton. :

STEAMER "HOLLYHOCK." Acting- Master, Meltiah Jordan; Acting-Master's Mate, Lewis Milk Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, J. F. Butler; Acting-Second-Assistants, Arthur Clements and S. B. Rannells; Acting-Third-Assistants, G. S. Prvor and Arthur Irwin. :

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STEAMER "COMMODORE."

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Tolford Durham Acting-Ensigns, Charles Knowles, N. S. Hayden and Benj. Caullet; ActingMaster's Mates, Charles Smith, Jr., F. C. Almy and W. A. Hannah; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, F. W. Warner Acting-Second-Assistant, Milton Randall; Acting -Third -Assistants, John Webster, Edw. Reilly and DeWitt C. McBride. STEAMEB "TENNESSEE." Acting -Volunteer - Lieutenant, Pierre Giraud Assistant-Surgeon, W. C. Hull Acting- Assistant Paymaster, B. F. D. Fitch; Acting-Master, Geo. E. Nelson; Acting Ensigns, J. B. Trott, W. S. Bacon and Jos. Marthon; Acting-Master's Mate, H. E. fnllnw bis convictions.

625

He did not leave the United States Navy with any bitterness, and when the troubles were all over he accepted the situation gracefully. What we are going to state of him shows that he was capable of the greatest heroism, and, that, though he was on the side of the enemy, his courage and skill were worthy of praise. On the 4th of September, at 3 P. M. the " Florida " made Fort Morgan, and at the same time it was discovered that three of the enemy's ci-uisers lay between her and the bar. Maffitt was assisted on deck, being too sick to move without help. He determined to run the risk of passing the blockaders and, if he failed in that, he made his ,

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preparations to destroy his vessel so that she might not fall into Federal hands. He hoisted the English ensign, and assumed the character of an English ship-of-war. The moment the "Florida" was seen by the blockaders, as she stood boldly in, two of these vessels got underway and stood towards her. The blockading force was at this time under the command of Commander George H. Preble, in the " Oneida," a prudent, careful officer, who tried hard not to commit any mistakes but on this occasion he was too careful not to compromise his Government by attacking an English man-of-war, as he supposed the " Florida " was, from the bold manner in which she stood towards him. Several gun - boats had been employed blockading outside the bar, the "Kanawha," " Pinola " and " Kennebec," and the ;

steam - frigate "Susquehanna" had also been there, but all of these vessels had been temporarily withdrawn for other duty. The " Oneida " had been making repairs on her boilers, and the "Winona" was the only other vessel actually on the blockade at that moment. The "Oneida" was one of the fine ships built at the beginning of the war, and was supposed to be a 13knot vessel. Her armament consisted of two 11-inch Dahlgrens (one forward and

and three Dahlgren 30-pounder rifles. The " Winon a " carried one 11-inch Dahlgren pivot - gun (forward), and two 32-pounders and the schooner "Rachel Seaman " (bomb vessel), which happened to be beating up to tlie bar at the time, cai-ried two 33 -pounders. The "Oneida," owing to repairs that were going on, could not carry a full press of steam, and may be said to have been caught the other aft), four 33-pounders

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napping.

Commander Maffitt could not have chosen a more auspicious time to attempt, his daring feat, though, be it said to his credit, he had made up his mind to run through the whole blockading fleet if necessary. It was he had only to do that or his last chance run his vessel on shore and burn her. for she ;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

626

of no use to the Confederates in her then condition. As soon as Maffitt discovered the Federal vessels, he stood directly for them, knowing that, as the "Florida" resembled an English gun-boat, she would probably be mistaken for one, and trusting to his speed Intellito save him at the last moment. gence had been received at Pensacola, the headquarters of the squadron, of the " Florbut no news ida's " having left Nassau of her having reached Cardenas had followed, and for some reason no intimation had been sent to the fleet off: Mobile that she was on a cruise. At that time English ships-of-war were in the habit of going along the coast to see if the blockade was effectual, and it was customary for them to enter blockaded

was

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ports after reporting to the commanding officer of the blockading force and obtaining his permission. Commander Preble, thinking this to be a case of that kind, ran out to meet the supposed Englishman, and rounded-to, to go in with him on the same course. The "Florida " approached rapidly, her smoke-pipes vomiting forth volumes of black smoke and a high press of steam escaping from her steam-pipe. As she came within hailing distance, tlae Federal commander ordered her to heave-to, but Maffitt still sped on, having sent all his men below, except the man at the wheel, and returned no reply to the hail. Preble then fired a shot ahead of the " Florida." still supposing

her to be some saucy Englishman disposed to try what liberties he could take, though the absence of men on deck should have excited suspicion. He hesitated, however, and his hesitation lost him a prize and the honor of capturing one of the Confederate scourges of the ocean. Preble had his crew at quarters, however, and as soon as he saw that the stranger was passing him he opened his broadside upon her, and the other two blockaders did the same. But the first shots were aimed too high and the "Florida" sped on toward the bar, her feeble crew forgetting their sickness and heaping coal upon the furnace fires with all possible rapidity. life,

Every

man was working

while the captain stood amid

for his the storm

and shell perfectly unmoved, keenly watching the marks for entering the port, and wondering to himself what his chances were for getting safely in. The first broadside of the " Oneida," which was fired from a distance of a few of shot

yards only, cut away the " Florida's" hammocks, smashed her boats, and shattered some of her spars. The shock seemed to give a new impetus to her speed, the English colors were hauled down, and an attempt was made to hoist the Confederate flag in their place, but the man who

was bending it to the halyards had his away, and it was not run up

fingers shot

while under

The

"

fire.

Winona " now opened on

the chase with her heavy guns, as did also the "Rachel Seaman" with her 32-pounders, but the latter vessel was at a distance and her fire

was

of

little

effect.

The "Oneida"

fired rapidly from all the guns she could bring to bear; but as she could not make more than seven knots an hour, the " Florida" was rapidly leaving her. One fl-

inch shell entered the side of the blockaderunner just above the water-line, passed through both sides, and exploded. Had it exploded one second sooner the career of the " Florida" would have ended and she would have gone to the bottom but an inch or two saved her. On she sped, faster and faster, until even those who longed for his discomfiture could not but admire the steady bearing of the brave man who stood alone upon the deck. Another shell passed through the cabin, and her afterspars began to tremble as their supports were cut away. The firing of the Union vessels was bad, however, and the Confederate finally escaped with but one man killed and seven wounded a small loss compared to their great gain. During the whole war there was not a more exciting adventure than this escape of the "Florida" into Mobile Bay. The gallant manner in which it was conducted excited great admiration, even among the men who were responsible for permitting it. We do not suppose there was ever a case where a man, under all the attending circumstances, displayed more energy or more bravery. The " Florida " remained four months in Mobile preparing for sea. and watching a chance to get out. The blockading squadron had been enlarged to seven vessels, among them the "R. R. Cuyler," a very fast steamer, that had been sent to this station with the certainty that she would be able to intercept the " Florida " if she ;

—

attempted to run out. Maffitt came down from Mobile one afternoon in the " Florida," and noted the number and positions of the blockaders, while he was plainly visible to them. The Federal commanders had been in a continual state of vigilance for three months, and it was a

great relief to them to see the coveted prize at last. One would have supposed that on such an occasion every man would have been at his post, and the vessels with steam up and the chains ready to slip but this was not the case. The "Cuyler" only was ordered to change her position after dark, and be ready to start after the " Florida" the moment she appeared. Not a vessel was sent off eight or ten miles to head the Confed;

OF THE CIVIL WAR. if she should get the lead, and no extraordinary precautions were taken. At about 3 A. M. the " Florida" was reEorted as coming out. She passed directly etween the "Cuyler"and the "Susquehanna," at a distance of 300 yards from the former. It is stated that half an hour was lost in the " Cuyler's " getting underway, owing to a regulation of the ship that the officer of the watch should report to the captain and wait for him to come on deck before slipping the cable (in this instance it would have been well if the Captain had

erate off

slept

on deck).

The " Oneida's "

saw the

signal,

!

!

of Cuba, where she was engaged in burning prizes the next day, while the " Cuyler

was

hunting for her in the Yucatan Channel. On the day after the "Florida "ran out, the "Oneida" was sent in pursuit of her; but she missed the Confederate cruiser, and Commodore Wilkes, who at that time commanded a "flying squadron" of slow vessels, fell in with her, detained her and made her a part of his command, as he also did the "Cuyler" when she fell into his hands. And so the " Florida" was allowed to go on her way without molestation, and Maffitt was enabled to commence that career on the high seas which has made his name one of the notable ones of the war. He lighted the seas wherever he passed along,

and committed such havoc among American merchantmen, that, if possible, he was even more dreaded than Semmes. We have only to saj', that his being permitted to escape into Mobile Bay, and then to get out again, was the greatest example of blundering committed throughout the war.

who knew Maffitt was certain would attempt to get out of Moand we are forced to say that those officer

that he bile,

soon as possible, before the application of the British "Foreign Enlistment Act" should become more stringent. Semmes wrote to Captain Bulloch, who had charge of fitting out the " 290," to bring her to a rendezvous where he would join her. The former then made his way to Liverpool in the steamer "Bahama," and found that the " 290 " had succeeded in eluding the vigilance (!) of the English authorities and had proceeded to the island of Terceira, where she was awaiting the arrival of her battery on another vessel, which had also eluded these vigilant Englishmen !

officers

beat to quarters, but remained at anchor, though she was assigned as one of the chasing vessels and at 3:50, "having seen no vessel run out, beat the retreat " Such is the extract from her log. The "Cuyler's" officers, however, saw the " Florida" distinctly, and chased her during the whole of the next day, making as her greatest speed during the chase only 13J knots, although she had previously made 14. At night the " Florida " changed her course, and ran for the coast

Every

627

who permitted his escape are responsible for the terrible consequences of their want of vigilance and energy. To return to Captain Semmes He had been kept several anxious weeks at Nassau waiting for an opportunity to return to Europe. The "290," then fitting out in England, was nearly ready for sea and it :

—

The "Alabama " was built by John Laird, an eminent ship-builder, and we believe that she was built especially for the Confederate Government. This book does not pretend to enter into a lengthy legal discussion of the rights of the Confederates to build and equip ships in English ports for the destruction of American commerce, though the writer condemns the practice in toto. The Queen of England, at the outbreak of the civil war in America, issued a proclamation, in which it was stated that England would preserve a strict neutrality between the contending parties. This neutrality consisted not only in permitting the Confederates actually to build and equip cruisingsteamships for the purpose of inflicting injury on the Federals, but these ships managed to leave England in violation of the " Foreign Enlistment Act," and did inflict serious injury to the shipping of the

United States.

A great many arguments were brought forward by Confederate writers to prove that no laws were violated by the above proceedings, but a folio of such arguments is not worth much in the face of the fact that in 1871 a commission was appointed by England and the United States to settle what were known as the "Alabama Claims," but which included the vessels captured by all the Confederate cruisers fitted out in England. The

result of that

Commission was that

Great Britain paid to the United States the

sum of $15,000,000 as indemnification for damage inflicted on United States com-

the

merce by Confederate

cruisers,

owing

to

the neglect of the British authorities in not preventing the said cruisers from getting to sea. There could be no better argument than this against all the specious writings which have appeared from time to time, and it especially refutes the attempt of Commander Semmes to justify his course. Great Britain is a nation from whom nothing like payment could have been exacted, but the concurrence of the English Commissioners was based on that high sense of justice and fair-play which is the ruling characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon race.

THE NA VAL HISTORY

628

few days in Liverpool, collecting his officers and making financial arrangements, departed on the 13th of August, 1862, in the steamer "Bahama," to join the " 290." Commander James D. Bullock, formerly of the U. S. Navy, accompanied Jiim, to be present at the cliristening of the "290," vsrhich he had contracted for and superintended while she was building. The "290" was a vessel of 900 tons burden, 230 feet in lengtli, 32 feet beam, and, when provisioned and coaled for a cruise, drew 15 feet of water. Her model was of the most perfect symmetry, and she

upon the water with the lightness and grace of a swan. She was barkentinerigged, with long lower masts, that enabled her to carry large fore-and-aft sails, which are of so much importance to a steamer in most weathers. She was of the lightest build compatible with strength, and was. in fact, constructed with the one idea of making her an efficient commercedestroyer. She was a fast steamer, but her two modes of locomotion were independent of each other. Her speed was about 10 knots, though she made 11| on her trial trip. She was well armed with 8 guns, six 32-pounders in broadside and two pivot guns, one a 100-pounder Blakely rifle, and the other a long 8-inch smooth-bore. The crew required for the "290" (not counting those in the engine-room) numbered 120 men. and she carried 24 officers. This was the vessel that became so famous in burning and sinking that her reputation in this kind of warfare has eclipsed that of all the other Confederate

sat

vessels

engaged

A week

in the

same

Semmes

business.

Liverpool he was in Porto Praya, where he found the "290" with some of her stores already on board. Some objections being made to his getting guns on board in West Angra Bay. Semmes got underwaj' with his flotilla and proceeded far enough to sea to be outside of neutral jurisdiction, and there, in smooth water, got the vessels alongside and completed his outfit. He then steamed back to Terceira and filled his vessel with coal. Terceira is a beautiful place, nearly every after

left

foot of the island is under cultivation, and from a distance the whole country looks

a rambling village, where Nature seems to smile as it does nowhere else. There is everything here to allure the heart of man to harmony and peace. The little town of Angra, near which the "Alabama" like

was anchored, was a

perfect picture of a Portuguese-Moorish settlement, with its red-tiled roofs, sharp gables, and parti-colored verandas, while tlie quiet peacefulness tliat hung over this spot, so far removed from the highways of the world, gave it an

unusual charm.

Yet from this beautiful spot, where it seemed as if nothing unlawful could exist, started forth one of the most devastating expeditions against a nation's commerce

known

in the history of war. 290 " lay at her anchors in all her

The "

rakish beauty; but to one who could have known of her mission she would have been an offence instead of an object of admiration. Who, to look at her in that beautiful harbor, would ever have supposed that she was bound on a mission of vengeance, and that she was destined to rove the high seas in search of plunder and leave behind her a track of flame! Semmes had arrived in Terceira on a Wednesday, and by Saturday night all his labors were completed. The "290's" battery was on board, her provisions all stowed away, and her coal-bunkers full. Sunday morning dawned bright and beautiful, and Semmes and his co-workers took it as a harbinger of success. The ship had not been yet put in commission, i. e., had not been baptized, and the time having now come to perform this ceremony, every preparation was made to carry it through in man-of-war style. The decks were cleaned, the rigging hauled taut, and tlie vessel made to look, as her captain expressed it, " like a bride, with the orangewreath about her brow, ready to be led to the altar But the crew had not yet been enlisted there were some ninety stalwart fellows in the two steamers who had been brought thus far under articles of agreement that were now no longer binding. Some had shipped for one voyage some for another but none of them, it is said, had been enlisted for service on board a Confederate cruiser. This course had been pursued in order to avoid a breach of the British "Foreign Enlistment Act," but no one can doubt that these rough and devil-may-care-looking fellows were ready for any adventure that promised plunder or profit they were the same kind of men that accompanied Morgan all tlirough the West Indies, across the Isthmus, and even to the gates of !

;

—

—

;

Panama. But to perform these functions for the christening of the " 290," it was necessary to be careful that no neutral law should be violated. Not for anything in the world

would Semmes and his confedei-ates have done anything of this kind, and it was therefore essential that the "290" should get underway and steam off beyond the marine league, where, upon the broad ocean, it was neuti-al for all the world. After steaming the required distance, the 290 " was stopped and the programme carried out. '

'

Tlie officers

were

all in full

uniform, and

OF THE CIVIL WAR. the crew neatly dressed. All hands were summoned aft on the quarter-deck, and, mounting a gun-carriage, Semmes read his commission as a Captain in the Confederate service, and the Secretary of the Navy's order directing him to assume command When this reading of the "Alabama." was finished, the Confederate flag and pennant were run up, while the English colors were hauled down a gun was fired, the band played " Dixie," and thus was christened the " Alabama " a vessel whose career was destined to throw that of the "Sumter" into the shade. ;

—

Captain Semmes congratulated himself on having performed this ceremony in the most legal manner. The fact that it had all been done upon the high seas, more than a marine league from the land, where Mr. Jefferson Davis had as much jurisdiction as Mr, Abraham Lincoln, made it entirely legal in his sight. Up to this time not

a single sailor had shipped for the coming cruise of the " Alabama"; but the stalwart fellows who were now moving about her decks had well understood before they left Liverpool that they were to enlist in the Confederate service, and thus violate the " Foreign Enlistment Act " of the British nation. The new cruiser cannot be considered to have been a representative Confederate man-of-war, for, with the exception of a few officers, all on board of her were Englishmen, who possessed no sentiment of loyalty towards the Government under which they were now to serve. It was not a crew of

enthusiastic Southerners who were going forth to fight for a cause they really loved, but a band of foreign mercenaries who had no feeling but of indifference towards either of the combatants; and when one thinks of the character of these sailors there is some excuse for comparing them to pirates who fight with no other motive than that of plunder. In this case they had been quietly told that they would receive double the amount of

wages paid elsewhere, and that the Conwould vote them prize-

federate Congress

money

to the full value of everj^ ship they destroyed. Captain Semmes had touched the hearts of these Englishmen in the right place, and he had the satisfaction of enlisting 80 out of the 90 sailors who had come out from the Mersey in the two steamers, and they came forward willingly to sign their names and receive their advance wages. This ended the democratic part of the proceedings. There was no more talk about nationalities or liberties or double wages. The strict discipline of an American man-of-war was at once enforced by Semmes and his officers (most of whom had hfipn Aflnfia.tAfl in thfiold Na.vv^- and thfi

new

vessel

629

was quickly put

into a state of

efficienc3\ If these officers

cause, they the extreme. yond their

were engaged in a bad at least faithful to it in They had succeeded far be-

were

most sanguine expectations, having got their vessel to sea in spite of the watchful care of the American minister in London and tlie apparent zeal of the

How

British Government to prevent it. far Her Majesty's Government were sincere in their intentions can be seen from the following extract, which we give from the work of a clever naval writer. Professor J. Russell Soley, U. S. N. "The second cruiser built in England for the Confederates was the 'Alabama,' whose career began in July, 1863. The attention of the Foreign Office had been first called to this vessel by a note from Mr. Adams on the 23d of June. The evidence then submitted as to her character was confined to a statement made by the Consul at Liverpool, of suspicious circumstances connected with the vessel. The communication was referred to the law officers of the Crown, who gave the opinion that, if the allegations were true, the building and equipment of the vessel were a Manifest violation of the Foreign Enlistment Act, and steps ought to be taken to put that act in force and to prevent the vessel from going to sea.' " It was added that the Customs authorities at Liverpool should endeavor to ascertain the truth :

'

and that, if sufficient evidence could be obtained, proceedings should be taken as early as possible. On the 4th of July, the report of the Customs officers was ti-ansmitted to Mr. Adams, tending to show that there was no sufficient evidence that a violation of the act was contemplated. "Other correspondence and opinions followed. On the 21st, affidavits were delivered to the authorities at Liverpool, one of which, made by a seaman who had been shipped on board the vessel, declared that Butcher, the captain of the 'Alabama,' who engaged him, had stated that she was going out to fight for the Confederate States. Other depositions to the same effect were received on the 23d and of the statements,

which were referred, as they came in, to the law officers. The latter rendered the opinion that the evidence of the deponents, coupled with the character of the vessel, make it reasonably clear that she was intended for warlike use against the United States, and recommended that she be seized 3oth, all of

without loss of time. "Notwithstanding that the urgency of the case was well known to the Government, and notwithstanding also that of the four depositions upon which the law officers chiefly based their opinion, one had been received on the 21st of July, two others on the 33d, and the fourth on the 25th, the report was not presented until the 29th. On that day, however, the 'Alabama' left Liverpool, without an armament, and ostensibly on a trial trip. She ran down to Port Lynas, on the coast of Angiesea, about fifty miles from Liverpool. Here she remained for two days completing her preparations. "On the morning of the 31st she got underway and stood to the northward up the Irish Sea and, rounding the northern coast of Ireland, she passed out into the Atlantic. "Among the innumerable side-issues presented by the case of the 'Alabama,' the facts given above contain the essential point. That the attention of the British Government was called to the suspicious character of the vessel on the 23d of June that bar nrln.nf.n.f.ion to "warlike nsp "wns Pi.(\rr\\\\.f^f\ tha+. ;

;

•

THE NAVAL HISTORY

630

her readiness for sea was known that evidence was submitted on the 21st, the 23d, and finally on the 35th of July, that put her character beyond a doubt and that, in spite of all this, she was allowed to sail on the 39th, make the real foundation of the ;

;

****¥*

case against Greaii Britain.

inference is unavoidable that ttie Governdeliberately intended to pursue a policy as unfriendly as it could possibly be without passing the technical bounds of a legal neutrality."

"The

ment

The proof of the illegality of all these acts is the fact that the British Government finally paid the av^rard of the " Alabama Commission," which was an acknowledgment on its part that the responsibility for the acts of the Confederate cruiser rested with the Power that by indifference and neglect of a plain duty had allowed its laws to be violated.

The " Alabama " had not far to go before she could strike a blow at the commerce of the North. The theatre of her performThe whaling ances was close at hand. season in the neighborhood of the Azores generally ends about the 1st of October, when the winter gales begin to blow, and food for the whales becomes scarce. The whales then migrate to other feeding grounds, and are followed up by their pursuers.

"Bounty," and was well aware what freaks of this class were capable of committing, but on this occasion he was compelled

men

to defer gratifying their taste for brilliant effects, and he waited until daylight next morning before applying the torch to his prize.

the following day, Semmes stood the beautiful island of Flores, spread his awnings, cleaned his ship, and read to his crew the "Articles of War" It must have been of the old Navy. very amusing to the descendants of the Norsemen when they heard that "any officer of the Navy guilty of treason shall suffer death." It was intended that this occasion should be an impressive one, for the crew had not up to this time assumed the orderly bearing of men-of-war's men. Somehow or other they had got it into their heads that they were bound on a privateer" ing expedition, and that the " Alabama was not a hona-fide man-of-war. They looked earnestly at each other as the reading of death-penalties went on, and openly signified that they did not fear being larought up and shot for insubordination by a man who had set such a shining example Yet Semmes seemed to think that this reading of the Articles of War had so rivetted the chains of discipline upon his men that he could count on them to the end for any adventure he might choose to em-

On

in

for

!

was now in the early days of September, and Semmes had but a few weeks left in which to accomplish his purpose of strikIt

ing a blow at the whale

fishery of the

United States, which had for years been carried on in these peaceful latitudes. The people pursuing this industry had no idea that there was such a vessel in existence as the " Alabama." The " Ocmulgee," of Edgartown, was lying off Fayal, made fast to a dead whale, when her captain was astonished by the appearance of a Confederate

When

cruiser. the " Alabama " first came in sight she carried the American flag, and was naturally mistaken for one of the new cruisers that were reported to be fitting out

for

mutinies at the Nore, and on board the

the protection

of

Federal commerce

and the whaling industry. The same old story is to be

told of the the " Sumter's prizes. Semmes was too old a hunter to burn her by night, when the light of his bonfire would serve as a warning to other whalers that might hapi^en to be in the neighborhood, although by so doing he risked disappointing the descendants of the old Norsemen in his crew, who would greatly have enjoyed the spectacle. He well knew that it was necessary to keep these

" Ocmulgee,"

as

with

men amused, for they might at any time take

bark

in.

the next day, the schooner " Starfrom Boston, was captured. Her crew consisted of seven persons, and there Here lady passengers. were several

On

light,"

Semmes appears in a new I'ole. Having heard of the treatment received by the paymaster of the " Sumter," he determined to practice a little retaliation on his own account, and the crew of the " Starlight were forthwith put in irons. This was taking upon himself the authority only possessed by his Government for, when retaliatory measures are adopted by one Government against another, it is done formally, and by an edict, endorsed with If this all the forms of lawful authority. were not the case, and if every commander of a ship or of a regiment were allowed to ;

retaliate for every supposed offence, war would run into a species of brutalitj' worthy only of savages. Hence, this power of retaliation is properly kept in the hands of heads of governments, and any subordinate who assumes this power and causes injustice to innocent people is held personally

the bit in their teeth, bid defiance to him and his officers, and take the '"Alabama" into

and morally responsible.

where their claim for prize-money would have been cheerfully acknowledged. He had read about the

himself, and cared for no authority or precedents that interfered with his design in the present case. Because some brute of a

a Northern

port,

But Captain Semmes was a law unto

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

631

merchant captain, to whose care the paymaster of the " Sumter " had been intrusted, had not conscience or kindness of heart enough to treat his prisoner with respect,

and qualifications were all entered on the " Alabama's " log-book, and the quartermaster, whose duty it was to attend to such matters, stowed away her clean new flag in

Semmes determined that all Yankee crews captured by the "Alabama" should suffer It was not the Federal Government for it.

his plethoric bag.

that had treated the paymaster of the " Sumter " with cruelty. It was an irresponsible merchant captain, and the Confederate Government had in consequence issued no order of retaliation.* Captain Semmes merely followed his own notion, that the Yankees should be chastised for the sins

which one Southerner

man had committed

against a be remembered that these men whom he was putting in irons, a,nd subjecting to every indignity, had not iDorne arms against the South, nor committed any overt act. They were peaceful ;

but

let it

traders, following their avocations, and it not likely that they would ever have interfered with either one side or the other. He continued this practice, however, with

is

captains and crews of the next eight or ten prizes, and treated them with the greatThe only effect of this action est rigor.

"the

to embitter the North against an officer who thus took upon himself undue authority. Two more fine prizes were soon after-

was

'

wards taken by the Alabama," the ships " Ocean Eover " and " Alert," both of which were filled with such supplies as the Confederates wanted. The crews of these vessels were allowed to take their boats with '

'

and start for the which was then distant about five miles. Semmes did not want them, for, as they would not enlist, they would simply eat up his provisions without being of any use to him, and he was glad to get rid of them on any terms. The three last prizes were all burnt that afternoon, and the successors of the Norsemen were delighted as the smoke from three funeral pyres ascended to the skies at the same mosufficient provisions,

shore,

ment.

While

this

work was going

on,

an

in-

cautious American schooner (the "Weathergauge ") hove in sight and was speedily There were some Northern captured. papers on board the prize that dealt out liberal invectives against the South, arid the reader may rest assured that they did the " Weather-gauge" no good. Her crew, however, were put in their boats to seek the shore, while a pillar of fire behind them revealed the fate of their floating home. Three days after this the whaler " Altamaha," of New Bedford, was taken and burned; but, as she had not made a succesful "catch," her bonfire was somewhat of a disappointment to Semmes' adventurers. Still she counted in the game; her name

There was often a little excitement and some poetry in these chases, especially when the " Alabama " happened to fall in with a clipper of a vessel that would give her as much as she could attend to. At such a time the best helmsman would be placed at the wheel, and every sail set and trimmed to a nicety, while officers and men watched the result with the keenness The of sportsmen in pursuit of a hare. "Alabama" was a long, lean racer, with three large fore-and-aft sails and square yards. When in a heavy breeze and she wanted to go to windward, slie could furl her square-sails and then become a threemasted schooner, and when under this sail few vessels could equal her in speed.

On

a dark night, shortly after the

burning, while

Semmes was

last

asleep in his

an old quartermaster went below and shook him by the arm, informing him cabin,

was a large ship of them on the

just passing to opposite tack. He sprang out of bed at once, and throwing on a few clothes was on deck as soon as the quartermaster, and gave orders to " wear ship " and give chase to the stranger. The " Alabama " was under topsails at the time, and it took some moments to get all sail

that there

windward

her, and when this was done the chase was three or four miles ahead, yet quite visible to a good eye in the bright moonlight. Both vessels were now close hauled on the starboard-tack, and it was evident that the merchant captain was doing his best to escape. He set his light sails with alacrity, and trimmed his yards to the greatest advantage but this was the

upon

;

"Alabama's" best point

of

sailing,

and

when

the sheets of her great trysails were hauled flat aft, and the fore-tack boarded, she bounded over the water like something imbued with life. What would not that merchant captain have given at that moment if the moon could have been blotted out ? But the darkness would not have covered her, for the Confederates were provided with the best English night-glasses, made on purpose to spy out American prizes

on dark nights.

The "Alabama" gained on the chase from the very first, and in two hours was on her weather-quarter, liaving headreached and gone to windward of her. The stranger was not more than a mile off, on the lee bow, when the stillness of the night was broken into by the boom of a heavy cannon. The gun was unshotted and the merchantman paid no attention to it not a tack or sheet was slacked in

—

THE NAVAL HISTORY

632

obedience to the thundering summons; but the Confederates saw that preparations were being made to keep off from the wind

and set stun'sails. Poor fellows! Never did merchant sailors work with such a will. They knew how little mercy they had to The expect from the Southern rovers. burnings of the "Sumter" were known in every sea where a newspaper could reach. The merchant ship now began to move briskly through the water, by keeping off, and the delusive hope sprung up in the captain's breast that he might yet evade his pursuer. For a moment the ''Alabama "began to drop astern, but it was only for a moment. As soon as she followed the movements of the chase and stood on a parallel course, she made such good speed that before the stranger could get his foretopmast stun'sail set she was within good pointblank range of a long 32-pounder. The moon was shining brightly and every rope

and

sail

proved the stranger to be Ameri-

can.

The chase was very exciting, and the crew of the "Alabama" were grouped about on her deck, wondering if the "old man " would not soon bring it to a close, and let them have a good night display of burning before changing watches, and they were soon gratified by the order to fire another gun shotted, as the "Alabama" ranged up under the stern of her prey, not more than 300 yards distant. This was too much for the nerves of the old merchant captain. He was not a fighting man, and, if he had been, he had nothing to fight with, so he wisely hauled up his courses and lay-

—

It was a pretty picture that large ship lying in the light of the moon, with the long, low clipper silently stealing up alongside of her and, no doubt, reminded the spectators of the yarns oft told in the forecastle of the times when the bold buccaneers sailed along the Spanish main, burning vessels and making their crews walk the plank. Semmes at once gave the order to board the prize, and directed the officer to hoist a light at the peak in case she proved to be an American. When the boat came alongside, the old captain was relieved of his worst apprehensions, instead of his pursuer being a pirate, she was only the " Alabama," and though he was told his vessel would be burned in the morning, and that all his worldly goods would go up in a cloud of smoke, he thanked God that it was no worse. The light was hoisted at the peak as directed, and Semmes went below to finish the nap so unceremoniously broken, and dream of the sport he would be able to give his men next morning when he destroyed the prize.

to.

—

Next morning when he came on deck he

was monarch of all he surveyed. He ruled the ocean for miles around, as far even asthe Saragossa Sea, for there was not such a thing as an American man-of-war in all those waters. The fifty cruisers that should have been afloat six months before, and guarding every point where American merchantmen could be found, were yet upon the stocks nay, many of them were only on paper. An old commodore with a,

—

fleet of

fourteen vessels at his heels,

was

steaming up and down the Gulf and Caribbean Sea, looking for " Alabamas " that were hundreds of miles away and upsetting all the plans of the Navy Department. As Semmes looked about him that morning, his eye rested on the fine large ship lying close by, awaiting his orders. She proved to be the whaler, "Benjamin. Tucker," of New Bedford, eight months with 340 barrels of oil. But the Confederate captain had no need for oil, so he took from her only the tobacco and small stores, and after transferring her crew of thirty persons to his own vessel, applied the torch, and before ten o'clock she was a mass of flames fore-and-aft. The next morning he overtook and burned the schooner "Courser," of Provincetown, Massachusetts. For a moment the springs of pity opened in the breast of the Confederate as he surveyed this pretty little craft, and looked upon her handsome young captain but he had just finished reading a Northern paper, in which he was siDoken of in terms that were anything but polite, and he had to steel his heart against his better feelings and let the laws of war be executed. He had now the crews of his three last prizes on board, and as they somewhat crowded the "Alabama," he stood in for the Island of Flores, put them in eight captured whale-boats, and sent them off to land as best they might, and compare notes witli the poor fellows already on shore. What fun it must have been to the Norseout,

;

men

to see that regatta, in which eight boats were struggling to reach the shore and get as far as possible out of the neighborhood of the "Alabama" Semmes was not otherwise inhumane to these men, but they were in his way and he wanted to get rid of them, and he seemed to think that they were so well pleased with him that, with a little coaxing, they would have given three cheers for the "Alabama" are now to see the new cruiser in rough and tempestuous weather. have seen her in smooth seas and moonlight nights; but it often happens that these smooth-water sailors do not maintain their reputation when they have to contend with heavy weather. The "Alabama" had been built as a type of a perfect cruiser, one that !

We

!

We

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

could maintain her character under sail as well as under steam. But up to this time Semmes had had no opportunity to test her in all weathers, which would decide the character of the vessel, and prove whether she was the most dangerous machine to be used against American commerce ever yet planned, or simply one of those expensive failures of which the United States had so many in its own Navy. The opportunity soon occurred. The wind was rapidly freshening into a gale, when in the morning, after the burning of the "Courser," a large American ship was discovered and soon overtaken. This was the whaling-ship ''Virginia," and she was burned like the rest, after being despoiled of such articles as the "Alabama" needed. The only difference was that, as the torch was not applied until late in the afternoon, the fire burned brightly for a part of the night, and could be seen when many miles away, as the flames and burning masses of timber were whirled into the air by the strong eddies of a freshening wind.

633

" Elisha Dunbar," of New Bedford), and she was soon destroyed. Semmes did not in this case wait even long enough to examine the papers of his prize, for the gale was increasing and he desired to get his boat on board as soon as possible. What cared he whether her cargo included neutral property or not ? Was not there a "prize-court " sitting in the "Alabama's" cabin night and day, and did not this court feel perfectly qualified to settle all questions of law and fact ? Had not the English Government tacitly admitted that neutrals who shipped goods in vessels belonging to either belligerent must take the chances of war and apply for redress and compensation to a prize-court ?

That Semmes had under his command brave and daring officers, no one will deny, for that day put their zeal and seamanship

of her class in the world, and the broad, tough English cross-trees kept everything in its place. Not a mast snapped, nor did a rope-yarn part, so perfect were all the appliances of the vessel. The bark hung on to all the sail she could carry, though she was short-handed, and her commander evidently seemed detei-mined to escape from his pursuer or let his masts and sails go

severest test. The boats of the " Alabama " were well managed, and succeeded in transferring all the persons without accident. Nothing was taken out of the prize but her chronometer and flag, and by tiie time the boats were alongside the "Alabama," the "Dunbar" was all in flames, with her sails set just as when she hove-to. The gale howled, as if giving out a solemn requiem over the destruction of this fine vessel, and the sea-birds that brave the gale and were hovering around with discordant cries, added their apparent grief to the noise and crashing of timbers and roaring eddies of wind that were rushing through the doomed vessel. The burning ship was, without doubt, a beautiful spectacle, which the descendants of the Norsemen enjoyed amazingly. What cared they who was injured by the destruction of the "Elisha Dunbar," since even Earl Russell was not averse to seeing a little English commerce consigned to the bottom of the ocean, as long as the whole American merchant marine could be detroyed or transferred to the flag of Great

overboard.

Britain

Next morning a bark hove in sight, and on board made out the "Alabama" they commenced making efforts to escape. By this time it was blowing half a gale, and both vessels were under snug sail; but the reefs were now shaken out and topgallant sails set in both of them. It seemed at first as if the topgallant masts of the " Alabama " would go over the side, the sticks buckled so; but John Laird had selected good timber for the craft, which he had pronounced to be the finest cruiser

as soon as those

to the

!

Though the "Alabama" was much the smaller vessel of the two, it was quite evid-ent that she was as much at home in

their forces in fearful array, ready to burst in anger over this scene of destruction. Night

rough weather as the prey in view. Both vessels were at times almost under water during this exciting chase, yet the "Alabama" gained so rapidly and steadily that it was plainly seen that the bark's only chance of safety lay in the Confederate losing some of his spars. But it was the

seemed suddenly to have wrapped the day in its mantle of darkness. The thunder

this

same old story. The 'Alabama" carried sail, and in three hours had the stranger within reach of her 32-pounders, and there was nothing left for the merchant captain to do but surrender. He had made a gallant run for it, and had carried his canvas in a manner worthy of a man-of-war's-man, but '

Semmfis marlA shnrt shrift of his vessel

(^the

The black clouds were mustering

rolled in the high heavens, reverberating for miles away to leeward, the awful crash seeming to shake the sea and earth to their centres, and lightning leaped from cloud to cloud, adding greatly to the grandeur of a scene which no pen can describe. All nature seemed to protest 'against such un-

natural and wanton proceedings. The sea was by this time raging fearfully, and spray that was blown from the tops of rising waves cut the faces of the sailors as if The winds howled, it had been small- shot. and rain descended in torrents, as if deter-

THE NA VAL HISTORF

634

mined to quench the fires raised by rebelhands but nothing could save the "Dunbar," and the flames burned yet more fiercely as she lay rolling and tossing upon the tumultuous sea. Now an ignited sail would fly away from a yard and scud off before the gale like some huge albatross with its wings on fire, while the yards, with braces burned and released from all control, would sway about violently, as if anxious to escape from this turmoil of fire and wind, and finally drop into the sea. The masts, one after another, went by the board, as the hull rocked and heaved like some great animal in its death throes, and finally the sea broke in and met the flames with a shriek resembling the howl of a thousand demons. The ship gave one great roll, and then went to the bottom, " a victim to the passions of man and the prey of the lious

;

elements."

These were the scenes that followed in the track of the

"Alabama."

Semmes

looked

on unmoved amidst the bowlings of the storm, and the descendants of the Norsemen added a new scene to their adventures, hereafter to be told under the forecastle to their admiring shipmates who had not had the glory of serving on a Confederate cruiser. The storm was at its height, but the " Alabama" rode it out under reefed sails like a duck and Captain Semmes was satisfied that he had under his command not only a formidable war- vessel, but a capital sea-boat. John Laird had kept his word with the Confederate agent when he designed and built the " Alabama," and it is reasonable to suppose, since he gave so much of his time and attention to this cruiser, that his heart was much interested in the Confederate cause. Semmes felt that he had a vessel on which he could depend for any emergency. It was now the month of October, and the gales of the season were beginning to blow. He had completely swept the seas in the whaling district, and there was nothing more of consequence to be done in that latitude. He had not, so far, burned a pound of coal in his pursuit of United States commerce all his operations had ;

;

been conducted under sail, and he had never found a vessel that could escape the

"Alabama." He now sighed for new scenes of adventure, and his officers, who also longed for a change, suggested going to the ground where the grain-ships of the North might be picked up when on their way to Europe to feed the great multitudes there who depended on American grain for a subsistence. The descendants of the Norsemen had got tired of capturing whalers, and they longed to get into the track of traders, whose rich cargoes would afford better opportunities

Semmes knew how for obtaining plunder. to manage his men, and that it was necessary to amuse them. Sailors are like children

all

the world over; and, although they

must be governed with a firm hand, sometimes advisable to let them think

it is

that

Semmes never their wishes are consulted. forgot the lessons taught by mutineers in times past, and he attempted to keep his sailors in

a contented frame of mind by

occasional concessions. Early on the morning of October 3d two sails were simultaneously reported from the "Alabama's " mast-head but, as both ships were standing in the direction of the cruiser, there was no need to chase. They were running right into the spoiler's net, and suspected no danger until they were within gunshot, when the " Alabama" fired a gun and hoisted the flag that had carried such terror to the whaleships of the Azores. These vessels were the "Brilliant" and "Emily Famum," both of New York, and both loaded with grain. The latter being what Semmes considered "properly documented" was released on ransom-bond, and he took the opportunity of sending away in her all his prisoners, of whom he had 50 or 60, besides those just captured. The " Brilliant " was burned with her valuable cargo. On the afternoon of October 7th, the bark " Wavecrest " was taken and, after being relieved of everything that could be of use to the Confederates, she was made a target for gun practice, and finally destroved. Next day the brig " Dunkirk," of New York, fell into the hands of the "Alabama," and, as her captain could offer no evidence of neutral ownership, she also was committed to the flames. Up to this time Semmes had destroyed twelve valuable vessels, with their cargoes, ;

;

and

all this

work had been done

in

little

over a month, with his ship under sail alone, and here he was now right in the track of the grain trade between New York and Europe with not a single Federal manof-war in the neighborhood to interfere with his proceedings. He approached the coast with confidence, for he had not as yet ever heard of any vessel having been sent in pursuit of him— much less seen one. Crowds of vessels were daily leaving New York for Liverpool, but they were mostly foreigners, with cargoes properly documented, who were taking advantage of the times to reap golden harvests. These vessels Semmes could not touch, but he gave

them

much

trouble as possible. States Government should have left this great highway unprotected no one to this day can conjecture. The vessels that were sent to look for the "Alabama" always went to the wrong as

Why

the

United

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

when it must have been known that she would seek the highways of trade as naturally as a bluefish would seek the feeding-grounds of the menhaden. Whatever success the Federal Government may have had in blockading the enemy's ports, its attempts to protect the merchant marine were nearly always failures and it shows how necessary it is for a nation to keep on hand in time of peace vessels that will prove useful in time of war.

places,

;

There seemed to be no limit to his success, and Semmes had so much to do, and so many legal questions to decide, that he was sometimes brought to a standstill. One ship that he captured (the " Tonawanda ") carried a number of women and children, who filled the air with piteous lamentations at what appeared to them to be a dreadful This was more perplexing than a fate. dozen ordinary cargoes, for he could burn these if his " prize-court " so decided, but could not so easily dispose of the women and children ; and he was obliged to sail about for some time with this living cargo following in his wake, hoping that he might fall in with some neutral vessel to which he could transfer his passengers, and then be at liberty to destroy the floating home of these poor people before their eyes. If he had been a man of any generosity, he would have said to the captain of the "Tonawanda," " Go in peace; we are not warring against women and children, and these helpless ones shall not be molested." But not he he had no sentiment about him, and, although he knew the agony felt by these people, he kept them sailing in his :

wake

until another victim should

heave in

sight.

But it seems that the " Alabama " still had to play out her role before she left the North Atlantic. The good intentions that were entertained towards the passengers of the " Tonawanda " to put them on board a neutral vessel were frustrated by the arrival of another heavy ship of the "junk fleet " (as the grain ships were called by Semmes' men). This vessel approached the " Alabama" unsuspectingly until the boom of a gun and the Confederate flag at the stranger's peak showed the merchant captain that his fate was sealed, and he im-

—

—

mediately surrendered.

The " Alabama " had by

this time

become

known in the United States, and Semmes' methods were understood. Ships were heavily insured before sailing, and a shipmaster surrendered his vessel pretty well

with the satisfaction of knowing that some time in the future his losses would be reimbursed. The ship "Manchester," that had now fallen into the " Alabama's " toils, was a more valuable prize than the " Tona-

635

wanda," so the latter was allowed to proceed on her voyage, while the former was burned in her place.

On the 15th of October the next ship was taken; but Semmes and his officers were very much disappointed when they sat down to breakfast that morning at not having their regular batch of newspapers. This vessel was the " Lamplighter," loaded with tobacco, and after the Confederates had taken what they wanted out of her they burned her, and thus approached the coast, leaving a track of flames behind them while the Federal Government, which had been immediately apprised of her escape from Liverpool, took no effective measures to arrest the career of the cruiser that was attacking American commerce and driving its vessels to seek protection under the British flag.

The English Ministry might well afford to ignore the occasional destruction of part of a British cargo, when they knew that the system pursued by Semmes was driving all merchants to ship their cargoes in British bottoms, or to register their vessels under the English flag. The Chamber of Commerce, in Liverpool, writing to Earl Russell, as late as November, 1862, in regard to the destruction of neutral goods by the " Alabama," received the reply: " British owners of property on board of Federal ships, alleged to have been unlawfully captured by Confederate cruisers, are in the same position as any other neutral owner shipping in enemy's bottoms during the war." Of course, this drove all British property to seek neutral bottoms; and when English owners of captured property were told to apply to the Confederate prize-courts for redress, it convinced everybody that the British Government was not going to protect the property of its subjects on the high seas as long as an American flag waved

upon the ocean. With all her great Navy,' Her Britannic Majesty had not a vessel on tlie ocean looking after the proceedings of these Confederate- cruisers, while quite a number of them were employed in watching the operations of the Federal Navy on the coast, and officiously inspecting the blockade, to see that it was lawfully maintained. The " Alabama " made her sixteenth capture on the 21st of October a fine large ship running down to her the fly and the spider again looking a perfect picture, with her sails all beautifully drawing, and her masts swaying and bending under the cloud of canvas, while the sea was rolling before her broad, flaring bows as if nothing could oppose her progress. It Avas a beautiful sight, this almost living sign of a nation's greatness, that could boast at that tinae that the white sails of her ships

—

—

:

THE NAVAL HISTORY

G36

But a little puff of " Alabama's " guns soon changed the picture her cloud of canvas seemed to shrivel and disappear as if it had been a scroll rolled up by an invisible hand, and all the symmetry of the great mass that had so lately been swaying gracefully above the water was gone. Though the cargo of the prize was certified to all over as being the property of neutrals, and also covered with British consular seals that had heretofore been respected, Semmes was not satisfied until he had held an ''Admiralty Court " in his cabin, and the court came to the conclusion that the covered every

sea.

smoke from the

:

" Lafayette " must burn. Earl Russell had decided that neutrals shipping in vessels belonging to the belligerents must suffer the consequences of war, and the British Minister at Washington simply carried out the instructions of his superior, and referred all complainants to the Southern prizecourts.

Semmes found, that day, newspapers on board the " Lafayette " in which were some very severe strictures in regard to his cases of the '"Brilliant" and fact, some of the papers denounced his acts as piracy, a term always galling to him. This did not help the case of the "Lafayette," and she was ruthlessly destroyed as soon as the captain of the " Alabama " was satisfied that he had taken everything out of her that could be of service to himself or his crew. Three days after this capture the "Crenshaw" was taken, plundered and burned. She was only a schooner, and it did not take the " prize-court " in the "Alabama's " cabin ten minutes to decide her

course in

tlie

"Emily Farnum" — in

fate.

Semmes now found coal

was running

out,

that his supply of

and decided

to

shape

course for the Island of Martinique, where he had directed Captain Bullock to send him a coal-ship. On the 2d of November he captured the "Levi Starbuck," a New Bedford whalei-, bound on a voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Like all her class just starting out, she was filled with all sorts of stores and Yankee his

nicknacks and although tlie ''Alabama" had been filled up a dozen times since she started from the Azores with stores taken from her prizes, yet she had the maw of a cormorant and always seemed to want to be fed. All this bootj' was easily acquired, and it went just as easily. The "amount of food, tobacco and clothing used bv the 90 men and 24 officers on board the "Alabama" was among the most remarkable ;

events of her cruise. But, notwithstanding the comforts bestowed upon her captors by the " Levi Starbuck/' she was burned at night-fall.

It will be observed vessels were taken

how

easily all these

by the " Alabama." Some would call this good luck on the part of the Confederate commander; but, in fact, it was the result of good management and Semmes did no more than forethought. follow the channels of trade which the American ships were known to travel, and reasonable to suppose that, if Federal ships-of-war had followed the same tracks, they would have picked up the bold adventurer before he had been many days at sea. About this time the "Alabama" was approaching another track of commerce, across which it was intended to run on her way to Martinique, viz., the track of homeward-bound East Indiamen, and the day after getting in the track she fell in with and captured the " T. B. Wales." of Boston. Captain Semmes now liberally construed the Confederate prize-law, that " No person in the Navy shall take out of a prize or vessel seized as a prize, any money, plate, goods, or any part of her rigging, unless it be for the better preservation thereof, or absolutely necessary for the use of any of the vessels of the Confederate States." He helped himself not only to anchors, chains, stores and provisions, but to the main-yard of the " Wales," which happened to be the right size and in better condition than that of the "Alabama." No wonder the Confederates were able to keep a number of it is

cruisers at sea, when tliej' found a victualling station in everything they captured, and could supply themselves with all necessaries at these floating dockyards.

There were women and children on board the East Indiaman, but they were all transferred to the " Alabama," and that night they were treated to the sight of a burning vessel; but, as much of their personal property went up in the flames, it is not likely that they enjoyed the spectacle to any great extent. It can be said to Semmes' credit, however, that he showed these poor people all attention, and made them as comfortable as circumstances would permit. About the IGth of November the "Alabama" sighted the island of Dominica, the first land she had made since leaving Terceira in the Azores, Semmes now put his vessel umfer steam and ran for Martinique where he expected to meet his coalsliip passed close by the harbor of St. Pierre, to see that there were no United States ships-of-war there, and then into the

— —

harbor of Port de France, where he came to anchor.

Here the "Alabama " landed her prisoners and took on board what stores she needed; but

Semmes

did not attempt to coal his vesas he feared the appearance of an American man-of-war. This precaution was well taken, for the coal-ship had sel in this port,

OF THE CIVIL WAR. hardly got clear of the Island when the U. S. steamer "San Jacinto" appeared off the entrance to the harbor and blockaded him. But Semmes did not fear this slow and antiquated ship, as he knew that his superior speed would enable him to make his escape whenever he was ready. The " San Jacinto " was an old steam-

under the command of Commander Ronckendorff, carrying a heavy battery, but not able to make more than 7 knots under steam, and Semmes cared no more for her than if she had been an old-fashioned

frigate,

sailing three-decker.

Commander Ronck-

endorff stationed himself just outside of the marine league, and kept a sharp watch on the "Alabama," but she escaped without difficulty under cover of the night, and joined her coal-ship at Blanquilla, a little island on the coast of Venezuela. From this point Semmes shaped his course for the Gulf of Mexico, in hopes of overtaking an expedition said to be fitting out under General Banks for the purpose of invading Texas, and, as this expedition was to rendezvous at Galveston, he steered for that port. At the same time, he hoped to make his cruise remunerative by waylaying one of the steamers from Panama carrying gold to the North. He had several weeks to spare, and the idea of levying upon the mail-steamers gave him much pleasure, as a million or so of dollars deposited in Europe would naturally aid him in his operations upon the sea. On November 36th Semmes stood for the

Mona Passage between

St.

Domingo and

Porto Rico. This was the general route of the mail-steamers on their way to the North from Aspinwall, and he naturally approached it with great caution, expecting to find a Federal ship - of - war stationed there, but there was none, and the Confederate captain seemed still to be sailing under a lucky star. It was Sunday when the cry of "Sail ho!"' came from •aloft everything was dropped for the new excitement, as it had been some time since :

a prize had been sighted. The "Alabama's" head was pointed towards the stranger, her topmen sprang aloft at the order, and in five minutes she was under a cloud of oanvas from rail to truck. The chase was a few hours brought the the vessel, which be the "Parker Cooke," of and

short one. a run of a

"Alabama" up with proved to

from Boston. This capture greatly pleased the descendants of the Norsemen, for they had learned from experience that the Boston traders always contained the very best of everything, from a needle to a barrel of crackers or firkin of butter. So it was in this case; the "Parker Cooke" was plethoric with croofi t.bincrs anf] all that dav thfi ca.na.cious

637

maw of the

" Alabama" was open to receive the cargo of her prize. The trader was completely emptied, and yet the maw was still unsatisfied, and the wonder will always remain what the 120 men on board this cruiser did with the cargoes, or parts of cargoes, of eighteen vessels which had been transferred to her from time to time. It was sunset before the prisoners and cargo were transferred, tlie torch was then applied to the beautiful merchantman, and soon the flames were casting a broad light on the bold mountains of St. Domingo, and Avere reflected on the soft, smooth sea, which already sparkled with the phosphorescence of those latitudes. While waiting for the mail-steamers, the "Alabama" captured the Baltimore schooner "Union," to which the prisoners were transferred and the vessel allowed to depart on a ransom- bond. Semmes knowing, from the Northern papers, that the California steamer was due next day, kept a bright look-out for her, and soon a large brig-rigged steamer appeared. All was now excitement on board the "Alabama"; the propeller was lowered, sails furled,

steam

raised,

and

in

twenty min-

utes she was ready for the chase. The reader is, no doubt, hoping that something will happen to warn the coming

steamer in time to avoid her threatened But she came on rapidly, and when within three or four miles, the " Ala-

fate.

bama "

hoisted the American flag. It was astonishing how often Semmes resorted to using what he called " the flaunting lie" which he derided on all occasions forgetting that in the days of the Revolution it had been carried to victory by the bravest and most chivalrous men of the South. Yet he did not feel degraded at having that flag flying at his peak as long as he could draw his enemy into his net and that foolish steamer, seeing the old flag, put her whole

—

;

faith

and

trust in

it,

and came on with

in-

creased speed to greet the defenders of the Union, whom an energetic and benign Government had sent to that spot to assure them a safe passage When within a mile of the " Alabama " the steamer was making great speed, and even at that moment could have turned and escaped, but the merchant captain !

!

never thought of examining carefully that clipper-built hull and English rig, so All totally unlike anything American. eyes were bent on the American ensign, and the one small gun the steamer carried for signalling purposes was loaded to fire a passing salute to the flag of their country. Semmes i^laced his vessel directh' across the path of the huge steamer, which came foaming through the water towards him, a.nd if the cantain of that vessel had been

THE NAVAL HISTORY

638

a bold man he would have crashed through the " Alabama," as soon as he discovered her character, and sent her to the bottom off: the island of San Domingo, where many a rich galleon, after being robbed

by the Drakes and Morgans of old, had been sunk before her. The mail -packet had all her awnings spread, and underneath them, on the upper deck, were congregated a number of passengers of both sexes, among whom could be seen the occasional uniform of an officer or soldier. It was a happy picture as they crowded

to the side to look fenders of their country, and the " Alabama " watched the their faces as they appeared

upon the

de-

the officers of expression of to criticise or

admire their vessel. They saw plainly that not even the captain and officers had yet suspected danger,

when Semmes

surprised

them by wheeling in pursuit, firing a blank cartridge, and hoisting the Confederate flag. The panic that now ensued was dreadful the screams of women filled the air, and

men

turned pale as they realized the proximity of one of the dreaded Confederate cruisers which were designated in the North as pirates, and which were as much feared at that time as was the vessel of the famous Lafitte by the Spaniards and French-

—

men

in 180C-8.

The merchant captain, astonished at the turn of affairs, gave the order to open wide the throttle of his engines and make all possible speed. For the moment he had no intention of slacking up, but the "Alabama" was within three or four hundred yards of him, in hot pursuit, with a long gun ready should prove necessary to plain from the beginning that the packet was going rapidly to be fired if use force. It

it

was very

away from the "Alabama," and that if Semmes wished to detain her he would to use shot and shell. She was a fine large target, and he knew that his gunners would not be likely to miss her after their varied and extended practice. Nor was he disappointed a curl of white smoke, a flash, and a shower of large splinters from one of the steamer's masts, were all the result of

have

—

—

a moment.

—

That was sufficient the mast had not been cut away entirely, but the practice told those in charge of the steamer that they were entirely in the power of their pursuer, and that they had better stop before another shot was sent crashing through the stern among the women and children. The walking-beam of the engine began to move more slowly, and the bell in the engine-room soon signalled to stop. The "Alabama" slowed down, ranged up alongside, and took possession of her prize. But now Captain Semmes experienced a keen disappointment. Instead of

a

homeward bound -

California

steamer, with a couple of millions of dollars in her safes, he discovered that his prize, the "Ariel," was outward-bound and had as passengers some 500 women and children. Here was an elephant on his hands that he had not bargained for, and he did not know what to do with his prize. He could not take her into a neutral port, for that was forbidden by the Orders in Council; he could not land the passengers, and he could not take them on board the "Alabama." The best he could hope to do was to capture some inferior prize in the next few days, place all the passengers on board of her, and letthem getinto portas best they could. He would then be at liberty to burn the "Ariel," and proceed on his voyage. One of the most humiliating things about this capture was that the " Ariel " carried a battalion of marines and a number of

naval officers, who were on their way to join ships in the Pacific. How these men must have blushed for their country and bitten their lips in anger, as they listened to the taunts and jeers of their captors I There were 140 of them, rank and file, and, as they were all paroled, Semmes congratulated himself on having disarmed so many of his country's enemies. The boarding officer, on his return to the " Alabama," reported that a dreadful state of alarm existed on board the " Ariel," that the women were all in tears, and many of them in hysterics. They had read in the papers of the doings of the " Alabama," officers and crew to be nothing better than pirates and, indeed, the behavior of the "Alabama's" men on many occasions justified people in coming to this conclusion, unless it were possible to consider as legal all the decisions of the "Admiralty Court " which sat in the cabin of the commerce destroyer. Captain Semmes was not insensible to the distress of his fair captives, and at once took steps to quiet their fears. He sent for his handsomest lieutenant (history does not give Ills name), and ordered him to array himself in his most gorgeous uniform, and gird on the finest sword to be found in the ward-room. The young man soon returned, looking as bewitching as possible in a uniform that was somewhat tarnished by sea air, and the Captain ordered his own gig, a handsome boat fitted with beautiful scarlet •cushions, to be placed at his disposal. " Go," said the humane commander "and coax those ladies out of their hysterics." " Oh, I'll be sure to do that, sir," replied the young coxcomb, "I never knew a fair creature who could resist me more than fifteen minutes." This sounds very much like some of the scenes enacted on board th& "Red Rover," in Cooper's novel, but it is true to the letter, nevertheless.

and took her

;

!

OF THE CIVIL WAR. In order to do justice to the scene which followed, we must take the description of it as given by the Captain of the "Alabama":

"A few strokes of the oars put him alongside of the steamer, and asking to be shown to the ladies' cabin, he entered the scene of dismay and confusion. So many were the signs of distress, and so numerous the wallers, that he was abashed, for a moment, as he afterward told me, with all his assurance. But summoning courage, he spoke to them about Ladies The Captain of the Alaas follows bama' has heard of your distress, arid sent me on board to calm your fears, by assuring you that you have fallen into the hands of Southern gentlemen, under whose protection you are entirely safe. We are by no means the ruffians and outlaws that we have been represented by your people, and you have nothing whatever to fear.' The sobs ceased as he proceeded, but they eyed him askance for the As he advanced in their midst, first few minutes. however, they took a second and more favorable glance at him. A second glance begat a third, more favorable still, and when he entered into conversation with some of the ladies nearest him, picking out the youngest and prettiest, as the rogue admitted, he found no reluctance on their part to answer him. In short, he was fast becoming a favorite. The ice being once broken, a perfect avalanche of loveliness soon surrounded him, the eyes of the fair creatures looking all the brighter for the tears that had recently dimmed them.' "Was ever woman in sucli humor wooed ? Was ever woman in sucIl liumor won ? " :

'

'

!

This shows the fickleness of Northern women had they been Southern-born they would not have looked at a Northern officer, even had he rescued them from fire or wreck. But it cannot be disguised that the ladies on board the "Ariel" allowed themselves to believe that a man could be a gentleman and a man of honor, even though ;

differing from them in politics, and one of them even so far forgot herself as to request her handsome enemy to give her a button from his uniform coat, as a memento

needless to say that the request was granted, for the young officer was now so intoxicated with the beauty about him that he would have given away his coat, cap, sword and boots, had he been asked to do so. Others followed the example of the fair petitioner, and when the lieutenant reported to his commander he was in the condition of a picked chicken The male passengers were not so deeply impressed by the appearance of the envoy, and occupied the time of his visit in overhauling their baggage, and secreting their of the occasion.

It is

!

valuables. " In fact,' said the lieutenant, as he reported to Captain Semmes, 'I really believe that these fellows think we are no better than the Northern thieves who are burning dwelling-houses, and robbing our women and children in the South '

''

1

This was a Southern view of the matter, which had not been modified by the plundering and burning of the " Alabama" on the high seas.

Semmes

himself was_ deeply

639

cersand men on this occasion. He estimated that each of the five hundred passengers had from three to five hundred dollars, and thought that under the laws of war all this money would have been a fair prize. " But not one dollar of it," he says, "was touched, or indeed so much as a passenger's baggage examined," and we are glad that history will vouch for it for the credit of Southern officers who once belonged to the United States Navy. The fact remains, however, that to have taken one dollar or piece of property from any passenger on board the "Ariel" would have been a base act of piracy. Semmes carried out his intention of keeping the "Ariel" in company, and it was not until he had given up all hope of falling in with another merchantman that he allowed her to go on her way rejoicing. The Captain of the " Ariel " was, of course, obliged to give a "ransom-bond";but it was a great disappointment to Captain Semmes not to be able to burn this fine large packet, especially as he knew she belonged to Cornelius Vanderbilt, who had given a fast steamer to the United States Government for the express purpose of pursuing Confederate cruisers. Semmes looked upon a private citizen as an outrage that should meet with condign punishment, forgetting that there are two sides to every question, and that Vanderbilt was merely showing his devotion and loyalty to the Eepublic in a most practical and sensible manner. Semmes also complained that Vanderbilt never redeemed the "ransom-bond"; but this was not singular, for the general understanding was that these bonds were only to be paid in case the South was sucthis act of

cessful.

On the 23d of December the "Alabama" joined her coal-ship at Areas Islands, in the Gulf of Mexico, and prepared to waylay the Banks expedition, which was expected to reach Galveston by the 10th of January. Semmes' plan was to approach the harbor of Galveston at a time when the army transports would probably have arrived, make careful observations of their positions by daylight, and then withdraw until nightfall. He then proposed to run in and attack the fleet under cover of the darkness, and hoped to be able to sink or scatter the whole of them.

This was a bold and feasible plan, and no one can deny that Semmes displayed great daring in thus bearding the lion in his den, and entering waters that he knew to be full of his enemy's gun-boats. But he knew the character of every vessel on the coast, and was well aware that but few of the " old tubs " in the Federal Navy could catch him. The " Florida" had distanced the " Cuyler," the fastest vessel off Mobile bar, and the L .

TTii

:

J_

j>

THE NA VAL HISTORY

640

guns and was strongly while the "Hatteras" was a mere shell— an iron side-wheel river-boat, that had been used to carry passengers on the Delaware. The " Alabama " had much the greater speed, and her fire was more accurate, owing to the fact that the crew of the "Hatteras" were somewhat demoralized by the first, unexpected, broadside. Semmes did not seem disposed to make much capital out of this victory. Nothing remained for him to do in this vicinity; so, after he had picked up the officers and crew of the " Hatteras," he put out

Under these conditions he

vessel carried heavier

he

built,

felt quite safe, as could either run or fight. left the the 5th of January

Semmes

On

As Areas and headed for Galveston. he approached the harbor, he discovered that, instead of Banks' transports, there were five men-of-war anchored off the town. This was a damper, and for a short time he was undecided what to do. He had promised his men some fun in this vicinity, and did not like to go away without He was soon relieved gratifying them. from his quandary, however, by the look-out aloft reporting that one of the Federal gunboats was coming out in chase. This was the unfortunate "Hatteras," the story of whose sinking by the "Alabama" has already been told in another part of this history.

The course pursued by the Confederate

commander in

cannot be justified In answer to a hail from the "Hatteras," he declared Iiisvesselto be Her Britannic Majesty's steamer "Petrel," and when Lieutenant - Commander Blake proposed to send a boat along-side of him, expressed his willingness to receive the officers in a friendly manner. This implied that the "Alabama" was what Semmes reported her to be, a neutral man-of-war. If it had been simply a ruse to escape while the boat was being lowered, it might have passed. But wlien, as in this case, it was to gain time in which to train the guns upon the vital parts of an enemy, and make preparations for taking human life, it was simply perfidy, such as a Zulu warrior would hardly resort to. There are certain laws of courtesy in Avar which the meanest nations observe. When two menof-war meet in the day-time their nationality is sliown by their flag; but when, under cover of darkness, a false nationality is given, and willingness to receive a friendly visit expressed, it is the same as violating a flag of truce, for the visitor goes on board with the full expectation of meeting a kind reception and does not anticipate treachery. The first broadside is often the turningpoint in a battle, especially when there is, as in this case, a disparity of force. As tlie boat approached the " Alabama," Semmes gave the order to open fire upon the " Hatteras," and the little vessel actually staggered under the blow. At the same time he ordered his first-lieutenant to hail the enemy, and reveal the true character of the "Alabama." As has been already narrated, the " Hatteras " was literally cut to pieces, and in fifteen minutes went to the bottom. give any other It is not necessary to reason for tlie loss of the " Hatteras," than that her antagonist was more than a match for her in every respect. The Confederate

by the rules

this action

of war.

and steamed away for the coast of Yucatan, congratulating himself that he had been able to satisfy his men with this substitute for his contemplated The "Alaattack on Banks' transports. bama" received little damage in the fight, and on January 20th arrived at Jamaica, where the prisoners were landed, on parole, to find their way home as best thev could. It is but fair to state that the officers and men of the "Hatteras" were kindly treated by their captors, and Lieutenant-Commander Blake was received as a guest in the cabin. The "Alabama" sailed from Jamaica on the 25th of January, 18G3, bound for the coast of Brazil. Captain Semmes had been treated with every possible attention by the British officers at Jamaica, and flattered himself that they implicitly believed in his right to burn, sink and destroy American merchantmen, even if they carried English goods, for the Confederacy would be sure to make amends in her prize-courts as soon as the war was over In fact, tlie English Admiral and his officers behaved with a great want of dignity in thus taking sides with the " Alabama," and treating the officers of the " Hatteras" with such marked discourtesy. Tlie military bands played that lovely air " Dixie " with all the pathos they could throw into the music while, much to the deliglit of the Confederates, they performed

all his lights

!

;

"Yankee Doodle" with all their drums. cymbals and squeaking clarionets in the harshest manner, as if in mockery of the American nation. It was. no doubt, a gi'eat sodrce of satisfaction to the British to see the once great commerce of the United States being turned over to the protection of the British flag, and giving employment to all the vessels that had been lying idle for yei,rs at the English docks. But they forgot the pertinacity of these Yankees, whom they were trying to turn into ridicule, and they also forgot that tlie Northern officers and men, who were now obliged to listen to their taunts, were prisoners-of-war who possessed nothing but the clothes they stood in, and that they were entitled to all the

OF THE CIVIL WAR.

641

and found this important channel of commerce still unguarded by American

courtesy a generous nation could give them. They forgot, for a time, tliat the people

sage,

Avhom they were attempting to ridicule were wont to remember injuries and wrongs received, and sooner or later to find a day The day of reckoning for of reckoning. these insults came when the Americans received an indemnity of $15,000,000 for the pranks of the " Alabama" and " Florida," which the Englishmen paid to the tune of Yankee Doodle, at a time when the reunited States had adopted "Dixie "as one

men-of-war. In fact, it had remained so ever since his last visit, while an old commodore, with a large squadron, had been sailing about the Caribbean Sea, interfering with neutral commerce and watching the English mail-steamers that were pursuing their legitimate business. The' " Alabama " had hardly got through the passage before she fell in with and captured the schooner "Palmetto," from New York, bound to St. John's, Porto Rico. This vessel carried neutral goods, but they were not under consular seals, and Captain Semmes decided that they came under the rule, "that when partners reside, some in a belligerent and some in a neutral country, the property of all of them, which has any connection with the house in the belligerent country, is liable to confiscation." It was wonderful how many rules of interna-

of

its

national

airs.

Soon after leaving port the "Alabama" fell in with the American ship "Golden Rule," from N'ew York, bound to Aspinwall.

The

island of

San Domingo was sufficiently

near to allow its inhabitants to witness a splendid bonfire. Semmes says in his journal: " A looker-on upon that conflagration would have seen a beautiful picture, for, besides the burning .ship, there were the two islands mentioned, sleeping in the dreamy moonlight on a calm bosom of a tropical sea, and the rakish-looking Bi-itisla pirate' steaming in tor the land, with every spar and line of cordage brought out in bold relief by the bright flame— nay, with the very pirates themselves visible, handling the boxes and bales of merchandise '

'

'

which they had 'robbed 'from this innocent Yan-

whose countrymen at home were engaged in the Christian occupation of burning our houses and desolating our fields."

liee,

There was more truth than poetry in the part of this quotation. No doubt, if the oldest inhabitants among these simple islanders could have refreshed their memories, they might have brought ba.ck the days when the buccaneers of old (many of Avhom were stout Anglo-Saxons in Englishbuilt ships) roved these seas and left behind them a trail of fire even as the " Alabama " was now doing. Soon after the capture of the "Golden Hule," a beautiful hermaphrodite brig hove in sight. It was blowing half a gale, and in the bright moonlight she looked like a sea-gull skimming along over the top of the waves. Her white sails and rakish rig proclaimed her to be an American, and she was at once brought-to by a shot from the " Alabama." She proved to be the "Chasfirst

—

a Boston vessel, and the fiat went forth at once burn her. Her crew were removed, the torch applied, and with sail set, the doomed vessel bounded away over the waves, like a courser with his nostelaine,"

—

breathing fire. The light of her burning hull illumined the sea-girt walls of Alta Vela (a tall island about ten miles from San Domingo), and disturbed the slumber of sea-gulls and cormorants for the rest of the night; while the "Alabama" sailed away in the darkness, and this adventure soon ceased to be a matter of comment among her crew. SpTnmoc no-vt Q'n'n^nTr] in tllA IVTrmQ "Pastrils

tional law this officer could interpret to suit his own convenience for only one or two instances exist in which any vessel was ;

released by the " Alabama," unless it was desired to get rid of a lot of prisoners. The "Palmetto" had short shrift, and was forgotten in an hour. The Confederate cruiser was now obliged to work her way into "the variables," and proceed to the eastward, near the thirtieth parallel of latitude, a sufficient distance to clear Cape St. Roque on the coast of South America. She soon sighted a sail from aloft, and quickly afterwards three more appeared and caused the Confederates to think they had fallen upon a perfect bonanza of prizes. Chase was given to the first sail, but finally abandoned, as it was leading the "Alabama" away from the other three vessels, which were fine tall ships, and apparently American. Coming up with the

eastward - bound thrown on board

ship, a prize -crew was of her and the prize-mas-

ter ordered to follow the " Alabama," which vessel started in pursuit of one of the others, that was at least fifteen miles distant by this time, and running off before the wind with steering sails set " alow and aloft."

This vessel was overtaken after quite a chase, and proved to be the " Olive Jane," of

New

York, loaded with French

vs^ines

and

brandies. Captain Semmes decided that, although much of this cargo evidently belonged to Frenchmen, it was not properly documented, so he applied the torch without waiting to make any searching investigation, not allowing so much as a bottle of brandy or a case of champagne to be taken out of her. This last was a wise precaution on his part, for he had had great trouble in controlling a number of his

drunken sailors at Jamaica, and knew it would nnt bft sa.ff! tn snbifint tbfim

that

THE NAVAL HISTORY

643

Although the Confederto temptation. ate Captain regretted not being able to indulge himself and his men, he chuckled with delight when he thought of the disap-

pointment of

New York

"shoddyites" and

noiiveau-riclie plebeians," at the loss of the rich wines, olives and " pate-de-foisgras" which had been intended to tickle ''

their palates.

Amid the crackling of the fire, the bursting of brandy casks, the shrivelling of sails and the falling of tlie lighter spars from aloft, the "Alabama" turned her head to the eastward again and rejoined her first prize. This ship was the " Golden Eagle," and the great bird itself was sitting on the cutwater, spreading his wings, as if he owned all the ocean, and seemingly unconscious of his approaching fate. An inquiry into the papers of this vessel showed that her cargo was wholly owned by Americans. She had sailed full of guano from Rowland's Island in the Pacific, "for Cork and a market, and after having buffeted gales off Cape Horn, threaded her way through icebergs, been parched by the heat of the tropics and drenched with the rains of the equator, it was her misfortune to be captured when within a few hundred miles of port." Semmes himself felt sorry for a moment for these people (!), and regretted that he was obliged to destroy this fine ship with so large a cargo of fertilizing matter that

would have inade fields stagger under a load of grain and carried jo}^ to manj^ a farmer's heart. But this feeling quickly passed away when he remembered that these fields would be the fields of his enemies, or, if the guano was not used by them, its sale would pour a stream of gold So he applied the torch without compunction, and the career of the into their coffers.

" Golden Eagle"

was speedily terminated. The "Alabama" now crossed the equator and stationed herself in the great tollgate of commerce, through which traders from India, China, the Pacific Ocean and South America were continually passing, rejoicing as they reached these latitudes that the long, weary road was behind them, and tliat but a short and easy passage lay between them and their homes. It had never occurred to the American Government to send half-a-dozen gun-

boats or "double enders " to these latitudes. They could easily have been spared, and a depot for coaling vessels could have been established under the smooth waters of the equator, at which all the vessels-of-war in the Navy could have been supplied. If the "Alabama" knew where to go to catch American merchantmen, why did not the

know where to seek The policeman looks for the most frequented part of the

Federal Government the

"Alabama

rogues in

"

?

where the wealth of the city guarded and even if he does not catch the rascals, he prevents their doing harm. This was a parallel case. It wasnot the particular smartness of Semmes that enabled him to escape capture. It was city, or at points is

least

;

the omission or indifference of the Navy Department in not sending proper vessels to the right localities. Many foreign ships passed along thisroute but Americans had, in a measure, taken the alarm, and were pursuing longer ;

and safer lines of travel. Still Semmes was amply repaid for watching at the tolleven though many passed through without paying toll. He captured the ship " Washington " from the Chincha Islands with a cargo of guano, bound to Antwerp. Finding difficulties in the way of destroying her neutral cargo, he put his prisoners on board, and let her go on a ransom-bond. The fact was, he was anxious to get rid of his prisoners who were eating him "out of house and home." gate,

On the morning of the 1st of March the "Alabama" captured the fine ship "John A. Parks," of Hallowell, Maine. Her cargo, consisting of lumber for Montevideo, was covered by the seals of the British consul, and was as neutral as any cargo could be. But the ship was burned, nevertheless. A large quantity of newspapers were taken from the " Parks," which, as they contained many unflattering notices of the "Alabama," gave her officers and

crew something to sharpen their appetites upon until they overhauled another prize. The next vessel taken was the "Bethiah Thayer," last from the Chinchas with a cargo of guano for the Peruvian Government, and, as her cargo was properly documented, she was released on bond. On the 16th of March.the ship " Punjaub," of Boston, was captured but as her cargo was English property, and was properly certified to, she was released on a ransom-bond, ;

after the prisoners

were

all

transferred to

Semmes was getting merciful the mild climate of the tropics was acting favorably her.

;

upon his temperament, while his crew, for want of excitement, began to look gloomy All this time Semmes and disconsolate. made but little change in his position, lying under easy sail near the toll-gate, and allowing his prey to come to him. On the 2:!d of March, the "Morning Star," of Boston, from Calcutta to London, and the whaling schooner, " Kingfisher," of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, were captured. The " fact that the cargo of the " Morning Star was English saved that vessel, but the "Kingfisher" was burned. Although this little vessel did not make as large a bonfire as some of her predecessors, it served to beguile the time; and, in order to make the

OF THE CIVIL WAR. more interesting to his men, Semmes applied the torch at night -fall, when the effect of the burning oil, amid the rain and wind of a tropical squall, was spectacle

quite brilliant.

Next day two large ships hove in sight, evidently Americans. They were sailing close together, their captains, no doubt, having a chat about matters at home and congratulating each other at having so far escaped the " Alabama " and " Florida." Their tete-d-tete was suddenly interrupted by seeing a piratical-looking craft lying directly in their course, and they s'eparated, as if to seek safety in flight. But it was too late they had run directly under the guns of their bitterest foe, and were soon obliged to shorten sail and submit to their fate. They were the "Charles Hill " and the " Nora," both of Boston, and ;

although their cargoeis were owned in part by neutrals, Semmes took a new view of the law, and burned them, after helping himself to about forty tons of coal. A day or two after this, in the morningwatch, the look-out on the "Alabama" sighted a tall, fine ship standing to the southward. All sail was made in chase, and as the southwest wind, then blowing fresh, was favorable to the " Alabama," she overhauled the stranger before nightfall. The prize was the "Louisa Hatch." of Eockland, Maine, from Cardiff, with a cargo of Welsh coal for Port de Galle, Island of Ceylon. The bill of lading required this cargo to be delivered to the " Messageries Imperiales " Steamship Company, and a certificate was on the back of this document to the effect that the coal belonged to that company. But, in Captain Semmes' opinion, this certificate was not properly sworn to, so he decided that the " Louisa Hatch " was a good prize-of-war and this idea was sVengthened by the fact that she was loaded with the best Cardiff coal, exactly what the "Alabama" most ;

needed.

Was there ever such a lucky man as the Captain of the "Alabama" ? If he wanted a cargo of provisions it fell into his hands. If he required to visit a dock-yard to fit out his ship, a vessel came along filled with cordage, canvas and anchors. If he wanted lumber, a lumber vessel from Maine came right into his path ; and if he needed to reinforce his crew, renegades from captured vessels would put their names to the shipping articles, after listening to the thrilling tales of the Norsemen, of burning

and abundant prize-money. The prize at first seemed an elephant, as Semmes would lose too much time if he atships

tempted to transfer her cargo at sea, so he determined to send her to Fernando de No-

643

If the "

Agrippina," his coal-tender, should arrive in time he could bui-n the "Louisa Hatch"; if not, the latter would supply him with coal. The Scotch collier did not, however, appear at Fernando de Noronha, for the Captain of the vessel, becoming frightened at the illicit business in which he had embarked, sold his coal to the best advantage and left the "Alabama" to look out for herself. The Island of Fernando de Noronha is a penal settlement of Brazil. Few vessels stopped there, though many sighted it, to take a fresh departure. Although prohibited from taking his prizes into a neutral port, Semmes did not hesitate to take the " Louisa Hatch " into the harbor and coal from her, and for two weeks the officers and crew of the Confederate vessel fraternized with the interesting swindlers and homicides who colonized the island. At the end of five days, when the " Alabama" had finished coaling, signal was made from the high peaks of the island that two large American whalers had hove-to and were

sending boats on shore. Semmes immediately got up steam and proceeded in search of his prey. The Confederate cruiser was soon alongside, and no time was lost in determining their fate. The "Lafayette," of

New

Bedford, in the course of an hour,

was burning brightly, much to the amusement of the robbers and murderers on shore. The other prize, the " Kate Cory," of Westport, was retained to act as a cartel and convey the one hundred and ten prisoners on board the "Alabama" to the United States. By 7 P. M. the "Alabama" again anchored in the harbor with her prize, without any objection from the Governor, yet the Government of Brazil subsequently pretended to be very indignant at the violation of neutrality whereby the Confederate cruiser "Florida" was taken from one of her ports. There was no end to the indignities heaped upon the United States and its commerce while the "Alabama" remained at Semmes changed this colony of criminals. his mind about sending his prisoners to the United States, and engaged the master of a Brazilian schooner to convey them to

Pernambuco. No feeling of humanity at the sufferings so many persons crowded into a small and filthy vessel must undergo troubled Semmes. The apologist for Wirtz, the Andersonville jailer, did not stick at trifles.

The " Cory " suffered the same fate as the "Hatch," Semmes being careful to burn both beyond the marine league, so as not to offend the delicate susceptibilities of the Governor of Fernando de Noronha, and to pay due respect to the Empire of _

11

.J?

THE NA VAL HISTORY

644

the 22d of April, the " Alabama" was again on the wing under plain sail for a cruise along the Brazilian coast, and in less than twenty-four hours another unfortunate whaler, the ' Nj^e," of New Bedford, was in her hands, making the sixteenth whaler that had been captured. The " Nye" had sent home one or two cargoes of oil, and had now 425 barrels on board. For a moment Semmes thought " what a pity to break in upon these old salts, who had encountered so many gales and chased the whale through so many latitudes!" But such thoughts never remained long with tliis sea-rover. He had a special hatred for New Englanders, and the " Nye," well saturated with oil, soon blazed up in a way to satisfy the rhost vindictive partisan of the Southern cause. The old whalers, who for nearly three years had risked their lives in a dangerous calling, stood silent and in tears as they beheld

On

their hard-earned property' disappear in a cloud of smoke. The people of the South necessarily suffered much at the hands of Union soldiers, and it is hard to tell what men will not do in the heat of war, but it may be fairly said there was nothing during the civil conflict to equal the atrocity of the "Alabama's" doings. Tlie day after the destruction of the " Nye," the " Dorcas Prince," of New York, loaded with coal, was encountered; but, as the "Alabama's" bunkers were alreadyfilled, the vessel was set on fire and destroyed. On the third of May the Clipper ship, "Union Jack," fell into the "Alabama's" power and a prize crew Avas sent on board, as just afterwards, the " Sea Lark,"' boundfrom New York to San Francisco, was sighted two fine prizes in two hours. Three women and some children were taken from the last prize and convej^ed on board the " Alabama. " Both ships were burned after their

crews were removed.

On

the

11th of

May

the

"Alabama"

landed her prisoners at Bahia, and was ordered by the Brazilian authorities to leave the port in twentj'-four hours for A'iolation of the neutrality laws; but

was

so

much

Semmes

cleverer than the Governor

he was finally permitted to remain and give his men liberty on shore, Avhere they turned the town upside down genertliat

ally.

mander William

L.

Maury commanding,

anchored in the port, much increasing the respect of the Governor for the Southern Confederacy; although the latter was somewhat afraid of trouble with the Emperor,

who was

to favor the Federal accordingly requested Semmes to leave as soon as possible. This request Semmes politely ignored amusing himself with traveling about the country, and perfecting plans with the commanding

believed

He

Government.

;

officer of the

"Georgia" for the destruction commerce on the coast of

of United States Brazil.

After the " Alabama" bade farewell to the " Georgia at Bahia, she was put under press of sail, and quickly overhauled the " Gilderslieve," of New York, and the " Justina," of Baltimore. The latter, being a Maryland ship, was converted into a ''

and after taking all Semmes' prisoners on board and giving a ransom-bond, was allowed to depart. The other vessel was loaded with coal; but as the captain had no sworn certificate of ownership by " British subjects, and as the " Alabama cartel,

did not need it, Semmes' "Admiralty Court" decreed that the " Gilderslieve" should be converted into a bonfire. The next daj', the "Jabez Snow," of Bucksport, Maine, laden with Cardiff coal, was captured. As the cargo was evidently British propert}^, Semmes might perhaps have released the vessel under a ransombond but for a letter found on board to the

following effect:

"We

hope you will arrive safely and in good season, but we think you Avill And business rather flat at Liverpool, as American ships especially are under a cloud, owiiijj to dangers from pirates, more politely styled privateers, which our kind friends in England are so willing should slip out of their ports to prey upon our commerce." Stich letters as the above were always considered by the "Admiralty Court" in Semmes" cabin as not only sttipid and malicious, but positive evidence against the neutral ownership of anything on board a prize so the crew of the '" Jabez Snow were promptly removed, and the vessel set ;

These Brazilian officials were easily influenced by the threats of Semmes to call down on them the vengeance of the Southern Confederacy after it had disposed of its "Yankee war," and they had never been taught, by the display of a proper Federal naval force, to respect the United States. The British residents of Bahia did all in their

congratulating themselves that the comof the United States vs^as being rapidly driven from the ocean, and this although Bahia derived its chief importance from its trade with that country. While the "Alabama" was in Bahia, the Confederate steamer " Georgia," Com-

merce

power

to

make Semmes'

stay jjleasant,

on

fire.

the 2d of June, the " Alabama " fell with the clipper bark "Amazonian," from New York for Montevideo, with an ass(.n-ted cargo. Semmes remarks: "There was an attempt to cover two of the consignments in this ship," but the "Court of Ad' miralty decided that •' the bark being evi-

On

in

''

OF THE dently Yankee, the certificates wei"e not worth a cent " So the ship was plundered !

and burned. The next day

Semmes

fell

in

with an

English brig, the master of which agreed to receive his forty-one captives and land them in Rio de Janeiro, the consideration being twice as much provisions as the prisoners could eat, and a chronometer. Of the latter articles

Semmes had an abun-

dant supply, the property of the merchant captains he had taken prisoners, although he professed to respect private property. All the other "Confederate cruisers "exhibited the same weakness for chronometers, which may be accounted for by the fact that they would all be needed for the great Navy it was proposed to build in England. The virtuous Briton at first demurred to the proposition to receive the prisoners from Semmes, on the ground that " it might offend Earl Eussell," but the offer of a chronometer silenced his objections. As the Earl had a keen sense of humor, he would doubtless

have remarked had he ever heard

of this incident, that as chronometers made to go they might as well go that as any other.

The

clipper-ship

"Talisman," of

are

way

New

York, was the "Alabama's" next capture, and, as usual, was given but short shrift. After taking from the vessel her crew and such of the cargo as he wanted, Semmes applied the torch, and she went off before the wind in flames with all sail set. The "Talisman" had a number of 12-pounder field-pieces on board, and boilers and machinery for a gun-boat to be built in China to take part in the Chinese war. Semmes took two of the guns on board -his vessel for the purpose of fitting out a consort when the proper vessel should fall into his hands. Semmes continued his course along the Brazilian coast,

and now began

to fall in

with American vessels under the British flag; for what Earl Russell had foreseen had now come to pass, and the United States carrying-trade was being transferred to English hands. The papers of these vessels were so carefully made out that Semmes' " Court of Admiralty " did not dare meddle with them, as a rule; however, he was enraged at seeing such prizes slip through his judicial fingers; but on the 20th of June the fates were propitious in bringing another fly to

"Alabama's" web. This was the bark "Conrad," of Philadelphia, and although her cargo was English, she was taken possession of and quickly converted into a " vessel-of-war." Three or four officers, a dozen men, and the two captured field-pieces were put on board the little clipper with a celerity that would have astonislied Mr. Gideon Welles, and the new Confederate cruiser was christened the

CIVIL

WAR.

645

the " Tuscaloosa." The baptismal ceremony was not elaborate. When all was ready, signal was given, the " Tuscaloosa " ran up the Confederate flag, and the crew of the " Alabama " gave three cheers, which were duly acknowledged by those on board the

new man-of-war.

Semmes' prisoners, thirty-nine in number, were on the

now same

day put on board an English

vessel, to be landed in Rio de Janeiro. It was now time for the " Alabama" to change her cruising-ground, not only because the United States Navy Department might be supposed to have heard of her operations and taken measures to bring them to a close, but also for the reason that there was little more damage to be inflicted

in

that

Semmes was

quarter.

astonished that no Federal ships - of - war were on the Brazilian coast when he arrived there. For months he had been working his way in that direction, his track

marked by burning

vessels but, in any event, one might have been reasonably sure that Semmes would ultimately seek that great thoroughfare of vessels, along the coast of Brazil. At Cape St. Roque the ocean highway becomes so narrow by the influence of the northeast trade-winds, and the vessels are so close together, that they are at the mercy of any enemy's cruiser stretching backward and forward, across the If heavier and faster vessels than road. the " Alabama " had been stationed in latitude 30'' North, and others at the equator to the eastward of Fernando de Noronha, Confederate cruisers could have done little harm their principal object on hearing of the proximity of Federal vessels being As it was, Semmes to get out of their way. could make his calculations pretty accurately, and when he thought it time for a Federal cruiser to appear on the scene of action, he would slip off to "fresh fields and pastures new." ;

;

The "Alabama" and her consort now shaped their course for the Cape of Good Hope but, finding his bread spoiled by wevil, Semmes was obliged to put back to Rio for a supply of provisions. On the 1st of July the ship "Anna F. Schmidt," from Boston, with an assorted cargo, was overhauled, and, to use Semmes' own language, "it took us nearly the entire day to " do the necessary amount of robbing.' The vessel was abundantly supplied with provisions, including bread and after the " robbing" was concluded the burning was commenced, and the " Schmidt " shared the ;

'

;

Semmes' usual fate of her predecessors. good fortune had served him well in this instance, saving him a journey of nearly a thousand miles in search of a bake-shop. While the " Schmidt" was in flames and drifting before the wind, a large ship, un-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

646

der a cloud of canvas, went rushing by, taking no notice of the burning vessel. The light of the fire was reflected on her white sails, which seemed to mark her as an American, and the " Alabama " followed in pursuit, firing a gun to induce tlie stranger to heave-to, but tlie only notice taken was a gun in return from the latter. Semmes now ordered all steam and sail to be crowded on the "Alabama," while his crew became greatly excited, thinking from the strangers' firing a gun that a fight was about to ensue. It was midnight before the "Alabama" overhauled the chase, which loomed up very large in the darkness. The ship liad a white streak like a man-of-war, and witli a night glass five guns could be seen protruding through her side. A voice from the "Alabama" cried out: "What ship is that?" "Her Britannic Majesty's ship 'Diomede!'" was the reply. When the British officer was informed that the pursuing vessel was the Confederate States steamer " Alabama," he remarked: "I suspected as much when I saw you making sail by the light of the

burning ship." It may be remarked that Semmes did not ask to see the stranger's commission, to ascertain whether he was really one of her Majesty's cruisers, and his sailors were somewhat uneasy at their proximity to a British ship-of-war, as a search might have taken place for deserters but they need not have troubled themselves, for the English were in full sympathy with the "Alabama," as was evidenced by their not stopping to inquire into tlie fate of those on board the burning vessel. The "Alabama" now continued on her way towards the Cape of Good Hope, capturing and destroying on the passage the ;

ship " Express," of Boston. On the 28th of July Semmes anchored in Saldanha Bay. not venturing to Cape Town until he had

ascertained that the coast was clear of American vessels-of-war. Every ship that had touched at the Cape had brought intelligence

of

the

wonderful doings of the

"Alabama," and Semmes in his journal remarks: "Mr. Seward and Mr. Adams, Earl Russell and the London Times, have

made

the

'

British pirate' famous."

At Saldanha Bay Semmes received every civility from the people, Avlio appeared to be nearly as barbarous as tlie aboriginal soil whom they had dispossessed of their country. Tliese Boers flocked on board the " British pirate," and were mightily interested in all they saw. Tliey

owners of the

knew

that the ship and crew were British, circumstance attributed all the success which had followed the career of the " Alabama." simon-pure Confederate vessel, officered and manned by South-

and

to this

A

erners, would have elicited far less enthusiasm in any British port that Semmes visited.

On the 5th of August, the "Alabama" sailed for Table Bay, encountering on the way

her consort the "Tuscaloosa," which

was sent into Simon's Bay to refit. The same day the bark " Sea-Bride," of Boston, was captured. This vessel was on a trading voyage to the east coast of Africa with Her capture was witan assorted cargo. nessed from Cape Town and caused intense excitement among the inhabitants, a ma-

jority of whom could not conceal their joy at the seizure of a well-known trading vessel that had often stopped at their port to supply their necessities. The local newspapers raved over the gallant deeds of the

" Alabama," and all the people followed In the little English-built vessel they saw the representative of a rising power that was to destroy the commercial supremacy of the great republic, and they naturally wanted to make friends with the winning side. The power of the United States had been estimated in the remote parts of the earth by its commercial marine; but this moral influence ceases to prevail in time of war, when that commercial marine is not protected by a suitable force of war vessels, but, on the contrary, is everywhere being driven from the sea. The U. S. Steamer " Vanderbilt" arrived at Cape Town after the "Alabama" left, but the officers and crew received no such welcome as was given the Confederates. The people rejoiced that the "Alabama" had escaped, and none gave a hint whither the bird had flown. Several complications arose while the "Alabama" was in Table Bay, yet, notwithstanding some of her acts were in plain suit.

violation of local and international law, the authorities sustained Semmes. even in fitting out prize-vessels for belligerent purposes. Semmes next visited Simon's Bay, the naval station of the colony, whither the

"Tuscaloosa" had preceded her. The United States Consul raised the question that the "Tuscaloosa" was not a vessel of war, but the Confederate commander replied, that although the "Tuscaloosa" had not been condemned by a prize-court of the Confederate States, yet the sovereign power of the Confederacy, acting through its

authorized agent, had "commissioned her

a ship-of-war, which was the most solemn condemnation of tlie prize. He claimed that no nation had the right to inas

quire into the antecedents of the ships of another nation. Everybody except the commander-inchief of the British naval forces was silenced, if not convinced, bv this logic,

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

64?

and recognized the " Tuscaloosa " as a honabut Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker wrote to the Governor "Viewing

On nearing the straits Semmes boarded an English brig, and was informed that the U.S. S. "Wyoming "was cruising in the

the circumstances of the case, they afford room for the supposition that the vessel (" Tuscaloosa") is styled a tender, with the object of avoiding the prohibition against her entrance as a prize into our ports, where, if the captors wished, arrangements could be made for the disposal of her valuable cargo." This opinion was overruled, but the British Government instructed the Colonial Governor that he should have detained the " Tuscaloosa," Accordingly, when the " Tuscaloosa " again came into port after a cruise, the Governor seized her, but the Home Government veering round ordered him to restore her to

straits in company with a three-masted schooner fitted as a tender. Two days after, he obtained similar information from a Dutcli vessel, and it seems to have been the design of the commanding officer of the United States vessel to make his whereabouts generally known. The " Alabama " had scarcely entered the straits when she captured and burned the bark "Amanda," of Boston, and the next day overhauled the clipper-ship " Winged Racer." Semmes anchored with his last prize under North Island, and after the latter had been despoiled of lier valuable cargo, her captain, with his family, officers and crew were granted permission to take their own boats and proceed to Batavia. While these operations were in progress the two ships were surrounded by Malay boats bringing provisions of every kind for sale, when all at once a great blaze sprung from the hold of the " Winged Racer," and the Malays for the first time realized that she had been captured hj the "Alabama," when

fide ship-of-war;

:

all

Lieutenant Low, her commanding officer, on the ground that "having been once allowed to enter and leave the port, he was fairly entitled to assume that he might do so a second time

!"

The "Alabama" remained five days at Simon's Bay. The flag-ship and two other British men-of-war were there, and every

way of dinner parties, etc., to the Confederates by the English officers and the civil authorities. The " Alabama" then sailed from Simon's Town attention in the

was shown

and joined her consorts at Angra Pequeiia, in the Hottentot country. While at Cape Town, an English merchant proposed to purchase the " Sea Bride "and her cargo. The transfer was made at Angra Pequena for about one-third the real value of the property, the

merchant, of course, having to

take a considerable risk. This questionable transaction took place right under the eyes of the British authorities, who were doing all in their power to promote the extinction of

American commerce.

Again, the " Alabama" is off tlie Cape of Good Hope, where she cruised for several days without success, and finally proceeded to Simon's Bav, where Semmes learned that S. "Vanderbilt," Lieutenant-Commanding Baldwin, had just left the port in search of him. On the day that the Vanderbilt "left Simon's Bay, the "Alabama" was cruising further off the land than usual, a lucky circumstance for Semmes, whose romantic career would otherwise have been brought to a sudden and ignominious termination. The coal-dealers were the only people who welcomed the "Vanderbilt," for, as we have before mentioned,

the U.S.

'

'

all the hospitality of the officials and citizens was given to the "Alabama." The latter, after coaling, shaped her course for the Straits of Sunda, a channel of com-

merce much frequented by American merchant vessels. On this voyage Semmes' only prize was an immense albatross, caught with hook and line.

the crew of the latter vessel gave three lusty cheers. The Malays were great pirates themselves, and many European and American ships have been plundered and destroyed and their crews murdered by these picturesque vagabonds. Mistaking the "Alabama" for a, corsair, and fearing to be carried off and sold for slaves, they made all haste to get away from the "English pirate."

But where was the "Wyoming" all this time that her watchful commander could not see the blazing ship? Had he visited the spot where the " Winged Racer" was burning, he would not, however, have encountered Semmes, for the "Alabama" had departed as soon as the captured vessel was fairly ablaze.

Next day the "Alabama " sighted another American clipper-ship on a wind under a press of sail. Not until the "Alabama " got up steam did she gain on the chase, and it was only after many hours that the Confederate vessel overhauled and captured her. On this occasion the "Alabama," for the time, hoisted the new flag of the Southern Confederacy, a white ensign with cross and stars, rather a handsome flag and a great improvement on the original banner of secession, although it could have little The effect in sustaining a declining cause. prize was the " Contest" from Yokohama, with a light cargo of Japanese goods conThe signed to merchants in New York. two vessels were anchored in fourteen fathoms in the open sea with no land visible, and it was after night-fall before the crew and plunder of the prize were removed to first

THE NAVAL HISTORY

648

the "Alabama." Then the torch was applied to the captured vessel, and the little plunderer sailed away in search of otlier victims.

Semmes now turned the "Alabama's head to the eastward, and passed through Carimata Strait in five days, although vessels are sometimes thirty days in maknig the passage.

The "Alabama" was now in the China having left the "Wyoming" somewhere in the Straits of Sunda looking for

seas,

Instead of one vesConfederate cruisers sel there should have been a dozen in the !

vicinity of the straits. No " Where asked himself :

that he

is

permitting

wonder Semmes is the Yankee,

all this rich

harvest of

commerce in the East to pass away from him ? " Had English commerce been threatened with destruction by an enemy's cruisers, how her men-of-war would have swarmed in the Chinese seas! English naval could smile calmly at tlie proceedings of the Confederate plunderer, even where she might occasionally destroy a cargo belonging to British subjects, for this would induce the latter to ship goods in British bottoms. Semmes cruised in the China seas in search of American merchant vessels, but without success. He played the Rajah at Pulo Condore, where he got springs upon his cable in order to bring his broadside to bear upon the "Wyoming," and rake her fore and aft before she could get alongside of the "Alabama" in case she should enter that narrow harbor. In this harbor Semmes spent two weeks refitting his ship and studying natural history, and became so absorbed in watching the habits of locusts and monkeys, that he appears to have quite forgotten the "Wyoming," which vessel ought to have heard of his whereabouts. Probably the commanding officer of the "Wyoming" was deceived by Semmes' eccentric movements, while the latter calculated that the "Wyoming" had gone to Canton and Shanghai in pursuit of him. Tlie "Alabama" next proceeded to Singapore for coal and stores. Semmes' stay was short, but the officers and crew were sumptuously entertained. The day he left Singapore Semmes captured a beautiful ship, which, though flj'i'ng the British flag, was evidently an American vessel, officered and manned by "the hated Yankees." The ship's papers appeared to be in due form, and she liad been transferred by a bill of sale to her Britisli owner. After a thorough examination, Semmes satisfied himself that tlie transfer was not a real one, so he hauletl down the British ensign and burned tlie •'Martaban'' (late the "Texan Star"), virtuously indignant at the unprincipled conduct of the sliipmaster in attempting to deofficers

the Southern After this little matter wassettled, Semmes apparently had some mis-

ceive the representative of

Confederacy.

givings, lest the British authorities might call him to an account for burning a vessel under the British flag, so he called the unlucky shipmaster into his cabin and extorted from him a confession that he had resorted to a stratagem to save his ship in case he should fall in with the "Alabama."

Notwithstanding the uncomplimentary in which Captain Semmes had treated the flag which has " braved a thousand years the battle and the breeze," when the "Alabama" arrived at her next port and anchored off the little town of Malacca, the English officers and inhabitants After leaving this went wild over her. place, Semmes fell in with an English vessel, the master of which gave him such information as enabled him to capture two

manner

large American ships in that vicinity, the " Sonora," of Newburyport, and the " Highlander." of Boston. When the Master of

THE

'AL.iBA'MA'"

OFF CAPETOWN.

FROM A SKETCH BY EEAR-ADMIRAX WALKE.

the "Sonora" came on board the "Alabama,'' he said pleasantly to Captain Semmes: "I have been expecting you for the last three 3'ears." Semmes answered that he was glad the Captain had found him after so long a search. "It is some such search," replied the other, "as the devil may be supposed to make after holy water " This good humor saved the cap!

tives

from imprisonment, and they were

allowed to take their boats with provisionsand start for Singapore. After the usual cremation services, the "Alabama" steamed out past the light-ship, and was once more in the Indian Ocean. Query, were the two ships

above-named

waters

?

burned

in

neutral

The "Alabama" now proceeded to the of Bengal, and on the 11th of January captured and burned the "Emma Jane."' of Bath, Maine. This was the last vessel burned by Captain Semmes in that quarter.

Bay

Further continuance in the East Indies did

OF THE not promise

much

profit

CIVIL WAR.

and the "Alabama"

proceeded towards the Cape of Good Hope. But even in that quarter there were no prizes to be found. American vessels that were not laid up in port or transferred to the British flag avoided the beaten track.

finally

On

the 30th of

Town

March Semmes went

into

and provisions, and there found the "Tuscaloosa," which vessel he had sent to cruise on the coast of Brazil and which had been seized by the British The authorities and afterwards released. news received at Cape Town from the Confederate States was far from encouraging; everything seemed to be gradually falling into Federal hands. Captain Semmes, for his part, was quite satisfied with the mischief he had wrought, estimating that he had destroyed or driven for protection under the British flag, one - half of the United States vessels engaged in trade with English ports. Still greater damage was done to American trade with other nations. Commerce with the South American States was practically broken up, and that on the Pacific, including the important whale fishery, Cape

for coal

greatly crippled.

Semmes left Cape Town March 2oth, the "Alabama" keeping in the "fair way" leading from the Cape of Good Hope to the equatorial region where the Confederate cruisers had been so successful, shortening sail from day to day and tacking to and fro in the " high-way," but for some time the American flag was nowhere to be seen among the numerous vessels passing on their way. At last an unlucky " Yankee" reported*, and although he made all and handled his ship with great skill, the " Alabama " overtook the fugitive. She proved to be the ship " Rockingham," from theChincha Islands, with a cargo of guano, bound to Cork. Semmes, after removing the crew and such provisions- and stores as

was sail

he wanted, made a target of the " Rockingham," exercising his crew in firing shot and shell at her, which they did with "great precision," owing doubtless to the circumstance

"Rockingham" could not return for we find on a subsequent ocwhen the "Kearsarge" was the this same crew fired with very little

that the the fire casion, ;

target,

On

'the 27th of April the "

Tycoon," of York, with an assorted cai'go, was brought-to; the hold of the "Alabama" was filled up with stores, and the night illuminated by another burning ship. About this time Semmes crossed the equator, and ran up to the old toll-gate, where so many American vessels had been made to

New

haul down their flags. He now felt that he was getting towards the end of his career. The latest captured newspapers had o-ivfin him an insiclit into the deSDer-

G49

ate condition of the Southern Confederacy, and he saw that his commerce-destroying

was about ended. To quote his own words: " The poor old Alabama was not now what she had been. She was like the weary foxhound, limping back after a long chase, footsore and longing for quiet and repose. Her commander, like herself, was well-nigh worn down. Vigils by day and night, the storms and the drenching rain, the frequent and rapid change of climate now freezing, now melting or broiling, and the constant excitement of the chase and capture — had laid, in the three years of war he had been afloat, a load of a dozen years upon his shoulders. The shadows of a sorrowful future, too, began to dawn upon his '

'

From this melancholy moralizing we might almost imagine that Semmes anspirit."

ticipated

some such

the Corsair

fate as befell

Conrad

:

moons roll on moons away. And Conrad comes not, came not since that day: Nor trace, nor tidings of his doom declare Where lives his grief, or perished his despair On his way to Europe Semmes met with

"'Ti.s idle all,

!

prizes. American merchant vessels had scattered in all directions like chickens threatened by the hawk, many of them seeking, under the British and other flags, the protection which their own Government

no

failed to afford. On the 11th day of June, 1804, the "Alabama " anchored in the port of Cherbourg,

France and three days afterwards the U. S. steamer " Kearsarge," Captain John A. Winslow, steamed into port, communicated with the authorities, steamed out again without coming to an anchor, and took a ;

station off the breakwater, in order to prevent the " Alabama " from escaping. It was evidently not Semmes' intention to fight anybody, for he was about to go into dock and give his men two months' leave, when they would have scattered to parts unknown but as Cherbourg was exclusively a naval port, the French Admiral would not admit the " Alabama " into drydock until he obtained permission from the Emperor, then absent at Biarritz. Had the latter been in Paris, the fight with the " Kearsarge " would never have taken place. Under the circumstances, it would not have done to decline the combat which the "' Kearsarge " offered; and Captain Semmes. after so long warring on peaceful merchant vessels, directed the Confederate agent in Cherbourg to request Captain Winslow to wait for him and he would give him battle as soon as he could get some coal on board. The Captain of the "Alabama" occupied four days in preparations for battle, filling the bunkers so that the machinery would be protected, sending down all useless spars and ton hamper, and doing everything possi;

THK

650

i\AVAl.

ble to achieve success in the coming contest. Semmes' principal anxiety seemed to have been lest his English crew had grown rusty for want of gunnery practice, which he had been obliged to neglect in the more congenial business of plundering and burnmg; " Kearsarge" was as still, as the force of the same as his own ship, the possible nearly as he was exceedingly hopeful of success. Semmes tried after the battle to make it

allium "Alabama." 6

long 33-pounders,

1 rifled

1

100-pounder, (Blakeley)

.....

;

many by

other of his assertions,

official records,

which

disputed

is

state as follows

"Kearsarge." 4 short 33-poundei's, weia:ht of " "

5 11-inch pivot-suns, 1

80-pounder

7 guns,

rifle,

.

.

" "

projectile, " .

" .

:

lbs.

.

.

138 273

.30 .430

192 100

8-inoh shell-gun,

8 guns,

360

In speed the " Kearsarge " had somewhat the advantage. In tonnage the vessels were almost the same. The Kearsarge " had 163 officers and men, the " Alabama," 149. It '

'

CAPTAIN (AFTERWARDS EEAB-ADMIBAi) JOHN

appear that the "Kearsarge" had the advantage in size, weight of ordnance and number of guns and crew but this, like

lbs.

A.

WTNSLOW.

was a matter of little consequence what battery the "Alabama " carried, as so few of her shots struck the "Kearsarge"; and if, as has been asserted, many of Semmes' crew were old English man-of-war's me_n,_their shooting did little credit to their training. With wise precaution, Semmes sent all his valuables on shore before steaming out to meet his antagonist, who was eagerly watching for his appearance. The weather

OF THE

CIVIL

fine, and a large number of people were assembled on the heights to witness the engagement. The English yacht " Deerhound," owned by one of Semmes' sympathizers, followed in the " Alabama's " wake, and the French iron-clad "Couronne" steamed out of port to see that the neutrality of French waters was not violated. Before going into battle, Captain Semmes

was

made the following address and men, who were

to his officers

all attired in their

best

clothes "OfBcers and seamen of the 'Alabama': you have at length another opportunity of meeting the enemy— the first that has been presented to you since you sank the Hatteras / In the meantime you have been aU over the world, and it is not too' much to say that you have destroyed and driven '

'

under neutral flags one-half of the enemy's commerce, which at the beginning of the war covered every sea. This is an achievement of which you may well be proud and a grateful country will not be unmindful of it. The name of your ship has become a household word wherfor protection

;

ever civilization extends. Shall that name be tarnished by defeat ? The thing is impossible Remember that you are in the English Channel, the theatre of so much of the naval glory of our race, and that the eyes of aU Europe are at this

WAR.

651

and it was impossible for her to escape within French jurisdiction, as her commanding intended in case the battle should go against him. The firing of the Confederates was rapid and wild until near the close of the engagement, when it became better, while that of the Federal gunners, owing to the careful training of Lieutenant-Commander James S. Thornton, the executive officer of the officer

"Kearsarge," was very

effective.

The

su-

perior training of the " Kearsarge's " crew was evident from the beginning of the action, their guns telling fearfully on the hull and spars of the Confederate. On the seventh rotation on the circular track the

"Alabama "set her foresail and two jibs, with head in shore. Her speed was now retarded, and, by winding her, the port broadside was presented to the "Kearsarge," with only two guns bearing, being able to shift but one gun from the star-

board

At

side.

this time the

" Alabama " was com-

moment upon you. The flag that floats over you is that of a young Republic, who bids defiance to her enemies, whenever and wherever found. Show the world that you know how to uphold it Go to 1

your quarters."

The "Kearsarge" ran

off

shore a few

miles so as to draw the Confederate vessel as far as possible from the land and be able to intercept her in case she should attempt to retreat in shore. As soon as the " Kearsarge " turned to approach the " Alabama." the latter opened lire from the distance of a mile; the Federal vessel not replying, but steaming at full speed for the enemy, receiving a second and third broadside. When within nine hundred yards, the " Kearsarge " slowed and returned the fire with her starboard battery, and then attempted to gain a position where she could rake the " Alabama." The latter avoided this by sheering, still keeping her starboard broadside bearing on the "Kearsarge."

These tactics brought the combatants circling around each other, each working their starboard batteries. As Captain Semmes appeared to avoid close action, Captain Winslow was apprehensive that he might make for the shore, and therefore determined, with full speed and a port helm, to run under the "Alabama's" stern, and if possible rake her. It was Semmes' anticipation of this ,'the "Alabama" into a circular / action as in the^ the result that|| the fight the \ then nearlyfive

manoeuvre that forced under full steam '^^^

\

track during the

^diagram, with pat the close of /^"Alabama" was

^—^^

miles off shore,

THE D

KEAESABCrE.'

mercy of the " Kearsarge," and a few more well-directed shots brought pletely at the

down the Confederate flag. Fifteen minutes after the action commenced, the spanker-gaff of the "Alabama" was shot away, and her flag came down, but was immediately hoisted at the mizzen. The "Kearsarge's" shot told fearfully on the "Alabama's" hull, killing and wounding numbers of men in different parts of the ship.

So that, in sixty -five minutes after

commencement of the fight, the " Alabama" was discovered to be sinking, an the

11-inch shell having entered her side near the water line, making a huge aperture, through which the water poured in torrents.

For a moment Semmes had an

idea of escaping, and crowded on steam and sail, heading the " Alabama" for the French coast but the fires in the engine;

room were soon extinguished and he was obliged to surrender. Semmes asserts that his ship was fired upon five times after he had hauled down his colors; but this assertion is not supported by other evidence, for when the Confederate fiag

came down. Captain Winslow,

al-

/ ,'

-'/Ivfiliiwt oflI[t]{rar.Jinv irliriii/ir.trj-ni'Kfillit,

Ills'

/.

l\

•pi

ThtahBVtdetlf/tnrclea-rriirrsent

f}i»

gineraL dirr/how ant

llie aroIr.ofOit ftri-Ienisrnlan^e/haml dntmat-rtlix-ti.iht^

»'' ,xP'" ,tf-

I7ig to Sraltoit'tit/,

/ i

/

irwulfuii 9t'&i

Wuft);

THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE though unable to ascertain whether it had. been hauled down, or shot away, gave the

A

order to reserve the " Kearsarge's " fire. white flag was displayed over the Confederate's stern, and a moment after the "Alabama " opened on her antagonist with the two guns on the port side, drawing the fire It was at of the "Kearsarge" once more. this moment the Federal vessel steamed ahead, placing herself across the " Alabama's" bow in a position for raking but, seeing the white flag still flying, the "Kearsarge " again reserved her fire. Immediately afterwards, the "Alabama's" boats were lowered, one of them pulled alongside the "Kearsarge" with some of the wounded, and in twenty minutes afterwards the "Alabama" went down stern foremost, leaving a large number of her officers and crew struggling in the water. Most of the "Kearsarge's" boats were rendered useless by fragments of shell, as the Confederates fired high but as soon as possible the launch and second cutter were hoisted out to pick up the drowning men, while the " Alabama's " boat was sent back for the same purpose. Meanwhile the English yacht " Deerhound," which had been viewing the combat from a distance of about a mile, ran under the stern of the "Kearsarge" and volunteered to pick up the men in the water, to which proposition Captain Winslow assented; for this was no time to think of anything but the claims of humanity, to ;

;

which American

officers

and seamen have

ever shown due appreciation. In spite of the officers and crew of the "Kearsarge" having done everything possible to rescue their opponent, Captain Semmes, in his chagrin at being so thoroughly beaten, refleets upon Captain Winslow for not sooner getting his boats to the rescue of the " Alabama's" crew. The prisoners picked up by the boats of the " Kearsarge" were taken on board that vessel, while the " Deerhound," after rescuing Captain Semmes and many of his officers and crew, steamed away for the English coast, leaving others struggling for their lives in the water. Six officers and sixtyfour men, including twenty wounded, were received on board the Kearsarge " so that, notwithstanding Semmes' accusation, it appears that most of the people of the " Alabama" were saved by the "Kearsarge's" boats, while the Confedertite Captain, as soon as he was safe on board the " Deerhound," fearing that Winslow would demand his surrender, urged his friend, the owner of the yacht, to save him. The latter accordingly made off without further efforts at rescue so that, if any one was drowned, it was due more to the selfishness of Captain Semmes than to any other cause. '

'

;

;

CIVIL WAR.

653

Although the actions of the owner of the " Deerhound " may be open to criticism, as an Englishman he could hardly be expected to deliver up as prisoners men whom he found struggling for their lives in the water. It is honorable to the English flag that it is a protection to everything it waves over, and that the whole power of the British nation will sustain the rights of even the meanest of its citizens. Captain Semmes' escape made little difference one way or the other, for, with the " Alabama" at the bottom of the channel, his power of mischief had departed. As the Confederacy was in its last agonies, there was no chance of fitting out any more "cruisers." The action between the "Kearsarge" and the "Alabama," although comparatively a small battle, much impaired the prestige of the Confederate ISTavj^. The British public might rejoice over the destruction of helpless merchantmen, but when it came to fighting, the "Kearsarge" did her work so quickly and effectively that the blindest could but detect the difference between the true and the false coin. Mr. Secretary Welles attached more importance to the escape of Semmes and his companions in the " Deerhound" than the matter deserved, and even blamed Captain Winslow for his course in paroling the prisoners. Mr. Welles cliaracterized all those connected with the "Alabama" as "pirates," but they were not so in the eyes of European Governments, which had recognized the Confederates' armed vessels as belligerents, and although many of the acts of the "Alabama" bordered on the piratical, jei such irregularities are always found existing in revolutionary struggles, where the worst passions are engendered in the breasts of those who have staked their all on the hazard of a die, and are not always scrupulous as to the means of accomplishing their ends. The fault of encouraging the Confederate cruisers lay chiefly with the English and French, and to them is due the latitude the former were allowed on the ocean. Possibly the English may have thought that a country capable of putting a million of men in the field must have been able to muster a sufficient force of cruisers to put an end to the "piracy " of wliich Mr. Welles complained.

As to the implied censure on Captain Winslow for not pursuing the "Deerhound" and recovering his prisoners, the question arises Were they Winslow's prisoners at all, any more than if they had :

succeeded in landing on fragments of the wreck at some point on the coast of England, for an English ship represents English A similar sentiment animates the soil ? American people, and it would be very in-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

054

consistent for them to wish to apply another standard to foreigners, and maintain that it was Captain Winslow's duty to commit violence upon the " Deerhound," and thereby involve the Federal Government in a serious complication with that of Great Britain.

While the "Alabama" was sent to the bottom in sixty-five minutes, with her hull cut to pieces, thirty of her crew killed and wounded, and ten drowned, the " Kearsarge " incurred little damage in hull or spars and had but three men wounded. Out of three hundred and seventy shot and shell fired by the Confederate vessel, thirteen or fourteen only struck the " Kearsarge " in or about the hull, and some sixteen about the masts or rigging. The latter vessel was in perfect readiness to engage another immediately after sinking the "Alabama." If the "Alabama's " guns were, as it lias been asserted, manned by trained gunners from tlie practice-sliip " Excellent," of the Royal Navy, their firing did little credit to the school in which they had been educated. On the other hand, the fire of the " Kearsarge" showed the great superiority of the American crew as great as was manifested on so many occasions during the war of 1813. The " Kearsarge " fired one hundred and seventy-three projectiles, less than half the number fired by her antagonist; but what damage they did and whom they killed will never be known. Captain Semmes states that one shot alone killed and wounded eighteen men. Another exploded in the coal-bunkers, completely blocking up the engine-room others exploded against the sides, making, as Semmes expresses it, " great gaping wounds " which let in the water and sent the ship to the bottom, with the precious bag of captured flags, and probably the old quartermaster who had charge of the trophies. No account can be given of the casualties on board the "Alabama" beyond that furnished by Captain Semmes that we have already quoted. Out of one hundred and

—

;

forty-nine officers and men, forty seem to have been killed or drowned, although it was stated by the prisoners that a number of men joined the ship at Cherbourg, in addition to the regular complement of the "Alabama." It is remarkable that there was no one killed on board the "Kearsarge" in the action although three men were wounded, one mortally as shells were continually bursting over the heads of the crew. Semmes tried to make it appear that the " Kearsarge " was an iron-clad in disguise,

—

—

because Captain Winslow had hung spare chains up and down the sides of ship abreast of the machinery. This been done some time before meeting

his his

had the

"Alabama" with

the design to protect the in case the coal in the bunker should get so reduced as to leave them exposed to shot. It was not done with any especial reference to meeting Semmes, who might have adopted a similar plan had boilers

and engines,

—

he chosen to do so and this had been done extensively during the civil war, a fact well

known

to the

commander of

the " Ala-

bama."

Semmes remarks that the shells fired from the "Alabama " burst against the sides of the " Kearsarge " without effect, owing to this chain armor; but the fact is, only two

—

struck the chain a 33-pound shot and a Blakeley shell. The latter did not burst, but broke some of the links of chain. It was of very little use for Captain Semmes to trj' and excuse himself, after being so thoroughly beaten by the superior discipline of the "Kearsarge," and the skill of her crew in gunnery. It was the intention to make short work with the "Alabama" in case the " Kearsarge" fell in with her, and the action would have terminated sooner but for the difficulty of coming to close quarters with the Confederate vessel. No wonder the people of the North were overjoj'ed when they read Captain Winslow's modest dispatch announcing the destruction of the despoiler that had sent so many of their merchant ships to the bottom. The writer evidently states what in his mind was a foregone conclusion, and it is pleasing in its simplicity and brevity: projectiles

United States Steamer "Kearsarqb," CHKBBOtJBa, France, June 19, p. m., 1864. \ Sir — I have the honor to inform the Department that the day subsequent to the arrival of the "Kearsarge' off this port, on the 24th instant, I received a note fro.a Captain Semmes begging that the " Kearsarge " would not depart, as he intended to fight her, and would delay her but a day or two. )

According to this notice, the " Alabama " left the port of Cherbourg this morning at about 9:30 o'clock. At 10:30 A. M. we discovered her steering towards us. Fearing the question of jurisdiction might arise, we steamed to sea until a distance of six or seven miles was attained from the Cherbourg breakwater, when werounded-to, and commenced steaming fortlie " Alabama." As we approached her, within about twelve hundred yards, she opened fire we receiving two or three broadsides before a shot was returned. The action continued, the respective steamers making a circle round and round at a distance of about nine hundred yards from each other. At the expiration of an hour the "Alabama'' struck, going down in about twenty minutes afterward, carrying many persons with her. It affords me great gratification to announce to the Department that every officer and man did their duty exhibiting a degree of coolness and fortitude which gave promise at the outset of certain victory. I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant, John A. Winslow, Captain. ;

—

Hon. Gideon Welles, tivcretanj of the Jfavy,

Washington, D.

C.

OF THE CIVIL WAR. To

this

dispatch

the

Secretary of the

Navy responded as follows Navx Department, :

Sib

—Tour very

July

6,

1864.

brief dispatches of the 19th

and

30th ultimo, informing the Department that the piratical craft "Alabama," or "390," had been simk on the 19th of June near meridian, by the "Kearsarge," under your command, were this day I congratulate you on your good fortune received. in meeting this vessel, which had so long avoided the fastest ships and some of the most vigilant and intelligent officers of the service and for the ability displayed in this combat you have' the thanKs of ;

the Department. You will please express to the ofBcers and crew of the " Kearsarge" the satisfaction of the Government at the victory over a vessel superior in tonnage, superior in number of guns, and superior in the number of her crew. The battle was so brief, the victory so decisive, and the comparative results so striking, that the country wUl be reminded of the brilliant actions of our infant Navy, which have been repeated and illustrated in this engagement. The "Alabama" represented the best maritime

the most skilled English workshops. Her battery was composed of the well-tried 33-pounders of 57-hundred weight, of the famous 68-pounder of the British Navy, and of the only successful rifled 100-pounder yet produced in England. The crew were generally recruited in Great Britain, and many of them received superior training on board Her Majesty's gunnery ship, the "Excellent." The "Kearsarge" is one of the first gun-boats built at our Navy Yards at the commencement of the rebellion, and lacks the improvements of veseffort of

now under construction.

The

principal guns composing her battery had never been previously tried in an exclusively naval engagement, yet in one hour you succeeded in sinking your antagonist, thus fully ending her predatory career, and killed many of her crew without injury to the "Kearsarge," or the loss of a single hfe on your vessel. Our countrymen have reason to be satisiled that in this, as in every naval action of this unhappy war, neither the ships, the guns nor the crew have been deteriorated, but that they maintain the abilities and continue the renown which ever adorned our naval annals. The President has signified his intention to recommend that you receive a vote of thanks, in order that you may be advanced to the grade of sels

commodore. Lieutenant-Commander James

British Government and a large section of the British people had given every assistance to the "Alabama," in the way of moral and material support, in her business of destroying the commerce of a friendly nation. That it was a moral victory over the English can hardly be disputed, and they felt it to be such, as was proven by the desperate efforts of a large portion of the newspapers to show that Winslow's success was unimportant, while the courage and ability of Semmes were extolled to the skies.

The fiction on which tiiese newspapers most relied to belittle the victory of the " Kearsarge " was the assertion that the United States vessel was an iron-clad in disguise an idea which Captain Semmes took every opportunity to disseminate, and which was generally received by the British

—

public.

While Captain Winslow received great credit and promotion for his victory, his executive officer. Lieutenant - Com-

mander Thornton, was complimented by an advance of only ten numbers on the list of ofiicers of his grade, although it was well

known

that to his close attention to the drilling of the crew, and his management of the Kearsarge," was due the speedy result of the action. He deserved and should have received promotion to the rank of commander ; but, as he died soon after the close of the war, he never obtained any substantial advancement, although he lives in the memorj- of those who can properly estimate his services. '•'

List of Oe'ficers op the U. 8. S. "Kearsarge." John A. Winslow, Captain; James S. Thornton, Lieutenant -Commander; John M. Browne, Surgeon- J. A. Smith, Paymaster; Wm. H. Cushman, Chief Engineer; James K. Wheeler, Eben M. Stoddard and David H. Sumner, Acting - Masters Wm. H. Badlam, Second-Assistant Engineer Fred. L. Miller, Sidney L. Smith and Henry McConnell, Third - Assistant Engineers Edward E. Preble, "Midshipman; David B. Sargent, Paymaster's Clerk; ;

;

Thornton, the

S.

executive oflBcer of the " Kearsarge," wiU be recommended to the Senate for advancement ten numbers in his grade, and you wUl report to the Department the names of any other of the oflfioers or crew whose good conduct on the occasion entitles them to especial mention. Very respectfully,

;

S. E.

Hartwell, Captain's Clerk; Frank A. Graham,

Gunner; James

C. Walton, Boatswain; William H. Yeaton, Charles H. Danforth and Ezra Bartlett, Acting- Master's Mates.

Gideon Welles,

petty officers and crew.

Secretary of the Navy.

Captain John A. Winslow,

Commanding

U. S.

Steamer "Kearsarge,''^

There was no occurrence during the war more grateful to the Northern people than this victory of the " Kearsarge " over the "Alabama." Winslow became the hero of the hour, for he had not only disposed of a most troublesome enemy, but he had demonstrated the superiority of a United States ship, crew and guns over an Englishbuilt, English-armed and English-manned vessel of equal, if not superior, force. -MT-nc

fViiii

crTf^atf^-r

Tittle, Surgeon's-Steward C. B. De Witt, Yeoman; J. N. Watrus, Master-at-Arms; Chas. Jones, Seaman; Daniel Charter, Landsman; Ed. ward Williams, Officers-Steward; George Williams, Landsman Charles Butts, Quartermaster Chas. Bedding, Landsman James Wilson, Coxswain

George A.

Cherbourg, France.

Ihe triTimnb

655

liAnnnafi tliA

;

;

;

;

Gowan

(died). Ordinary Seaman; James Quartermaster John W. Dempsey, Quarter-Gunner William D. Chapel, Landsman; Thomas Perry, Boatswain s-Mate John Barrow, Ordinary Seaman William Bond, Boatswain'sMate; James Haley, Captain-of-Forecastle Robert Strahn, Captain - of - Top James O. Stone, FirstClass Boy; Jacob Barth, John H. McCarthy and James F. Hayes, Landsmen; John Hayes, Coxswain; James Devine, Landsman; Geo. H. Russell,

William

Saunders,

;

;

;

;

;

;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

656

Dennis McCarty, Landsmen; John Boyle and John C. Woodberry, Ordinary Seamen; Geo. E. Reed, Seaman James Moray, Ordinary Seaman Benedict Drury and William Giles, Seamen Timothy Hurley, Ship's Cook; Michael Conroy, Ordinary Seaman; LeviW. Nye and James H. Lee, Seamen; John E. Brady, Ordinary Seaman; Andrew J. Rowlev, Quarter-Gunner; James Bradley, Seaman; Wm. Henry Cook, Captain -of Ellis, Captain - of - Hold Afterguard; Charles A. Reed and William 8. Morgan, Seamen Joshua E. Carey, Sailmaker's-Mate James Magee, Ordinary Seaman; Benj. S. Davis, John F. Bickford, Coxswain Wm. Officer's Cook Wm. Smith, Quartermaster Gurney, Seaman Lawrence T. Crowley, Ordinary Seaman Hugh Taran Phillips, OrMcPherson, Gunner's-Mate dinary Seaman; Joachim Pease, Seaman Benj. H. Blaisdell and Joel B. Blaisdell, First-Class Firemen; Charles Fisher, Officer's-Cook; James Henson, AVm. M. Smith, Wm. Fisher, George Bailey and Martin Hoyt, Landsmen; Mark G. Ham, Carpenter's-Mate; Wm. H. Bastine, Landsman; Layman P. Spinney, ;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

Adoniram Littlefield, John W. Youngand Will Wain•wright, Coalheavers; John B. Orchon, Second-class Fireman; George W. Remick, Joel L. Sanborn, Jere. Young and Wm. Smith, First - class Firemen Stephen Smith, John F. Stackpole, Wm. Stanley and Lyman H. Hartford, Second-class FiremenTrue W. Priest and Joseph Dagan, First-class Firemen John F. Dugan, Coalheaver; James W. Sheffield, Second-class Fireman; Charles T. Young, Orderly - Sergeant Austin Quimley, Corporal -of Marines; Roscoe G. Dolley and Patrick Flood, Privates of Marines Henry Hobson, Corporal-ofMarines; James Kerrigan, John McAleen, Geo. A. Raymond, James Tucker and Isaac Thornton, Privates-of-Marines; Wm. Y. Evans, Nurse; Wm. B. Poole, Quartermaster: P. J.Veannoh, Captain-ofAfterguard Charles Hill. Landsman Henry Jameson, First-class Fireman; John G. Batchelder, Private-of-Marines; John Dwyer, First-class Fire;

;

;

;

;

man; Thomas Salmon and Patrick O'Conner, SecondFiremen Geo. H. Harrison and George Andrew, Ordinary Seamen; Charles Moore, Seairian

class

;

George A. Whipple, Ordinary 8eam.an Edward Wallace, Seaman; Thomas Marsh, Coalheaver; Thomas Buckley, Ordinary Seaman; Edward AVilt, Captain-of-Top; Geo. H. Kinnie, Ordinary Seaman; Augustus Johnson, Jeremiah Horrigan, William O'Halloran and William Turner, Seamen; Joshua Collins and James McBeath, Ordinary Seamen;

Chief Engineer John W. Third- Assistant Engineers; ;

Pundt and M. O'Brien, J. O. Cuddy, W. Craw-

ford and C. Seymour, Gunners; Captain's- Clerk, W. B. Smith; Boatswain, B. L. McClaskey; Francis L. Gait, Surgeon W. P. Brooks, Second-Assistant Engineer Henry Alcott, Sailmaker D. H. LlewG. T. Fullam, James ellyn, Assistant - Surgeon Evans, Max MuUiner and J. Schroeder, Master's;

;

;

;

Mates

;

Wm.

Robinson, Carpenter.

There has been doubt expressed whether Captain Semmes challenged Captain Winslov^r to do battle; but the latter could not well have accepted, since the "Alabama" was not recognized by the United States Government as a Confederate ship -of

war.

On

the contrary, her acts had been

denounced as

"piratical."'

Winslow

pur-

sued the only course proper for him he went off Cherbourg and waited as near as possible to the entrance of the port, to see tiiat the "Alabama" did not escape. Captain Semmes' notification to Winslow, that he would give him battle in a day or :

if the latter would wait, was hardly necessary, as Winslow had not the slightest idea of avoiding a contest.

two

For Winslow to have challenged Semmes would have been to put the " Alabama" in the status denied her by the Federal Navy Department, namely, that of a recognized vessel-of-war of a de facto Government. The propriety of sending challenges from one commanding officer to another in time of war has been questioned. In this instance Winslow did exactly the right thing waited till his enemy came out of port and defeated him witliout bluster.

—

;

John Pope, Coalheaver; Charles Mattison, OrdiGeorge Baker, Timothy G. Cauty, John Shields, Thomas Alloway, Philip Weeks arid

nary Seaman

;

Wm.

Barnes, Landsmen; George E. Smart, SecondFireman Chas. A. Poole, Timothy Lynch, Sylvanus P. Brackett and John W. Sanborn, Coalheavers; W. H. Donnally, First-class Fireman. All the above natives of the United States. Wm. Alsdorf and Clement Antoine, Coalheavers; JoseDabney. Landsmen; Benjamin Button and Jean JSriset, Coalheavers; Vanburn Francois, Landsman; Peter Ludy and George English, Seamen; Jonathan Brien, Landsman; Manuel J. Gallardo, Second-class Boy, and .John M. Sonius, First-class Boy. The above ai'e of foreign birth. class

;

thus appears that out of one Iiundred sixty-three officers and crew of the " Kearsarge," only eleven persons were foreign-born. It

and

List of Officers of Coxfedera-te

"Alabama," Junjs Raphael Semmes, Captain;

J.

2.j, J\r.

Steamer

I8{i4.

Kell and Arthur

Sinclair, Lieutenants; R. K. Howell, Lieutenant-ofMarines; J. S. Bulloch, Sailing Master; E. A. Maffitt and E. BI. Anderson, Midshipmen; R. F. Armstrong and Jos. D. Wilson, Lieutenants; M. J. Freeman,

A few acter

words in regard to Semmes' charand abilities, as an agent in carrying

out the views of the Confederate Government, may not be out of place. As an individual, he had great defects of character, but as a bold and capable commander, on whom the Confederacy could depend to inflict the greatest damage on United States commerce, Semmes had probably no equal. Although he had served many years in the United States Navy, none of his associates ever supposed that in time of war he would exhibit so much efficiency; for, although his courage was undoubted, his tastes were rather those of the scholar than of 'the dashing naval officer and destroyer of commerce. It became common in the North to speak of the " Alabama " as the "English pirate."

and Semmes in liis memoirs frequently applies the term in a sarcastic manner to his own vessel; yet, although he was guilty of many irregularities, if not outrages, he could not, in justice, be so stigmatized. The writer has on several occasions compared acts with those of the buccaneers, who were sometimes regularly commissioned by royal authority to plunder the

Semmes"

OF THE

CIVIL

Spaniards; but such actions do not constitute piracy, and the Law of Nations is so elastic on the subject that a commander may do a great many outrageous things and still keep within the legal limits. In the case of the "Alabama," her Captain seems to have been a law unto himself, and his vessel a Court of Admiralty of the Confederate States, with power to commission vessels on the high seas. With his pen navigator could baffle the this clever shrewdness of colonial authorities and create discord in the councils of the Home Governments. He set the proclamation of Queen Victoria at defiance, took his prizes into British ports, and fitted them out as cruisers whenever it suited him to do so. To call this enterprising individual a " pirate " would give rise to the suspicion that want of success in stopping his career of destruction, and a fear of being held responsible for negligence in the premises, had influenced persons in authority to throw all the odium possible on Semmes. The "Alabama" certainly fulfilled most, if not all, the requirements of a vessel-ofwar. She was the sole property of the Confederate Government; and therefore, for all acts committed under the general orders to "burn, sink, and destroy," the said Government was answerable. As a general rule, a vessel purchased in a neutral port, to war upon another nation, in order to be armed and commissioned, should proceed to a port of the nation purchasing her, and there be fitted for service but there is so much latitude allowed in practice that it would perhaps be difficult to settle this matter authoritatively before the courts. The high seas are certainly neutral, in one sense of the word, for all nations; and although the Confederates undoubtedly violated British law, yet Semmes had a right to take command of an armed vessel placed in his possession at sea. It would be well if there could be a careful reconsideration of all the laws and precedents bearing on this subject by the maritime governments of the world, in order that in future no "Alabamas" could get to sea, and commercial nations be free from depredations such as were committed upon the commerce of the United States in ;

1861-65.

The question has been often debated whether the " Alabama " and her consorts were entitled to be considered vessels-ofwar on a par with those of other nations. The powers of Europe accorded belligerent rights to the Confederates, and proclaimed their intention of observing strict neutrality between the contending parties. Such a recognition ent, for

was

in

many

respects inconsist-

although the Confederate cruisers

WAR.

657

been accorded belligerent rights, yet no recognition further than this had been extended to the State itself by any European Government. The Confederates could have no representatives abroad, and it might well be considered an anomalous state of things when a State was accorded belligerent rights by foreign powers which held no official relations with it, and could not therefore depend upon the ordinary methods for redress if Confederate vessels should

commit

offences against their sovereignty. This condition of affairs would seem to cast a doubt upon the validity of the commissions of the Confederate cruisers; and for this reason, if for no other, the character of shipsof-war was never accorded to the "Alabama " and the other Confederate cruisers by the Government of the United States. Captain Semmes' method had a good deal to do, perhaps, with the action of the United States Government, for according to his own account he plundered his prizes of whatever he pleased, and even took the chronometers, which were the private property of the shipmasters. Whether Confederate naval officers could take delight in the destruction of the Federal commerce, which they once felt such pride in protecting, is very doubtful in the case of all except Captain Semmes. He appears to have gloried in the burning of ships, as if it was the greatest pleasure, instead of a disagreeable duty, imposed upon him by the stern necessities of war and it is not known that he ever experienced much regret for the burning of a beautiful ship, or sympathy for her master or crew a sentiment one would naturally expect to exist in the bosom of an officer brought up in a chivalrous service such as that of the United States Navy. As a fighting -man, Semmes was not a success when he met an enemy of equal force, as was proved by the "Kearsarge" sinking the " Alabama" in about an hour, killing and wounding a great number of men, while the "Kearsarge " was uninjured in hull or spars, and only had three men wounded. The fact is, the "Alabama's" crew, not being well drilled, were doomed to defeat from the outset; for, although the "Kearsarge" stood for her for some moments and received three broadsides, no damage was inflicted, and out of three hundred and seventy shot and shell fired by the Confederate vessel, only thirteen struck the hull, and fifteen the rigging and spars. The difference between the efficiency and ;

—

discipline of the vessels was too marked to admit of argument, although Semmes insisted that the victory would have been his if one of the shells which struck the " Kearsarge's" stern-post had exploded rja.nta.in Semmes' want nf cenerositv is !

THE NAVAL HISTORY

Go8

shown by his attempting to deprive Winslow and his officers and men of the credit of their victory, on the ground that the "Kearsarge" was an " iron-clad," and that

Winslow had taken a dishonorable advantage of him.

A

man

brave

should accept

his defeat in dignified silence, in the hope that at some future time he may have an opportunity of retrieving his fortunes. With regard to Semmes making his escape after the sinking of his ship, that was a matter between him and his conscience. Xo man is a prisoner until he is actually in the custody of the victor, and if, when struggling in the water, he is rescued by a neutral, the latter should protect him from cap-

ture

he has the power to do

if

STEAMER "MOHICAN. ;

;

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

ner,

;

John

Russell.

SLOOP-OF-WAB "

KEABSABGE " Lieutenant-ComCaptain, John A. Winslow mander, James 8- Thornton Surgeon, John M. Browne Paymaster, Joseph A. Smith Engineers Chief, William H. Cushman Second-Assistant, STEAM-SLOOP

'

'

.

;

;

;

;

:

;

H. Badlam Third-Assistants, Fredk. L. MilSidney L. Smith and Henry McConnell Boatswain, James C. Walton Acting-Gunner, Franklin A. Graham. STEAMER "SACRAMENTO." Captain, Henry Walke Lieutenant-Commander, H. D. Todd Lieutenant, G. P. Ryan; Surgeon, J. S. Kitchen; Assistant -Paymaster, J. P. Woodbury; Ensigns, Marston Niles, P. W. Lowry, J. D. Clark ;

ler,

;

;

;

;

and

1864.

Surgeon, Wm. M. King; Assistant-Paymaster, W. W. Williams ActingMaster, J. H. Stimpson; Ensign, E. M. Shepard Acting-Ensigns, Nicol Ludlow and C. J. Barclay Acting-Master's Mates, C. R. Haskins, Reuben Rich and John Hetherington Engineers: Chief, Wm. H. Rutherford Second- Assistants, Geo. W. Melville, M. Knapp and Edmund Lincoln Third-Assistants, H. D. McEwen, R. S. Stedman and J. A. Barton Boatswain, John Burrows Acting-Gun-

James Hutchinson.

Wm.

1,

mander, L. A. Beardslee

;

Acting- Master's Mates. D. C. J. B. Coghlan Harrington, O. G. Moore, E. N. R. Place and Charles Pease, Engineers: Acting-Chief, John Yates; ActingFirst-Assistant, Wm. Tipton; Acting-Second-Assistants, J. S. G. Aspinwalland E. A. Bushnell; ActingThird-Assistants, G.E. Savory, John Moquon, Leonard Pratt and E. B. Dyer; Boatswain, John Bates Gunner, Andrew Wilson Carpenter, G. E. Ander;

;

;

son.

;

Jackson; Engineers: Acting- Third- Assistants, Baas, Bennet Jones and Robert Reilly.

;

;

;

;

geon, F. B. A. Lewis Paymaster, J. S. Post; FirstLieutenant-of- Marines, W. J. Squires Acting-Masters, J. N. Rowe, Geo. Cables and Allan Hoxle; Acting-Ensign, Hazard Marsh Acting- Master's Mates, p. W. Fagan, F. L. Bryan and- J. H. Langley Acting-Boatswain, George Brown Gunner, G. P. Cushman Carpenter, Daniel Jones Sailmaker, I. E. Crowell. ;

;

;

;

;

;

;

SHIP "OKWAED." Wm. H. Clarke; T. G. Groove and William Collins Acting-Assistant Surgeon, David Watson Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. 8. Allen; Acting-Ensigns, G. J. Conklin and Wm. Rogers; Acting-Master's Mates, F. A. Gording, A. F. Ulmer Acting-Masters, ;

;

and

Newbegin. STEAMER "IROQUOIS." Commander, C. R. P. Rodgers Lieutenants, Acting8. Dana Greene and A. H. McCormick Master Thomas Hanrahan Surgeon, J. Corbin Assistant Paymaster, J. A. Bates, Jr. Ensigns, J. S.

;

;

;

;

Taylor, Allan D. Brown and W. K. Wheeler Acting- Master's Mates, C. F. Purrington, Carleton Race, B. F. Ritter and William Welch; Engineers Acting - Chief, J. W. Stormes ActingFirst-Assistants, W. H. Best and R. E. Stall; Acting-Second-Assistant, JohnB. Roach; Acting-ThirdAssista-nts, H. P. Gray and Edward Ewel; ActingC. ;

C. C.

Wm.

STEAMER "WACHUSBTT." Collins Lieutenant-Com-

Commander, Napoleon

ST. LOITIS.''

Commander, George H. Preble Lieutenant Wm. F. Stewart Surgeon, A. L. Gihon Assistant-Sur-

Henry

STEAMER "MICHIGAN." Commander, John C. Carter Paymaster,

is

hound," because they were under the impression that they would be harshly treated if they fell into the power of the United States Government. We have endeavored to do Captain Semmes no injustice, but simply to state our impressions of his character, for we knew him well. His career is certainly one of the most remarkable of the civil war; and if he had served the United States while he remained in its Navy as faithfully as he did the Confederacy, his resignation would have been accepted with great regret.

SPECIAL SERVICE, JANUARY Captain, O. 8. Glisson Lieutenant, R. K. Duer Surgeon, Edw. F. Corson Assistant - Paymaster, James Hoy, Jr. Acting-Master, Robert B. Ely Acting-Ensigns, A. D. Campbell and A. T. Holmes Acting-Master's Mates, J. S. Reynolds, W. F. Veltman, E. N. Snow and George T. Ford; Engineers Acting- First- Assistant, Gr. W. Halloway ActingSecond- Assistants, John Lardner andC. R. Weaver; Aeting-Third-Assistants, James Buckley and J. W. Buck; Acting-Boatswain, Geo. C. Abbott Gunner,

There

so.

less censure to be given Semmes and his officers for making off in the " Deer-

even

:

Gunner,

J. C.

;

Clapham.

CHAPTER

XLVII.

OPERATIONS OF SOUTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUADRON, UNDER REARADMIRAL DAHLGREN, DURING LATTER END OF 1863 AND IN 1864.

— Damages to the Fort and Iron-clads. — Loss op the Webhawken." — Attack on Batteries in Stono River. — Review of Work Done BY South Atlantic Squadron under Dahlgren. —Actions in which Iron-clads WERE Engaged. — Destruction of Blockade-runners. — Operations of Confederate

Fort Sumter Bombarded. "

Torpedo Corps.— Plans to Blow up Fleet.

—

Destruction of the " Housatonic." Patriotism. Originators of Torpedo. Operations of Gun-boats in Florida Rivers. Destruction of Steamer " Harriet A. Weed "and Transport "Maple-leaf." Hazardous Cutting-out Expeditions. Hot Receptions from Masked Batteries. Capture of U. S. Steamer "Water Witch" and River-boat "Columbine." Treatment Received by Assistant Surgeon Pierson. Prisoners Exposed in Dangerous Places. Failure of Expedition to Cut Railroads. Miscellaneous Expeditions. Blockade of whole Southern Coast. Extremities

— Sublime

— — — —

—

—

—

— — Armies, etc. —Vessels and Officers

of Confederate ading Squadron, January,

ON

;

placed,

Large masses of masonry were disheavy timbers thrown into the

gun-cartridges destroyed, and, in fact, the work reduced to a great heap of ruins air,

—

—

op South Atlantic Block-

1864.

the 36th of October, 1863, General Gillmore opened fire upon Fort Sumter from his battery on Morris Island, his ol)ject being to complete the reduction of this work, drive out the garrison, and occupy it with Union troops. This, as a matter of sentiment, might have been a good move but, as the Confederates still commanded Fort Sumter with the guns of Fort Moultrie and other batteries, they could have rendered the place untenable, as they did in the time of Colonel Anderson. But the Navy was desirous of performing its share in this useless operation, and the Monitors " Lehigh" and " Patapsco " were ordered to take positions at a distance of from 1,600 to 2,000 yards of the fort, and open fire upon it with their rifled guns. These vessels were within range of Fort Moultrie for some time, but suffered little damage, while their rifle projectiles told on the walls of Fort Sumter with considerable effect.

—

forces as ever, and Dahlgren was no nearer getting into Charleston than DuPont had been when he relinquished the command because of an implied reflection on his ability to decide whether a proper force had been placed at his disposal or not. About eight hundred and fifty shells were fired by the Navy at the ruins of Fort Sumter, which helped to crumble the works more and more; but that business had better have been left to General Gillmore with his siege-guns, and the attack of the Monitors should have been turned upon Moultrie and Beauregard,

where their rifle done good service.

On November

projectiles

would have

more congenial work Gillmore telegraphed: " The enemy have opened a heavy fire on Cummings' Point. Will you have some of your vessels move up, so as to prevent an attack by boats on the sea-face of the Point? " That night the Monitors moved up at about 10 o'clock, and boats were placed on patrol to prevent any attack of the enemy offered.

16th

General

at the place indicated. On November 17th the

"Lehigh" grounded, and the enemy, perceiving her dilemma,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

660

Signal was at batteries. once made to all the Monitors to get underway and cover the " Lehigh," and the Admiral himself went up in the " Passaic " to attend the operations in person. The "Nahant," Lieutenant-Commander Cornwell, was already alongside the "Lehigh," and, by getting out hawsers, succeeded in towing her off at high water. Both vessels were subjected to a brisk fire, but they re-" ceived no serious damage. The •' Lehigh received twenty -two hits, nine of which were on her deck-plates, and she had one The "'Monofficer and six men wounded.

and adjacent

also assisted in getting the "Lebut there were no casualties in the assisting vessels.

tauk" high "

off,

Assistant- Surgeon Wm. Longshaw was handsomely mentioned on this occasion for going to and fro in a small boat, carry ing out hawsers under a heavy fire of shot and shell. This kind of service always deserves recognition, and especially when, as in this case, it is voluntarily undertaken by an officer who would never have been called upon to perform it in the ordinary course Surgeon Longshaw was of his profession. recommended for promotion in his corps by the Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and

Surgery.

On December 6th, Rear-Admiral Dahlgren had the misfortune to lose the Monitor "Weehawken" under the following circumstances, as given in the report of Commander J. M. Duncan: "On

the morning of the 5th I arrived here, and in the evening took command of her [the 'Weehawken '] and went up on the advanced picket, and remained there until 9:30 of the morning of the 6th then came down made fast to buoy No. 2 then ;

;

;

came on board this vessel [the flag-ship]. "About 1:30 P. M. a signal was made that the Weehawken wanted assistance. I immediately '

'

got in a boat with the pilot of this vessel. Before Boats from all "we could reach her she went down. the vessels around went to the assistance of the men that were overboard, and succeeded in saving all but four of the engineers and twenty-seven of the men. When I left the vessel everything appeared to be right the anchor-hold was all dry, no water coming through the hawse-pipe. * * * * Not being on board myself at the time, I am not able to give any account of the sad accident. " Verjf respectfully," etc. ;

From

statements of officers

board the

"Weehawken"

who were on

at the time of

the disaster, it appears that the immediate cause of her sinking was that a heavy sea swept over her forecastle, and entering the fore-hatch, filled the anchor-well. This, under ordinary circumstances, would not have proved fatal to the ship's safety; but she was heavily loaded forward with ammunition, and the slight increase of weight, due to the water in her forward compartment, caused an opening between the overhang and the hull, which made itself manifest by numerous leaks. As the water ac.

cumulated forward, her bow commenced to settle rapidly, and she soon went to the bottom, with a number of her brave officers and men. This was a serious loss to Rear-Admiral

who was at that moment urging Government to send him more Mon-

Dahlgren, the

view of the necessity of defending against the iron-clads which the Confederates were building at Charlesitors, in

his

command

No doubt the Confederates considered that the sinking of the "Weehawken" was due to the shot and shell which they fired at the " Lehigh "—as they could not tell one from another. Nothing of interest occurred in Dahlgren's command from November 6th up to December 25tli, when the "Pawnee." Commander G. B. Balch, the " Marblehead," LieutenantCommander R. W. Meade, Jr., and the schooner " C. P. Williams," Acting-Master S. N. Freeman, were attacked by Confederate batteries in Stono River.

ton.

Lieutenant-Commander Meade reports December 25th the enemy opened fire on the "Marblehead," at 6 o'clock in the morning, from two batteries of field and siege pieces posted advantageously in At the time mentioned, the the woods. " Marblehead " had steam on the port boiler only. The gun-boat returned the enemy's that on

fire

vigorously, and, slipping his cable, Lieu-

tenant-Commander Meade took a position nearer the batteries, and after a short encounter caused them to retreat in disorder, leaving two guns and caissons. No attempt was made by the " Marble-

head " to retire from this unequal contest, though she was struck over twenty times and much cut up, having three men killed and four wounded. Officers and men stood to their guns with great gallantry, and the precision of their fire was shown by the complete discomfiture of the enemy. ActingEnsign Geo. F. Winslow and the officers of the gun divisions are handsomeh' mentioned in this report.

During the action, the " Pawnee " took an enfilading position in the Keowah River, while the "Williams" was ordered to work up towards Legareville. The three vessels kept up such a fire that the enemy fled

Commander Balch speaks in highest terms of Lieutenant-Commander Meade's coolness and bravery, the management of his vessel, and the remarkable raprecipitately. tlie

pidity of his

On

fire.

the conclusion of the firing, General Gordon, commanding the troops at the south end of Folly Island, sent an infantry force to bring off the guns left by the Confederates which, on reaching the spot where the batteries were posted, found two guns, one soldier in the throes of death, six dead artillery horses, and all the enemy's ;

OF THE intrenching tools, knapsacks,

etc.

CIVIL WAR.

As night

was coming on, and it was found impossible to bring off the guns in face of a heavy force of the enemy, not far off, they were disabled and abandoned. This was a handsomely-executed affair, particularly on the part of the " Marblehead," which bore the brunt of the fire from the enemy's

8

-inch guns.

There

was some dispute as to the credit due the different vessels, which ought not to have been the case where all did so well. In addition to Lieutenant Commander Meade's gallantry in the action, he made a reconnoissance of the ground abandoned by the enemy, and then, by direction of Commander Balch, headed an expedition to bring off the guns which General Gordon had failed to take possession of. His force consisted of 3 boats, 3 officers, and 50

661

the two guns, 8-inch seacoast howitzers, were taken off, the gun-carriages and implements thrown into the river, and all done in the space of two hours. Though Rear- Admiral Dahlgren had not, up to this time, forced any of the obstructions in Charleston harbor, or made his way past the batteries (thus verifying the assertion of Admiral DuPont, that the force of Monitors was not equal to the occasion), he had shown great pertinacity in sticking to the work assigned him, and had given all the aid in his power to the land-batteries under General Gillmore. The following review of the services of Admiral Dahlgren when in command of the South Atlantic squadron will give a fair insight into the

value of his work: On the 6th of July, 1863, Rear-Admiral DuPont delivered to Rear - Admiral Dahlgren the command of the forces occupying the coast of South Carolina, Georgia, and part of Florida. This force, which consisted of 70 vessels of all classes, was scattered along the coast for a distance of 300 miles; there was no concentration, the object being rather to distribute the vessels in such a manner as to enforce an efficient blockade. When Dahlgren took command, the Navy

Department was much more liberal towards him than it had been to DuPont; for he was left to exercise his own judgment, unhampered by orders of any kind. His instructions were so couched that they merely directed him to assume command, without confining him to any course of action. They went no further, nor was it necessary that they should do so. There was an enemy in front who had defied the Government to the utmost the Department and the President had already signified their wishes to Admiral DuPont, and it was clearly the duty of his "successor to goto work as soon as possible and compel the enemy to obedience if he could. But it must be remembered that the Department, in view of the difficulties that had beset the first expedition, had modified its opinion, and was now satisfied that it would be better to have a combined attack of the Army and ISTavy against the heavy works in Charleston harbor than to depend on the Monitors alone. The "New Ironsides" was off Charleston bar, two Monitors were at Edisto, one at Stono River, three at Port-Royal, and one General Gillmore having at Ossabaw. arrived, arrangements were immediately made between him and Rear- Admiral Dahlgren for a descent on Morris Island, where ;

CAPTAIN (NOW EEAR-ADMIEAL) GEORGE

B.

BALCH.

men from

the ''Pawnee"; 4 boats, 4 offiand 20 men from the "Marblehead," and 1 officer and 12 men from the " C. P. Williams" total, 8 boats, 8 officers and 82 men, of which 22 were marines, under Sergeant W. Fredlickson, of the " Pawnee." On reaching the earthworks, near a bayou which flows southwesterly of Legareville. Acting - Ensign Moore was directed to take the "Pawnee's" men and get the The other nearest gun into her cutter. gun in the most northern work was then cers

—

raised with great difficulty, lashed to the carriage of a 12-pound howitzer, and hauled with great exertion to the bayou, a distance of a mile, and finally gotten into the " Marblehead's " launch. TVio Tirlinlo affair

TiD-na

n nArfpf.t

SllCCesS

:

was to establish his batteries. The naval part of the operations con-

the former

assembling all the Monitors at Charleston, so as to cross the bar at earlv sisted in

THE NA VAL HISTORY

662

daylight, and be ready to cover the landing of the army, with its guns, munitions, etc. and then to co-operate in whatever way the army might desire to attack the enemy. On the 9th of July all was in readiness. In the combined attack which followed, the "Catskill," "Montauk," " Nahant," and "Weehawken" were laid in line parallel with the land opposite the southern eminences of Morris Island, and they poured in such a steady fire upon the Confederate batteries at that point that they made but a feeble show of fight. At 8 o'clock the troops that had been brought from the Folly Kiver by the boats of the squadron advanced to the attack and, under the covering fire of the Monitors, occupied all the enemy's outer positions, and were only stopped when they came in contact ;

with Fort Wagner.

Wagner, on September and gun-boats kept up a constant fire on the place, which could only be taken by hard and patient work. But this work was not crowned with sucUntil the fall of

7th, the iron-clads

cess until after several desperate assaults

had been made by the Army, and a heavy bombardment by the Navy. All assaults were failures, however, and it was proved great engineering skill of the Confederates had produced a work that could only be taken by the slow and laborious operation of a regular siege. And here Admiral Dahlgren gives a very good reason why the delay in reaching Charleston subsequently ensued, viz., that there was a paucity of troops in the first place; that there ought to have been men enough to make the first assault an assured success; that Wagner might have been carried at the first assault; Gregg would have yielded in consequence; Sumter would soon

that the

have followed, and the iron-clads, untouched by severe and continued battering, would have been in condition to come quickly in contact with the imperfect interior defences. The Admiral forgot, however, that he would still have had the line of obstructions to break, and the batteries at Moultrie and on Sullivan's Island to pass, and that the Monitors would have found the same difficulties in forcing their way through the interior defences as

DuPont met with

in his

attack. The military and naval attacks were as gallant as anything could be, but, though they achieved a great deal, they did not succeed in driving the enemy out of Wagner before he had time to convert Fort Johnson from a very imperfect work into a powerful fort. Moultrie received similar advantages, and most of the cannon of

Johnson towards the city; and thus an interior defence was completed that rendered access to the upper harbor far more difficult than it was before, because a heavy fire could be concentrated from additional batteries upon vessels attempting to enter. In fact, the enemy had profited by the experience gained in their outer defences, and had placed their guns so as to obtain a con-

When the troops who garrifire. Wagner were informed that the inter-

centrated

soned

were completed, they quietly evacuated that post on the eve of an assault by the Union troops, and occupied the new positions so adroitly prepared by their able engineers. In all the siege of this tough work the Navy bore a conspicuous part, having kept up a continuous and heavy fire whenever the opportunity offered. But the more they battered it, the more apparent it became that the small force of iron - clads off Charleston was not capable of forcing its way up to the city through obstructions that were now commanded by the newly ior forts

built defences.

services of the vessels during the atWagner were invaluable, as the fire of their guns prevented the access of reinforcements, or their accumulation between Wagner and Gregg and, in fact, without the assistance of the Navy, the Army would not have been able to maintain its position

The

tack on

;

a day without further reinforcements. The boats of the squadron were engaged on picket duty by night along the sea-shore of Morris Island, and in the little stream on its inner border. A detachment of seamen and marines were also engaged, under Commander F. A. Parker, in the attack on the batteries at Fort Sumter, working four Navy rified cannon that had been landed for the purpose. Besides the principal attacks made on Wagner, there were few days from the first attack on Morris Island (July 10) to its evacuation (September 7) that some ironclads or gun-boats were not engaged with the enemy's works. The following table will exhibit the work done by the fleet from Julv 18th to September 8th :

Date.

'Montauk." "Ironsides,"

Catskill,"

Weehawken," " Pa"Paul Jones," Ottawa."

'Nantucket,

first

Sumter were divided between Johnson and Moultrie. Batteries were established along the south shore of the channel from Fort

Vessels engaged.

Object.

1863.

July

18.

Assault on

Wagner J

tapsco,"

"Seneca." "CMppewa,

•

•

Wissa-

liickon."

Wagner

July

22.

July

24.

July July July

25. 28. 29.

Waguer.. Wagner..

July

30.

Wagner.

July

31.

Batteries on Morris Island

Aug.

1.

Wa

•

respectfully, etc., R. S. Ripley,

Brigadier-General Commanding.

General Schimmelfbnnig, Commanding United States Forces, Morris and Folly Islands, etc. There is much to be said against exercising this kind of warfare and exposing the lives of prisoners in a place to prevent an enemy from firing upon it, can only be considered a violation of the usages of civilized warfare which would damage any ;

etc.

In accordance with the above edict, this gentleman was sent to Macon Prison. His daily ration consisted of one pint of unbolted corn-meal, a tablespoonful of rice, a little miserable and sometimes maggoty bacon (called, in derision, soap-grease) a very little salt, and a moderate supply of poor molasses. It was said at that time that the same ration was served out to Confederate soldiers; if that was so, they were in a bad strait, and could not help it. But there is always a courtesy due a prisoner- of-war taken in honest battle, and it is quite evident that this courtesy was not extended to Union officers. It is but fair to say that, through the Confederate surgeons, Assistant-Surgeon Pier-

—

)

\

General— I have

When

the services of Assistant-Surgeon Pierson, United States Navy, are no longer needed with the wounded ofiBcers and men in the hospital, he will be turned over to the proper military authorities to be treated as other prisoners-of-war." '•

669

cause.

The shelling of a beleagured city is a right of war, and though the duties of humanity towards

women and

children

should be

and they should have full time given them to remove from the scene strictly observed,

of danger, yet, if they do not do so, military operations could not be interfered with. To expose captives to the close confinement of a place under fire, with the hopes of thereby putting a stop to a bombardment, is making an unfair comparison between the captives and non-combatants, for the latter have the power to withdraw from the fire, while the captives cannot. It had not been the custom to send captives from other parts to Charleston to be kept in confinement; on the contrary, all prisoners had been sent away from there; and it is evident that the Union officers were sent there to be sacrificed in case the Union batteries kept up their fire on the citv. The destruction of Charleston in a milit&vj point of view was just as necessary as the destruction of the Confederate forts. It was a store-house of arms and munitionsof-war from which the forts could draw supplies. It contained a large arsenal of military stores and ammunition and while these existed, the General commanding the Federal forces was justified in attempting to destroy them. siege without a bombardment would have been of no use, as the city was open in the rear, and supplies of all kinds could be brought in from the surrounding country. This is the only reason which can be given why the military commander of the Union forces ;

A

670

THE

AVAL

IS

the city. It was of no use in bringing about a surrender, for it might- have been known from tlie character of the defences of Cliarleston that they would not have surrendered the city until the outside works were taken, and it would have been more profitable to have expended the shot and shell on the surrounding forts. If General Gillmore at a distance of over 5,000 yards" had reduced Sumter to a pulp," it is quite possible that the Federal Army and Navy, by keeping up the same kind of fire on the forts, would eventually have reduced them, as they did Wagner and Sumter, and enabled the Navy to remove the obstructions, so that the Monitors could go on up to Charleston. The Confederates had

shown an immense amount

of energy and courage in holding their own. This shelling the city gave the Confederates the opportunity of saying that the fire was kept up from the disappointment the Federal forces had met with in not bringing about a surrender. An opportunity should never have been given the enemy to cast a shadow of reflection upon the acts of Federal officers, who could afford to be forbearing in the face of the fact that Charleston, as a base of supplies through the means of blockade - runners, could never be of any more use to the Confederacy, and that the larger the force that was kept there to hold the place the more advantageous it was for the Federal arms. That the situation of the Confederates was becoming desperate about that time we now know full well, and probably some civilian member of the Confederate Cabinet suggested this confinement of Federal prisoners in Charleston; for it cannot be conceived that any of the high-toned officers, who on many occasions showed true chivalric feeling in the capture of Federals, should have instituted a scheme that would surely have reflected on them as honorable soldiers.

On the 20th of June the Rear-Admiral commanding received a notification from in Washington the Navy Department " that the Confederates in Charleston were preparing for a simultaneous move on the blockade, inside and out, in order to cover the exit of a large quantity of cotton." The next day, the " Sonoma," Commander George H. Cooper, and " Nipsic," Lieutenant-Commander William Gibson, were sent as outside cruisers to cover the blockade south of Port Royal, where it was weakest, and where the chief effort was to

be made. A plan was laid between General Foster and Admiral Dahlgren to make a diversion by cutting the railroad between Charleston and Savannah. Generals Foster, Schimmelfennig and Hatch were to land, each

IJJSIUJir

with a force considered adequate for the occasion, while General Birney was to go into the North Edisto, and as high as possible, to destroy the railroad. The Navy was to enter the Stono to co-operate with General

Schimmelfennig. One or two gun-boats were to ascend the North Edisto, and co-operate with General Birney to secure his landing. On the 2d day of July the Monitors " Lehigh" and "Montauk" crossed the Stono bar, while the remaining naval force consisted of the "Pawnee," "McDonough" and " Racer." Though the plans were well made, nothing resulted from this expedition. The different co-operating parties reached some of the points aimed at and attacked the Confederate troops that were out to receive them, and the gun-boats and Monitors opened on such forts as they were directed

COMMANDEB (NOW EEAK-ADMIEAL) GEORGE

H. COOPEK.

upon but there was no success in the attack. The Federal troops failed to capture any of the enemy's batteries; and after one or two days spent in desultory fighting, it was decided that the enemy were in too to fire

;

strong force, that further efforts would not be profitable, and therefore the troops should be withdrawn from John's Island. These operations lasted about six days, during which there was a good deal of hard work and the usual display of gallantry on the part of the Navy, under the guns of which the Army safely re-embarked. Rear-Admiral Dahlgren speaks handsomely of his staff, and particularly mentions the services of Commander Balch

and Lieutenant-Commanders Semmes,

Fil-

lebrown, A. W. Johnson, R. L. Phythian, and Acting-Masters Phinney and Furber. This was about the last operation of any importance that occurred in the South Atlantic squadron up to October 22, when

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

the account of its operations for the year ended. Some minor expeditions were un" dertaken in one of which the brig " Perry

—

lost fifteen

oners

—and

men in

killed,

wounded and pris-

in another a schooner loaded

with cotton was set on fire and burned by a party of brave fellows; but we miss the exciting scenes which occurred in the attacks on the batteries of Charleston, where the officers and men fought persistently for so many days and nights, demonstrating their capacity to command, and exhibiting a gallantry never exceeded, and a disappointment that cannot be described, at their unsuccessful efforts to win the works of Charleston. The innumerable obstacles in their way by a powerful and active foe, full of resources and full of means, to check the advance into his harbor, were too great for a force entirely too small in the first place for such an undertaking. The Southern coast was, on the whole,

thrown

thoroughly blockaded, and Charleston no longer of any use to the Confederates and there was really no further necessitj^ for their holding it, except for the sake of a sentiment connected with the fact that it was the first place to raise the flag of secession, and desired to be the last that would haul it down. Towards the close of the year 1864, owing to the stringent blockade of the whole Southern coast by the Navy, except at the entrance to Wilmington, the Confederate States began to be placed in great distress for the want of food to supply their armies, and at one time there was a prospect of their being starved into submission, even without victories by the B'ederal armies. In the early part of May there were on hand but two days' rations for Lee's army at Richmond, and on the 33d of June only thirteen days' rations, showing how the Navy had cut off the foreign supply; and to meet the demand, and keep the Confederate army from disbanding, the Commissary-General had to offer market rates for wheat then growing in the fields. A great deal of this distress and exhaustion of supplies was, however, owing to the exhaustion of Virginia. The prevalence of droughts, and the fact that the crops all over the State had been destroyed by the Federal armies, rendered it very difficult to subsist so large a number of troops as were ;

located in

and around Richmond.

The

ef-

fect of the advance of the Federal forces was to oblige the Confederates to call out their reserves, and these had to be fed.

Many farmers were

detailed for military

duty and ordered into the field, at the very time it was most necessary for them to be at home attending to the seeding of wheat. Yet the blockade was far more ruinous to the Confederate cause than all other

671

together. As long as a blockade-runner could get into any of the Southern ports, bringing bacon and fiour, the soldiers could be sustained and whenever two or three of these supply-vessels were captured by the Federal fleet, it car-

operations put

;

dismay to the hearts of those who ruled the destinies of the South. In Virginia the supply of breadstuff was practically exhausted. The negro fleld-hands were absconding for fear of being employed in the army, and were taking refuge in the Union lines, while Sherman's march through the South had cut off all supplies of grain or cattle from that region. It may be imagined, then, how important it was for the Confederate armies that the blockade-runners should now and then obtain safe entrance into the Southern harbors with their military supplies. As late as November, 1864, President Davis applied to the Commissary -General to ascertain how many rations there were on hand, to feed not only the army at Richmond, but the other forces in the field, and was informed that there was a very alarming state of affairs in that Department; that Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi were the only States where there was an accumulation, and that the Confederate Army was at that time being subsisted from these States. The Commissary of Georgia sent dispatches that he could not send another poundof provisions to Richmond. Alabama, under the most urgent call, could only send ried

forward 135,000 pounds of food. Mississippi was doing all she could in supplying rations to General Beauregard's army. South Carolina could only subsist the troops at Cliarleston and the prisoners in the interior of the State. The enemy had visited every section of North Carolina, and that State was only able to supply the forts at Wilmington with rations of the most ordinary kind, and not a pound of meat could be shipped to either Wilmington or Richmond. Fortunately for the Confederates, the

blockade-runner "Banshee" succeeded in eluding the blockaders and getting into Wilmington; and owing to this timely supply of provisions the reserves at the forts were prevented from being starved out. As it was, the commissaries were only able to supply them with thirty days' rations. At that moment there were only 3,400,000 rations of bacon and pork in the whole Confederacy to subsist 300,000 men for 25 days. In the month of December matters were still worse; there was not meat enough in the Southern Confederacy for the armies it had in the field. That the meat must be obtained from abroad was plainly seen, and it was also recognized that, in order to ob-

THE NAVAL HlSTORy

672

tain

it, it would be necessary to break the blockade by some means then untried or

shelter at night and bid defiance to their pursuers. This was the only rendezvous

Nor was the transportation adequate to the demands of the occasion. The supply of fresh meat to General Lee's army was precarious, and, if the army fell back from Richmond and Petersburg, there was every probability that it would cease to ex-

the Confederates had from the entrance of Hatteras Inlet to the capes of Florida; and so uncertain was this, that there was no knowing how soon the Federal Govern-

unknown.

ist

altogether.

This condition of affairs was brought about by the vigilance of the Federal Navy,

which worked hard, day and night, to prevent supplies from getting in from the sea; and the only part of the coast where the blockade was sometimes open to the runners was at the port of Wilmington, where the enemy had been allowed, under an unwise management, to build heavy works at the entrance to Cape Fear River, under which the blockade - runners could take

ment would take proper measures

to stop

even if the advance of Sherman's army through the South did not cause the evacuation of Wilmington. The Navy, it is true, did not succeed in capturing Charleston, but it closed that port against blockade-runners so completely that it was forbidden ground to them. This was well worth the time, money and fighting expended on this Confederate it,

stronghold, for at the close of the naval campaign of 1864 the Confederates could only subsist their troops there on the meanest rations.

SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, JANUARY,

1864.

Rear- Admiral. John A. Dahlgren.

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER JOSEPH STEAM-FEIGATE "WABASH" — PLAfl-SHIP.

M.

BRADFORD, FLEET-CAPTAIN.

Engineers Chief, Wm. S. Stamm; Third- Assistants, Albert Jackson, Philip Miller, E. T. PhiUippi, O. B. Mills, J. J. Barry and J. Pemberton, Jr. Boatswain, TJiomas Smith; Gunner, John Gaskins; Carpenter, S. N. Whitehouse; SaUmaker, David Bruce, :

Captain, John De Camp Lieutenant, Lloyd Phenix; Fleet Surgeon, Win. Jolinson; Fleet Paymaster, J. O. Bradford; Assistant Surgeon, F. M. Weld; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, N. L. Campbell; Paymaster, R. J. Richardson; Chaplain, C. A. Davis; Marines Captain, E. MoD. Reynolds; Second-Lieutenant, L. E. Pagan; Ensign, H. T. French; ActingEnsigns, A. Tuttle and T. H. Daggett; Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Gordon, J. C. Graves, Joseph Gregory and B. O. Carpenter; Engineers Fleet Engineer, Robert Danby; Second-Assistants, P. R. Voorhees, W. C. Williamson and Elisha Harsen; Third-Assistants, J. S. Green, H. H. Kimball, A. Michener and J. B. Place; Boatswain, Francis McLoud Gunner, Christopher Long Carpenter, J. G. Thomas; Sailmaker, H. W. Frankland. IBONOLAD STEAMER "NEW IRONSIDES." Captain, Stephen C. Rowan; Lieutenant Commander, Geo. E. Belknap; Lieutenant, H. B. Robeson; Surgeon, Marius Duvall; Assistant Surgeon, Edw. Kershner Paymaster, Alex. W. Russell Marines First-Lieutenant, Henry A. Bartlett; Second-Lieutenant, James B. Young; Acting-Masters, G. W. Domett, Lewis West and J. M. Skillings; Ensigns, H. L. Johnson, J. J. Read and Walter Abbot; Acting-Ensigns, W. C. Wise, G. T. Davis, S. S. Hand and W. S. MoNeilly Acting - Master's Mates, J. W. Caswell, J. D. Wingate and Thomas HoUins; Engineers: Chief, Alex. Grier; First-Assistant, N. B. Littig; Second-Assistant, J. J. Noble; Third-Assistants, Everett Battelle, H. C. Beckwith, F. T. H. Ramsden and Wm. S. Wells; Boatswain, Thomas Bennett; Gunner, Charles Stewart; Carpenter, E. H. Bishop; Sailmaker, John A. Birdsall. ;

;

STEAMER "H0T7SAT0NIC."

:

:

;

;

;

:

;

STEAMER "OAKANDAiaUA." Captain, Joseph F. Green; Lieutenant, H.

Manley C. J.

DeH.

Surgeon James Suddards Paymaster, H. Eldredge; Acting Masters, Samuel Hall and L. Gifford; Acting-Ensigns, R. P. Leary and Ed;

;

;

ward Daley; Acting-Master's Mates, W. J. Vincent, James Wilbur, Adna M. Bates and W. C. Howard;

Captain, Charles W. Pickering; Lieutenant, F. J. Higginson; Assistant Surgeon, W. T. Plant Assistant Paymaster, J. S. Woolson; Acting-Masters, J. W. Congden and J. K. Crosby; Ensign, Edw. C. Hazeltine; Acting-Ensign, G. M. McClure; ActingMaster's Mates, E. A. Butler, B. F. Jacobs, H. A. Hudson and Louis Cornthwaite; Engineers: Chief, John S. Albert; Second- Assistant, C. F. Mayer, Jr.; Third - Assistants, J. W. Hollihan, C. A. Evans, J. A. B. Smith, W- M. Barr and Charles Hopkins; Acting-Boatswain, Wm. Ray; Acting -Gunner, A. C. ;

Holmes. STORE-SHIP "VEBMONT."

Commander, William Reynolds; Lieutenant-Com-

Wm. C. West; Surgeon, Wm. Lowber; Assistant Surgeon, W. J. Bowdle; Paymaster, Frank mander,

Cosby; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Wilbur Ives; Chaplain, John Blake Marines Second-LieutenC.

;

:

ant, H. J. Bishop; Acting-Masters, W. U. Grozier, H. W. Hand, R. B. Hines, J. C. Cox and W. W.

Carter

;

Acting- Ensigns, Andie Hartshorne,

W.

A.

Morgan and C. J. Lawrence; Acting-Master's Mates, W. Van Wyck, S. N. Grey, J. G. Rose and F. W. Beck; Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, John L. :

Peake; Acting-Second- Assistant, G. S. Geer; ActingBoatswain, R. C. Barnard; Gunner, Geo. W. Allen; Acting-Gunner, Thos. Holland; Carpenter, C. W. Babbitt; Sailmaker, John Joins. IRON-OLAD STEAMER "PATAPSCO." Commander, Thomas H. Stevens Lieutenant, Alex. S. Mackenzie; Assistant Surgeon, Samuel H. Peltz; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. S. Creevey; Acting-Master, Geo. P. Lee; Acting-Ensigns, J. T. Ross, A. Kloeppel and Wm. Chase; Engineers: Second-Assistant, J. B. Carpenter; Third-Assistants, ;

OF THE G. F. Sweet, J.

J.

Ryan, DeWilt G. Bavis and

CIVIL WAR.

Wm.

H. Barclay.

STEAMEB "PAWNEE." Commander, Geo. B. Balch; Lieutenant, John W. Philip Paymaster, Geo. Lawrence Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Henry Shaw; Acting-Masters, J. C. Champion and James P. Lindsay Ensign, Henry Glass; Acting-Ensigns, Thomas Moore and C. J. ;

673

;

:

Rogers; Acting-Master's Mates, C. H. Poor, A. A. Pranzen and J. G. Bache; Engineers Second-Assistant, Alfred Adamson; Third- Assistants, Wm. J. Clark, Jr., J. G. Brosnahan, Arthur Price and J. L. :

Hannum; Boatswain, James Brown; Gunner, James Hayes.

STEAMER "NIPSIC."' Lieutenant -Commander, Wm. Gibson ActingAssistant Surgeon, W. J. Gilfillen; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. T. Mansfield; Acting-Master, W. L. Churchill; Acting-Ensigns, H. A. Greene, J. A. Win;

chester and A. B. Prince; Acting- Master's Mates, G. S. Johnson, W. K. Orcutt and W. H. Kitching, Jr.; Engineers: First- Assistant, 8. L. P. Ay res; SecondAssistants, A. W. Morley and C. E. Emery ThirdAssistants, R. B. Plotts and B. R. Stevens. ;

STEAMER "CHIPPEWA." Lieutenant-Commander, T. C. Harris; Assistant Surgeon, Louis Zenzen Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. A. Robertson; Acting-Master, W. H. DeWolf; Acting-Ensigns, J. M. Crocker and H. T. Blake; ;

STEAMER "SONOMA."

Commander, Geo. H. Cooper; Lieutenant, Geo. W. Hayward; Assistant Surgeon, S. P. Shaw; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, P. F. Hastings; ActingMaster, Wm. M. Post; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. N. Price, S.

H. Pollock and H. H. Johnson; Acting-

Master's Mates, S. S. Willett, G. W. Eckert, C. C. Neil and R. W. Robins; Engineers: Acting-FirstAssistant, A. B. Dunlaj); Acting-Second- Assistant, A. B. Cullins; Acting-Third-Assistants, W. A. Smith,

Rufus Burton and J. Hawkey; Gunner, J. M. Hogg. IRON-CLAD SrEAMBR "LEHIGH." Commander, Andrew Bryson; Lieutenant, Moreau Porrest; Assistant Surgeon, Wm. Longshaw, Jr. Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. C. Imlay; ActingMaster, Richard Burke; Acting - Ensigns, Bdw. Tilghman, C. M. Thwing, J. E. Stickney and P. W. Towne; Acting-Master's Mate, (t. W. Leland; Engineers First Assistant, W. D. Pendleton; SecondAssistant, Alfred Hedrick; Third-Assistant, C. M. Van Tine, J. H. Thomas and S, C. McLanahan. STEAMER "PAUL JONES." Commander, James M. Duncan; Lieutenant, James O'Kane; Assistant Surgeon, J. W. Coles; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. A Berry; Acting:

Ensigns, J. Potts, Ohas. Clauson,

Henry Hamre

and Chas. Weidenhien Acting - Master's Mates, J. H. Manning, J. L. Rowe and C. E. Everdean; En;

gineers: First-Assistant, James Sheridan; ThirdAssistants, James A. Chasmer, E. D. Weems, Geo. Paul and L. T. Safford; Acting-Gunner, John

Brown. STEAMER " MAHASKA.'

Commander,

J. B. Craighton Lieutenant, E. C. T. Blake; Assistant Surgeon, H. S. Pitkin; ActingAssistant Paymaster, Chas. Fairchild; Acting- Master, Benj. Dyer; Acting-Ensigns, Frederick Elliott, N. W. Black, Chas. G. Boyerand G. E. French; Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. White; Engineers: ActingFirst- Assistant, G. E. Ashby; Third- Assistants, Thomas La Blanc, E. L. Hewatiiand N. H. Lamdin. STEAMER "OIMMARON." Commander, Aaron K. Hughes Lieutenant, Adolphus Dexter; Assistant Surgeon, E. S. Olcott; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. W. Griffln; ActingMaster, 8. A. Waterbury Acting-Ensigns, W. H. Anderson, G. F. Howes, Chas. Ranfield, J. W. JS'orth and T. R. Dayton; Acting-Master's Mates, Thomas Newton, P. J. Markoe, J. D. Reed and E. P. Crocker; Engineers: Second-Assistant, Reynolds Driver; Third-Assistants, W. H. Kellay, W. L. BaiUe and G. L. Palmer; Gunner, M. A. Lane. IRONCLAD STEAMER " PASSAIO." Lieutenant-Commander, Edward Simpson; Lieutenant, Wm. Whitehead Assistant Surgeon, H. C. Eckstein; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, L. C. Tripp; ;

;

;

;

James Ogilvie; Acting-Ensigns, L. G. Emerson, D. B. Hawes, A. Delano, Jr. and W. H. Roberts; Acting-Master's Mate, W. H. Lewis; Engineers: First-Assistant, Henry Mason; Second- Assist-ant, F. H. Fletcher; Third -Assistants, William A. 3)riDDS. Josenh Hoooer and C. Ken von. Acting- Master,

Acting-Master's Mates, J, C. Butler and J. A. H. Willmuth; Engineers: Second - Assistant, R. H. Thurston; Acting-Second-Assistant, Thos. Heenan; Third - Assistants, A. Saokett, C. R. Mosher and

M. Murray. IRON-CLAD STEAMER " NANTUCKET " Lieutenant-Commander, Stephen B. Luce Lieutenant, H. L. Howison Assistant Surgeon, A. B. Judson; Acting- Assistant Paymastar,L. 8. Brigham Acting-Master, W. H. Males; Acting-Ensigns, J. F. Otis, C. C. Starr and John Meyers Engineers Second-Assistants, George H. White and I. R. McNary; Third- Assistants, N. W. Buckhout and J. K. Smedley; Acting-Third- Assistant, A. L. Grow. IBON-OLAD STEAMER "MONTAUK." Lieutenant-Commander, John L. Davis; Lieutenant, Gilbert C. Wiltse; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Harlin; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Sellman; Acting-Master, Edmund Jones; Acting-Ensigns, T. F. DeLuce, I. J. McKinley and G. H. Avery; Acting - Master's Mate, Robert Craig Engineers Acting-Second- Assistants, C. A. Stuart and Simon Rockefeller; Third-Assistants, Jesse F. Walton, S. C. Lane and Montgomery West. STEAMER "UNADILLA." Lieutenant-Commander, A. W. Johnson Assistant Surgeon, C. S. Hubbard; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. 8. Benedict; Acting-Master, R. M. CorJ.

;

;

;

;

;

Acting-Ensigns, Wm. Field and G. E. Thomas; Acting-Master's Mates, James Such and A. P. Taffe; Engineers: Second-Assistant, R. S. Talbot; ThirdAssistants, M. T. Sunstrom, N. P. Towna and M. N. Knowlton. nell,

STEAMER "OTTAWA." Lieutenant - Commander, S. Livingston Breese Assistant Surgeon, G. W. Woods; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. W. Huntington; Acting-Ensigns, W. H. MoCormick, J. L. Gamble, Benj. Mitchell, C. H. Choate and E. M. Dimon; Acting-Master's Mates, A. W. Tripp and F. W. Turner Engineers Second-Assistants, J. P. Sprague, E. W. Koehl and F. C. Prindle; Third- Assistant, R. B. Hine. IRON-CLAD STEAMER "NAHANT." Lieutenant-Commander, J. J. CornweU; Lieutenant, H. C. Tallman; Assistant Surgeon, D. P. Rickatts Acting Assistant Paymaster, D. A. Smith, Jr. Acting-Master, C. C. Ricker; Acting - Ensigns, W. E. Thomas and S. A. Gove; Engineers SecondThird-Assistant, W. 8. Assistant, W. H. G. West Neal and Robert Crawford; Acting-Third -Assistant, Green. T. B. ;

;

;

-

;

:

;

STEAMER "HtTRON." Lieutenant-Commander, P. H. Baker Assistant Surgeon, C. H. White; Acting- Assistant Paymaster. Acting- Masters, Wm. A. Mills and Chas. Stewart W. H. Baldwin; Acting Master's Mates, Samuel Delano, Peter O'Conner and Wm. Henderson; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, G. P. Roebuck; Third-Assistants, Sylvanus Mclntyre, J. P. Kelly. John Lowe, Thomas Crummey and F. C. Russell. ;

;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

674

Lieutenant

STEAMER "WATEE WITCH." - Commander, Austin Pendergrast

STEAMER ;

ActingActinir-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Pierson Assistant Paymaster, L. G. Biliings; Acting-Ma::;

ters, C.

W. Buck and W. B. Stoddard; Acting-En-

M. Forsytii, A. T. Stover and Chas. Hill Acting-Master's Mates, E. D. W. Parsons, C. P. Weston and H. V. Butler; Engineers: Aoting-First-Assistant, Sanmel Genther; Aoting-Third-Assistants, J. P. Cooper, J. Hollingsworth and I. A. Conover. signs, J.

;

" MAHBLEHEAD.''

STEAMER

;

Harriman and G. P. AVinslow; Acting-JIaster's Mates, B. O. Low, T. L. Fisher and F. Millett; EnActing-Second -Assistant, Frank Hendergineers :

W.

COMMODORE M'DONOUOH." ;

:

STEAMER "MOHAWK." Acting-Master, Alex. Tillinghast Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. H. Andrews Acting-Ensign, E. Rich, Jr.; Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. Trott; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, R. K. Morrison ; Acting-Third-Assistant, G. E. Whitney. STEAMER " HOME.'' ;

Lieutenant-Couuuander, R. W. Meade, Jr.; Assistant Surgeon, B. H. Kidder Acting-Assistant Paymaster, James Winter; Acting-Ensigns, G. A.

son; Third-Assistants, H. erland and F. W. Bissett.

"

Acting-Master, J. AV. Tuck; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, AV. H. Campbell Acting-Assistant Paymaster, R. Freeman; Acting-Master, \Vm. Knapp; Acting-Ensigns, J. K. Winn andD. B. Hallett; ActingMaster's Mates, J. E. Goodwin and D. Lester; EngiActing- Second -Assistants, 8. AVarren and neers 8. S. Hetrick; Acting-Third- Assistants, Nelson Rose and W. AV. Hartley.

Bulkley, M. A. Suth-

;

Acting- Master, Nicholas Kirby Acting- Assistant Surgeon, AV. N. Pindell; Acting- Assistant PaymasActing-Ensigns, Wm. Shackter, T. W. Burger ford, A. E. Barneftand J. M. Smaltey; Acting-Master's Mates, F. K. S. Nye, J. K. Gould and F. H. Acting - Second - Assistants, Munroe Engineers :

;

STEAMER " WISSAHICKON." Lieutenant-Commander, George Bacon; ActingActing-Assistant Assistant Surgeon, G. S. Fife Paymaster, Chas. Butcher; Acting-Master, J. E. Jones; Acting-Ensigns, W. C. Odiorne, H. B. Francis and C. F. Bearing; Acting-Master's Mate, D. J. King Engineers Acting - First - Assistant, W. 8. Hazzaru; Acting-Third -Assistants, H. J. Tarr, Chas. E. Jevens and G. S. Odell. ;

:

;

Armberg; Acting-Third-Assistants, Paul Dandreau, C. R. Rodker and R. D& C.

Dandreau and

Cordy.

STEAMER "POTOMSKA."

:

;

STEAMER "SENECA." Lieutenant-Commander, Alfred Hopkins; ActingAssistant Surgeon, A. B. C. Sawyer; Acting-Assistant Paymaster,

Elijah

Henry Vaughan and G. G. H.Wood and J. H. Mates, J. G. Paine and

Ward AV.

Acting - Masters, Ewer; Acting-Ensigns, ;

Anivers; Acting - Master's E. W. Fiske; Engineers ;

Second- Assistants, Jos. Watters, H. H. Burritt and Thomas Lynch; Third-Assistant, R. T. Bennett. STEAMER "MEMPHIS." Lieutenant-Conunander, Thos. H. Eastman; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Louis Michel; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. E. Foster; Acting-Ensigns, E. A. Magone, J. B. Childs, G. A. Churchill and S. W. Cowing Acting - Master's Mates, J. G. Croclter, ;

Silas Owen, J. W. Moore and J. AV. DeCamp; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistants, Chas. McCarty, and Peter Anderson Acting - Third - Assistants, J. H. VaUe and AA?^m. Adams. IBON-OIiAD STEAMER "CATSKIIL." Lieutenant-Conmiander, F. M. Bunce Assistant Surgeon, Robert AVillard; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. F. Barker; Acting-Master, G. AV. Parker Acting-Ensigns, C. P. AValters and G. AV. Prindle ;

;

;

;

Acting-Master's Mate, Peter Trescott; Engineers: Second-Assistant, G. D. Emmons; Third-Assistants, J. T. Booth, Frank Marsh and Jas. Plunkett.

STEAMER "LODONA." Acting - Lieutenant, Edgar Broadhead; ActingAssistant Surgeon, T. AV. Meckley Acting-AssistActing - Master, ant Paymaster, A. M. Stewart H. S. Blanchard; Acting-Ensigns, !N. AV. Rathburn, H. G. McKennee, R. C. McKenzie and Le (t. B. ;

;

Brigham Acting-First-Assistant Engineer, F. A. Bremen; Acting-Second-Assistants, Richard Durfee and M. C. Heath; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. Mollineaux, C. A. McDowell and Fred. AVagner. ;

STEAMER

"

C.

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, Geo. E. AVelch Acting-Assistant Surgeon, S. C. Smith Acting-Assistant Paymaster, F. H. Swan Acting - Masters, R. P. AValter and B. AV. Leary Acting-Ensign, J. D. AVells; Acting-Master's Mate, AVoodward Carter; Engineers Acting-Second-Assistant, G. H. Guyer; Acting-Third-Assistants, Edwin Vaughan and W. L. McKay. STEAMER "STETTIN." Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, C. J. A^an Alstine Acting-Assistant Surgeon, C. J. Pigott; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. M. Burns, Jr.; Acting-Master, J. M. Butler; Acting-Ensigns, G. R. Bailey, C. B. Pray and J. C. Staples Acting-Master's Mates, Benj. Russell and C. H. Fernald; Engineers; ActingSecond-Assistant. J. B. Edwards Acting-ThirdAssistant, John Hawkins, John Ryan and Anthony Gale. STEAMER "IRIS." Acting-Master, AVm. Bari-ymore Acting-Master's Mates, AV. AV. Brandt, A. H. L. Bowie and Thomas Irving; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Thos. Fewkes; Acting-Third- Assistants, Morris McCarty ;

;

;

:

;

;

;

and Dennis Lyng. STEAMER "PHILADELPHIA." Acting-Mnster, Geo. R. Durand; Assistant Surgeon, J. H. Culver; Assistant Paymaster, H. L. AVait; Actuig-Ensigns, L. A. AVaterman, J. E. AVallis and J. AVorth; Acting-Master's Mates, Geo. H. Bartlett, C. F. Moore and A. Truesdell; Engineers Acting-Second- Assistant, C. A. Norris Acting-Third-Assistants, AV. H. Capen and Robert :

;

Mulready.

STEAMER " O. M. PETTIT." Acting- Master, T. E. Baldwin; Acting- Master's Mates, E. L. Smith, Charles Hanson and E. P. Crocker; Engineers: Acting- Second- Assistant,

Reuben McClanahan Acting- Third Aug. AVandell and AVm. P. AVynn. ;

-

Assistants,

STEAMER "NORWICH."

FLAMBEAU."

Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, Edward Cavendy; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, S. B. Hoppin; ActingAssistant Paymaster, F. V. P. Horton; Acting-Masters, A. S. Megathlin and AV. L. Kempton ActingEnsigns, G. Cottrell, T. H. D'Estimeauville and J.P.Gallagher; Engineers: Acting-First Assistant, John Harris; Acting-Second Assistant, Edw. AUin Acting- Third - Assistants, W. H. Anderson and

Acting-Masters, F. B. Merriam and R. B. Arrants; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, G. E. McPherson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. C. Boardman; Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Linscott andS. S. Hand; ActingMaster's Mates, A. J. L. Barker, Peter Moalder, T. M. Durham and Henry Sinclair; Engineers: ActingSecond-Assistant, P. B. Robinson Acting-ThirdAssistants, A. A. Odell, Benjamin Cobb, Jr., and

Leonard Atwood.

AV. AV. Thain.

;

;

;

OF THE CIVIL WAR. STEAMEB "MABT SANFORD." Acting- Master, Wm. Rogers Acting - Assistant Paymaster, G. C. Bissell Acting-Ensigns, M. J. Daly, C. A. Pike, G.W. Pease and W. Caldwell, Jr. Acting-Master's Mates, A. F. Rich and C. Seymour; Engineers; Acting-First- Assistant, Wm. Johnson; Acting- Third- Assistants, Jas. Hare, J. L, Rookeand ;

;

C.

H- Hunt. ;

Taylor.

STEAMER "SOUTH OAEOLINA." Acting-Masters, James H. Magune, E. M. Baldwin and F. F. Baury Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Geo. A. Bright; Acting-Paymaster, A. S. Kenny; Ensign, J. C. Pegram; Acting-Ensigns, G.W. Bourne, C. F. Taylor and John Gunn ActingMaster g Mates, E. Holbrook, A. S. Hitch and S. L. ;

;

J. T.

Engineers

;

Hathaway

;

:

Acting - First - Assistant,

Aoting-Seeond-Assistants, J.

H

Rowe, Henry Gormley and F. W. H. Whittaker; Acting-Third- Assistant,

Thomas

Slater.

STEAMEB "OLEANDER.' Acting- Master,

John

Dennis; Acting-Ensigns,

;

Cool.

BRIG " PERRY.'' Acting-Master, S. B. Gregory; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, T. A. Emerson; Acting-Ensigns, W. C. Hanford, J. H. Clark and R. R. Donnell; ActingMaster's Mates, E. H. Sheer, T. H. McDonald and C. P. Bridges.

STOEE-SHIP "SUPPLY." Acting-Masters, D. G. McRitchie, Z. Kempton and Norman H. Penfield Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Reuben Smith Acting- Assistant Paymaster, B. F. Munroe Acting - Ensigns, F. M. Montell, J. W. Butler and F. H. Phipps; Acting-Master's Mates, J. W. Almy, W. S. Howlandand J. S. Carpenter. ;

;

;

SCHOONER "P. A. WARD." Acting-Master, Wm. L. Babcock; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J. A. Fife Acting-Master's Mates, Alonzo El well, N. M. Baker, Jr., and G. A. Olmstead.

;

;

Acting- Master, J. A. Pennell; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, H. W. Mitchell; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. R Woodward; Acting- Ensigns, T. M. Peakes, J. H. Bunting, Jos. McCartand Wm. Mere; Acting-Master's Mates, E. T. Dexter, G. H. RedC. F.

SCHOONER "RACER."

:

;

and

;

and W. W. Hunt. ORDNANCE SLOOP "JOHN ADAMS." Acting-Masters, A. S. Gardner and J. P. Carr; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Israel Bushong ActingAssistant Paymaster, Tracy Coit Acting-Ensign, John Bhtz; Acting-Master's Mates, Charles Henley, Benjamin Lawton, Franklin James and C. E.

ter

;

S.

and A. P. Bashford Acting-Master's Acting-Engineers Mate, Wm. C. King ActingSecond - Assistant, Samuel Swartwout ActingThird-Assistants, R. B. Dick and H. S. Brown. BARK " ETHAN ALLEN."

Jos. Frost

ford

SCHOONER "DAN SMITH," Acting- Master, B. C. Dean Acting- Ensign, Paul Armandt; Acting-Master's Mates, J. C. Vandeven-

;

STEAMER- "E. B. HAIE." Acting-Master, Clias. F. Mitchell Acting-Assistant Surgeon, S. N. Fisk; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, O. B. GUman; Acting-Ensigns, Henry Stahl, G. H. Smith, J. N. Van Boskirk and Geo. Edwards; Engineers: Acting-Second-AssistHnt, James Fagan; Acting-Third-Assistants, D. A. Lawrence and Geo.

Withington

675

Adams. BABE "BEAZILIBBA."

Acting-Master, Wm. T. Gillespie; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Geo. B. Todd; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Longstreet; Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Bennett and N. C. Borden; Acting Master's Mates, J. B. F. Smith, W. N. Smith, Isaac Severns and F. H. W. Harrington. BAEK "A. HOUGHTON." Acting-Master, Newell Graham Acting- Ensigns, E. B. Cox; Acting- Master's Mate, C. H. Nicholls. ;

Acting-Master, Alvin Phinney Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Eugene Littell Acting- Master's Mates, H. C. Whitmore, D. B. Corey and J. F. Kavanaugh. SCHOONER " O. P. WILLIAMS." Acting-Master. S. N. Freeman Acting- Ensigns, Jacob Cochran Acting-Master's Mate, Lloyd E. Daggett. ;

;

;

;

SCHOONER "GEORGE MANGHAM."

John Collins Acting- Assistant Surgeon, C. S. Eastwood Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. G. Holland; Acting-Ensigns, E. Gabrielson and F. Marshall Acting- Master's Mates, Ezra C. Colvin and G. A. Johnson. Acting- Master,

;

;

;

STEAMER "GEBANIUM." Acting-Ensign, Geo. A. Winson; Acting-Master's Mates, J. B. Newcomb, David Lee and C. T. Remmonds; Engineers Acting-Second- Assistant, J. H. Foster Acting-Third - Assistants, S. W. Midlam, Chas. Henry and Wm. J. Carman. :

;

BARK

" KINGFISHER."

Acting-Masters, J. C. Dutch and S. W. Rhoades; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Westcott; ActingAssistant Paymaster, N. W. Blakeman; ActingEnsigns, T. E. Chapin and Wm. Nelson; ActingMaster's Mates, H. G. Seaman and Frank Jordan.

BARK "FEENANDINA." Acting-Masters, E. Moses and C. C. Childs; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, S. P. Boyer Acting- AssistActing-Ensigns, ant Paymaster, T. N. Murray Christopher Flood and W. H. Thomas; ActingMaster's Mates, Geo. NewUn and John Wright ;

;

BABK "MIDNIGHT.'' Acting-Masters, Wm. H. Garfield and Edwin Coffin; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J. M. GarnerActing - Assistant Paymaster, Franklm Miller Acting- Ensigns, Z. L. Tanner and N. Pratt Acting-Master's Mates, A. K. Noyes and S. H. Maunders.

SCHOONER "HOPE." Acting- Master, John E. RockweU; Acting-Master's Mates, W. E. Gould, Elisha Hubbard and J. S.

STEAMER "LARKSPUR." Acting - Ensign, F. B. Davis; Acting Master's Mates; John O'Conner, E. H. Frisbie and Jacob -

Kemp; Engineers: Acting-Third-Assistants, T. G. Farroat and J. T. Greenwood. STEAMER "DAPPODIL." Acting-Ensign, F. W. Sanborn; Acting-Master's Mates, J. C. Wentworth, C. L. Weeden, T. E. Harvey and D. Lester Engineers Acting-Second- Assistant, T. W. Dee; Acting-Third- Assistants, Wm. Fisher and W. F. Henderson. :'

;

STEAMER "JONQUIL." Acting Ensign, Israel T.Halstead; Acting-Master's Mates, J. G. Brown and George Bowers; Engineers: Acting-Second -Assistant, David Gay ring; ActingThird-Assistants; Jesse Wright and Wm. Leonard. STEAMER "CARNATION." Wm. Boyd; Acting-Master's Mates, A. Burnham and E. H. Frisbie; Engineers ActingActing-Ensign,

:

Second- Assistant, T.

S.

Jennings; Acting-Third-As-

THE NA VAL HISTORY

676

SOHOONEB "BLUNT.

STEAMEK "OLOVEE. Acting-Ensign, Chas. A. Blanchard; Acting-Master's Mate, F. S. Leach; Engineers: Acting-SecondAssistant, Greo. Divine; Acting-Third-Assistant, G. C.

Brown.

Acting-Ensign, B. D. Reed; Acting- Master's Mates, C.

W.

W. R. Pease and W. Arftins. STEAMEB "COLUMBINE."

Cleaves,

Wm.

Acting-Master's Mates,

SOHOONEB "NOKPOLK PACKET."

W. Wood;

Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Andrew Tower; Acting-Master's Mates, J. Kingsley, Timothy Eyan and Geo. Delaps.

Acting-Ensign, Geo.

STEAMEK

' '

DANDELION.

Acting-Master's Mates, J. B. Russell, Louis Boun and W. R. Lyons; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, J. G. Rossman; Acting-Third- Assistants, John Mulready and John Grimes.

B. Spencer, James

Martin and John Davis; Engineers Acting-ThirdAssistants, H. J. Johnson and Geo. H. Luther. STEAMEB BESCUE. Acting- Master's Mate, A. G. Borden; Engineers: :

'

•

Aoting-Third-Assistants, G. W. Howe and J. G. Dennett. OPnOEES NOT ASSIGNED TO VESSELS. Commanders, J. W. A. Nicholson and N. B. Harrison; Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. B. Gamble.

CHAPTER

INCREASE OF THE NAVY, AND IMPROVEMENTS

POTOMAC FLOTILLA. IN

NAVAL

SHIPS,

Potomac Flotilla during 1864 mained under the command

THECommander

DURING THE YEAR re-

of

Foxhall A. Parker, a who conducted the squadron with efficiency that he was enabled to

valuable

officer, affairs of his little

so

much

carry out all the objects for flotilla was intended.

which the

The work of this department Navy was not brilliant, but it was

of the useful.

Besides the duties involved in patroling the Potomac, the Rappahannock River was

added to Commander Parker's district. There was at one time an extensive contraband trade between Virginia and the lower part of Maryland, by which the Confederates frequently received large amounts of supplies and the blockade-runners (such as they were) were quite as indefatigable in their attempts to provision the Confederates in Virginia as the larger vessels running the blockade on the coast. The small craft that were engaged in ;

between Maryland and Virginia were well adapted for the business, and calculated to avoid detection. The traders themselves were reckless and unscrupulous men, not working with any patriotic feeling to serve the Confederate cause, but to enrich themselves by the large returns they received for the supplies so much needed by private and public parties. No greater vigilance was exhibited anywhere than was shown by the officers and this traffic

men

of the

XLVIII.

Potomac flotilla and what was ;

done by the blockaders on the coast on a large scale was equally well done by the Potomac flotilla on a small one. It was impossible to break up this blockade-running altogether, with such a long line of communication to be patroled, and with so small a number of vessels and boats to df> it, OnnnrtnnitifiS p.oiild almost al-

1864.

ways be found to elude the blockade, and the temptations were so great that men fearlessly risked their lives to secure the large profits that awaited them in case of a successful run. They were aided by sympathetic friends on either side, who in most cases enabled them to evade detection when they were chased to the shore. Numbers of them were, however, captured while in transit, while many of their boats were ferreted out of their hiding-places, captured and destroyed. Most of this work had to be done at night, and throughout the war the most wearing vigilance was kept up by the different commanders and officers who had been employed in the Potomac flotilla. Besides thje watchfulness required in pursuit of the blockade -runners, the flotilla was at all times ready to give its active and willing co-operation to any military movement, and this assistance was frequently called for. While the Federal Army was in the vicinity of Fredericksburg, in the spring and summer, the services of the smaller steamers were constantly invoked. They opened communication between

mili-

tary forces, cleared large numbers of torpedoes from the river, made it safe for the transports to move with supplies or troops, drove the Confederate bushwhackers from the banks of the river, and returned with the sick and wounded from the field of battle.

The gun-boats that served upon

this duty purchased for particular work, which will account

were of very this

light draft,

for so many vessels of inferior character being in the Navy. Consequently, those who served on board of them in a hostile country were exposed to more than ordinary peril. It was wonderful to see these slightlybuilt vessels go into action against the Confederate batteries, which one would suDDOse

THE NAVAL HISTORY

678

their rapid firing would soon cut them to pieces; but the stern discipline existing and precise aiming of the somewhat heavy guns of these '-pasteboard" craft would, nine times out of ten, carry the day.

from

Commander Parker mark, assisted mostly by gallant volunteer officers, who, towards the end of the war, became very expert in all that related to this kind of warfare. Had a larger In these operations

made

his

operations offered to Commander Parker, he was just the man who would have done infinite credit to himself and have conferred honor upon the Navy. The trying work and perilous duties, with the effects of a malarial climate, caused him to contract disease, which brought him to a premature death not long after the close of the war. The Navy lost in him a brave and gallant officer, who had proved himself to be efficient in whatever field of

land or France, particularly the former counwhich had afforded the South so much assistance in fitting out cruisers, that matters could not go on any longer without subjecting the Federal Government to the contempt of all civilized Powers. Although the Confederate Government only managed to procure vessels from England through shifts and stratagems, yet it was very evident that the British Government was not taking vigorous steps to put a stop to a practice in violation of its "Foreign Enlistment Act," and was oblivious to the fact that these cruisers were now and then destroying British goods in Federal vessels. They were willing to suffer the smaller evil that the greater good might accrue to English commerce, which it was hoped would, through the destruction of American shipping, have a monopoly all over the world. If British goods, properly documented, were not respected on board American vessels, the end would be the destruction of all American commerce as was seen by the unhesitating manner in which Semmes directed every vessel he captured, and chose to consider subject to condemnation, to be consigned to the flames. There is a certain amount of respect which every civilized nation demands for that it shall only be captured its commerce by belligerents under certain laws laid down for the protection of neutrals, and the country having its commerce subjected to captures is in duty bound to see that the law is respected; while it is the duty of each belligerent to instruct its naval commandBut the Confederate ers accordingly. Government took no steps in this matter, leaving its agents to work out their ends, and "burn, sink and destroy" at their discretion. It seemed as if they did not consider themselves responsible for anything that might happen on the ocean. The Confederacy was incapable of negotiating with foreign Powers, who could not recognize its diplomatic agents without practically acknowledging the independence of the Confederate States; and this point should not only have warned neutral Powers against granting belligerent rights, but it should have emboldened them to resort first to emphatic remonstrances against the manner in which the captures of the Confederates were made, and then to sending out cruisers to enforce their deixiands, and thus put an end to the violation of their own laws. The right to capture an enemy's commerce on the high seas is fully recognized by the law of nations but that law should only apply to regularly recognized governments. The Confederacy was not and could not be held responsible for anything try,

—

—

COMMANDER (APTERWAEDS COMMODORE) FOXHALL

A.

PARKER, COMMANDING THE POTOMAC FLOTILLA.

was placed. There were many him who succumbed to disease and ex-

position he like

posure, who, but for the war, might be liv-

ing to-day.

INCREASE OF THE NAVY AND IMPROVEMENTS IN NAVAL SHIPS UP TO DECEMBER, 1864.

As

tlie

war

progressed,

it

became

evi-

dent that the Federal Government should not only build vessels for blockading the Southern coast and patroling the Western and Southern rivers, but for the protection of their own coast against a foreign foe, and for the capture of the Confederate cruisers which were then committing such havoc upon Federal commerce. No one knew at what time the United States might be involved in war with Eng-

;

done by end by

its its

cruisers, as was shown in the collapse. The United States

OF THE CIVIL WAR. alone could then be held responsible for what the Confederates had done against the commerce of any other government. There was in the latter part of 1864 a grow ing feeling in the Federal States against the action of Great Britain, which, though the latter began to pay more attention to its neutral obligations (owing to the strong protests of Mr. Adams, Federal minister at the Court of St. James), still allowed these cruisers to escape to sea and several ironclad rams, built by John Laird Co. were preparing for sea, at Liverpool. These rams would, no doubt, have escaped but for the earnest remonstrances of the American minister, who in the most emphatic manner declared to the British Government that, to permit these vessels to depart, would be considered an act of war. Under these circumstances Her Majesty's Government had no difficulty in finding reasons for seizing and detaining the rams, after a three months' controversy over the matter. Among the most outspoken of the members of the Federal Cabinet in regard to the violation of neutrality by the British Government in permitting the Confederate cruisers to escape its vigilance, was Mr. Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy. He had appealed to Congress time after time to appropriate money to enable the Navy Department to build a class of vessels that would make it possible for him to put a stop to the depredations of the Confederate commerce-destroyers, but Congress dealt out money in such insufficient amounts that Mr. Welles could not at once «quip the class of vessels desired, not only to put a stop to the destruction of Federal commerce, but to show foreign Powers that, even with the great strain that was laid upon Federal resources, the United States could not only fit out cruisers against the "Alabamas." but could build such vessels as would do good service against foreign ships of- war, in case the Federal Government was di'iven to resort to the last extremity to preserve its prestige and its honor. Mr. Welles, in his annual reports, was unceasing in his denunciations of the remissness of the British Government and the depredations of the Confederate cruisers, ;

&

,

whom in his loyal zeal he always maintained were pirates and he showered invectives on the commanders of those vessels in language not altogether parliamentary, but which he honestly believed to be the truth. The Secretarj^ had, no doubt, made efforts, with the intelligent aid of his assistant, Mr. Fox, to fit out sea vessels of a character that could pursue these cruisers with effect; but, unfortunately, there were obstacles in the way which for a time impeded the pro;

679

gress of his plans. In the first place, Mr. Welles attached too much importance to the blockade of the Southern ports and listened too much to the clamors of commanders of squadrons for more vessels on their stations; for inferior -built steamers could have performed that duty as well as the sea-going corvettes. Then, his plans were interfered with by Commodore Wilkes, who not only had a squadron of twelve vessels with which he patrolled the Gulf and West Indies, but also seized upon the fastest cruisers the Secretary of the Navy had sent on special duty to go in pursuit of the Confederates, and detained the vessels belonging to the neighboring stations and attached them to his squadron. In one instance, at least, there was a chance of capturing the '' Alabama," which had touched at all the ports where her pursuer followed her, but the latter was just a month too late. Though the Navy Department may have been at fault in its judgment in not sending fast vessels to the channels of trade in the first instance, it more than made up for it by putting its whole energies to work to place the Navy in a condition to meet any emergency that might offer, even at the end of tlie war. The Department, as well as the Administration, had been very much abused for the depredations of the Confederate cruisers, especially by those who were sufferers, and the opposition party were glad of the opportunity to berate the Government for its w^ant of forethought in not anticipating the evils that were falling upon the Federal commerce. For the first time Congress began to be aroused to a sense of the danger that threatened the country, not only by the complete destruction of the foreign trade, but also the danger of being driven into a foreign war to preserve the Federal honor, if not its nationality. Under the plea of providing against the commercedestroyers of the Confederacy, large strides were made in building up the Navy; which it will be seen in the end was the wisest policy to pursue, as it taught those Powers that were forgetting their neutral obligations that the policy they had hitherto pursued would no more be tolerated, and showed them that the longer the war lasted the stronger the Federal Government would grow, no matter what might be the drafts upon its treasury. For attacks on forts and for river work the Federal Government had by 1863 a sufficient number of vessels to close the Confederate ports; and it was determined to build a number of large vessels that would be superior to any ships of their class abroad, not only in the power of their guns but in their speed. At that moment the exigencies of the

THK JMAVAL m:sTUKy

680

times had stimulated the inventive faculties of American ship and engine builders to

make

vast improvements in vessels-of-

war — in machinery, in naval ordnance and in projectiles. At the commencement of the war, the Federals may be said to have been in their infancy in such matters, and had to make great exertions to catch up with the powers of Europe; but by the end of 18G4 they were quite in a condition to vindicate their rights and rebuke Great Britain and France for the unfair advantage they had taken in their hour of distress. Besides a number of single - turreted Monitors (the names of which have often appeared in these pages), there were built seven or eight double-turreted Monitors of the "Monadnock" class, which alone were quite capable of guarding the coast against the heaviest ships in the French or English navies. Seven vessels were building at the Navy Yards, in which, to gain great speed, some of the armament had to be sacrificed. This class of vessels was represented by the "Ammonoosuc" and the "Chattanooga." There were also in process of construction twenty heavily armed vessels. Ten of these, of the " Guerriere" class, were to have covered decks, and to carry twenty heavy guns; two were to be protected against the effect of shells. The remaining ten built at the

Navy Yards were

of

somewhat less size, and as nearly all

but to be of great speed

;

were of full-sail power, they were expected to maintain their positions at sea for at least three months, and to be used on the most distant stations. Among the wonders of the age at that time were built a set of vessels called the " Miantonomoh " class a wooden vessel designed by the naval constructors, and built at the Navy Yards with Ericsson turrets, the machinery designed by Engineer-inchief B. F. Isherwood, chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering with a high rate of speed, perfect ventilation, impregnable, and with the enormous battery of four 15-inch guns, all combined in a vessel of the moderate rate of 1,560 tons, drawing only 12 of these

—

as long as we maintain a properly equipped naval force to prevent any interference in our affairs by foreign Powers, and to enable us to assert ourselves whenever occasion may require. The following table will explain all that the Navy Department had done from the outbreak of the war, and the exhibit shows that a great amount of zeal, intelligence and practical ability was manifested by those who were engaged in building up the Navy. It will be seen in the end that it did more to establish the standing of the United States abroad than even the advance of the Federal armies; and, among other things, it completely stopped all attempts of the Confederates to fit out cruisers in neutral ports. It was at this crisis that Mr. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, did so much by his influence and his progressive mind, in Congress and in the Department, in furthering all the plans brought to the Secretary's notice; and it is only fair to say that, without his assistance and the ability he displayed in all professional matters, the Navy Department would not have reached the point of efficiency which at that time existed. This Avas appreciated by officers throughout the service and it is evident, from the latitude given Mr. Fox by the Secretary of the Navy, that the latter leaned ;

upon him as

his ablest adviser.

Report of the Secretary of the Navy.

A

appended

of the of every class, that had been constructed, or were in the course of construction, since March 4, 1861 :

tabular statement

number

is

of naval vessels,

GENERAL EXHIBIT OP THE NAVY, INCLUDING VESSELS UNDBB CONSTRUCTION, DEC, 1864. DeBcription.

jNo. of

gun;

Xo. of tons.

I

;

Others of the same type, with increased tonnage and of still higher speed, were also in the course of construction, and the Federal Government had, apEarently, realized at last the importance of aving a powerful Navy, by which alone it could maintain its position among the nations of the earth. Mr. Seward's earnest letters and Mr. Adams' strong protests may have had some influence upon the British Government in deciding them to carry out the terms of their "Foreign Enlistment Act," but there was a stronger argument in the heavy ships and guns that the Federals were building so rapidly; and this will ever be the case feet

of water.

113 52

Screw steamers especially constructed for naval purposes 1,426 Paddle-wheel steamers especially constructed for

naval purposes 71 Iron-clad vessels 149 Screw-ateaniers purchased, captured, &c., fitted' for naval pvlrposes 174 Paddle-wheel steamers purchased, captured, &c., fitted for naval purposes 11» Sailing vessels ofallclasses.... |

671

Total

I

169,231

524 275

61,87»

614

60,380.

921 850

78,76* 69,649

4,610

510,396

80,59fr

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE NAVY, DECEMBER, 1863 AND 1864.

OF THE FOR THE NAVY SINCE

VESSELS CONSTRUCTED

MARCH

CIVIL WAR.

4,

681

IRON-CLAD VESSELS.

1861. No.

2 7

1 8 2

10

4 6 2

" Animonoosuc "

Screw sloops,

class,

17 to 19

guns, 3,213 to 3,713 tons each Screw sloop '* Idaho," 8 guns, 2,638 tons Screw sloops, spar deck, '* Java " class, 26 guns and 3,177 tons each Screw sloops, spar deck, " Hassalo *' class, 25 guns and 3,365 tons each Screw sloops, clippers, single deck, " Contoocook " class, 13 guns and 2,318 tons each Screw sloops, ' Kearsarge " class, 8 to 12 guns, and averaging 1,023 tons each Screw sloops, " Shenandoah " class, 8 to 16 guns and 1,367 to 1,633 tons each Screw sloops, " Ossipee" class, 10 to 13 guns and 1,240 tons each Screw sloops, " Serapis " class, 12 gnns and 1,380 tons each Screw sloops, "Resaca" class, 8 guns and 831 to 900 tons each .

ilT

121 8

23,637 2,638

200

26,416

50

6,730

130

23,480

40

4,092

74

8,684

'

Screw sloops, "Nipsic" class, 7 to 12 guns and 693 tons each Screw gini-boats, " Unadilla" class, 4 to 7 guns and 507 tons each Screw tugs, " Pinta " class, 2 guns and 350 tons each Screw tugs, " Pilgrim " class, 2 guns and 170 tons each Paddle-wheel steamers, double-enders, " Octo-

1

Guns. Ton'age

Description.

Guns. Ton'age

Description.

No.

rara " class, 7 to 11 guns and 730 to 955 tons each .... Paddle-wheel steamers, double-enders, " Sassacus " class, 10 to 14 guns and 974 tons each .. Paddle-wheel steamers, ol^ iron, dovible-enders, "Mohongo" class, 10 guns and 1,030 tons each Paddle-wheel steamer, of iron, double-ender, " Watereo," 12 guns and 974 tons

3

and " Roanoke ".,... 4 Double turret vessels, " Kalamazoo " class, 4 guns and 3,200 tons each 4 Double turret vessels, "Monadnock" class, 4 guns and 1,664 tons each 1 Double turret vessel, "Onondaga," 4 guns and 1,250 tons 4 Double turret vessels. " "Winnebago " class. 4 guns and 970 tons each

2

Single turret vessels, "Canonicus" class, 2 guns and 1,034 tons each Single turret vessels, " Passaic " class, 2 to 4 guns and 844 tons each Single turret vessels, " Yazoo " class, 1 to 2 guns and 614 tons each Single turret vessels, "Sandusky" aud "Mari-

3

Single turret vessels, "Ozark," "Neosho," and

8 9

23

2,480

96

11,040

32

3,462

20

71

4,744

123

11,661

Sea-going casemated vessels, "Dunderberg" and "New Ironsides " Sea-going turret vessels, " Puritan," " Dictator,

etta," 2

2

Casemated

3,150

4

340

98

n,024

272

25,324

70

7,210

13

974

vessels,

cothe," 6 and 3 "62"

18

guns each

" Osage," 2 to 7 guns each

203

Total

Tuscumbia " and " guns respectively '

'

Chilli-

28

THE NAVAL HISTORY

f.S-3

Edmunds

;

Acting - Master's Mates, James Softly

and Richard

Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, George Faron Acting-Second- Assistant, J. T. Buckley; Acting-Third- Assistants, T. E. Lynch and Still;

;

Thomas

Hineline.

SOHOONEK "SOPHEONIA." Acting - Master, James Taylor Acting - Ensigns, H. F. Dorton and E. S. ShurtUflf Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. Hunt and J. O. Conway. ;

;

SCHOONEB "MATTHEW VASSAB." Acting-Master, Henry O. Stone; Acting-Ensign, R. C. Wright Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. Duffy, G. H. Marks and 8. W. Ward. ;

SOHOONEE "ADOLPH HTIGEIj." Acting - Master, S. Niokerson; Acting Master's Mates, H. C. Fuller, J. H. Taylor and J. H. King.

Hand Acting-Master's Mates, G. G. Thomas Seager and George Thomas;

Baohelder, Engineers: Acting - Second -Assistant, Levi Sweetzer; ActingThird-Assistants, Harvey Brown and F. T. Clark. STEAMEB " TULIP. Acting-Ensigns, S. (t. Sluyter and D. Stevens; Acting-Master's Mates, J. Roffenterg and C. H. McClellan; Engineers: Acting-Third-Assistants, G. H. Parks, H. P. Gray and John Gordon. ;

STEAMEB "PEIMBOSE. Acting-Ensign, James H. Jackson; Acting-Master's Mates, H. L. R. Woods and John Shields; Engineers: Acting-Second Assistant, L. B. Leland; ActingThird- Assistant, H. C. Marrow.

STEAMEB "TEASEB.''

-

SCHOONEB "WILLIAM BACON." Acting-Master, Samuel Haines Acting-Ensign, J. A. Merrill Acting-Master's Mates, H. E. Ripley, Wm. Coomes and J. W. Davis. ;

;

STEAMEB "WTANDANE." Acting Ensign, J. J. Brice; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. Porter Loomis; Acting-Ensign, W. H.

Acting-Ensign, Philip Sheridan; Acting- Master's Mates, Charles Case, Thomas Power and Louis Reinberg; Engineers Acting - Second - Assistant, John Johnson Acting-Third- Assistant, G. C. SiJead:

;

man. STEAMEB

"DKAGON."

Acting-Ensign, J. W. Turner; Acting-Master's Mates, David Hall and S. M. Carey; Acting-SecondAssistant Engineer, G. E. Riddle.

CHAPTER XLIX. FIRST ATTACK ON FORT FISHER. DESTEUCTION OF THE CONFEDEKATE EAM "ALBEMARLE,"

Etc.

Defences at the Mouth op Cape Fear River.— The Army to Co-operate with the Navy. Rear - Admiral, Porter assumes Command of the North Atlantic Squadron. Preparations to Attack Fort Fisher. Attempt to Close the Port op Wilmington, N. C.^Mbthods resorted to by Blockade-runners, and THEIR Profits. Value op the Vessels Destroyed. Destruction op the Ram "Albemarle" by Lieutenant Cushing. Names op Officers and Men who Risked their Lives with Gushing. Bombardment of and Capture op Plymouth, N. C. Losses and Fruits of Victory. The Famous Powder-boat. Description OP Forts and Batteries. The Fleet rides out a Terrific Gale. General Butler's Powder - boat Exploded. Great Loss of Powder, but no Damage done to Fort Fisher. First Attack on Fort Fisher by the Fleet. Batteries Silenced. Landing op the Army. General Orders. — Correspondence BETWEEN Admiral Porter and General Butler. General Butler abandons THE Attempt to Capture Fort Fisher. General Butler succeeded by General Terry. Criticisms. Capture of Flag-pond Battery. List of Vessels THAT Participated in First Attack on Fort Fisher. Letters in regard to the Unnecessary Delay op the Expedition. Letters and Telegrams prom Secretary Welles. Reports op Officers.

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

a communication dated September 5, Mr. Secretary Welles states that, since the Winter of 1862, he had tried to obtain the co-operation of the War Department in a joint Army and Navy attack on the defences at the entrance of Cape Fear River, N. C. It seems the Secretary of War had decided that no troops could be spared for this purpose, and, in consequence, from small and unimportant works the huge fortification known as Fort Fisher had gradually arisen. These works bade defiance to any ordinary naval force, unsupported by troops, so that what in the first instance might have been prevented by the persistent attacks of a dozen gun-boats, grew to a series of works so formidable that it was evidently a matter of difficulty to ef-

— that

the Confederates should make a vigorous defence. Early in the contest a squadron of lightfect their reduction

is. if

draft gun-boats could have made their way past the small batteries and taken posses-

—

— —

—

1864,

— —

—

—

—

IN

— —

—

—

—

—

sion of Cape Fear River, closing that channel of blockade-runners, and paving the way for the troops to hold the point on

which Fort Fisher was finally built. But was not attempted until the fortifications were so far advanced as to become the most formidable series of works in the Conthis

federacy. At the entrance of Cape Fear River, the principal operations of the blockaderunners were carried on, supplying the Confederate armies with clothing, arms and munitions of war to the amount of sixty or seventy millions of dollars.

The Federal Navy Department finally became aware that, unless these supplies were cut off from the Confederate armies, the war was likely to be greatly prolonged. The blockade-runners were very fast steamers, well-manned, and with experienced pilots, and so regular were their trips to Wilmington, that their arrival was counted on almost as confidently as if they had been mail-steamers. Of course, many of them

THE NA VAL HISTORY

684

the hands of the blockaders, or were run upon the beach to escape capture. In the latter case, if protected by artillery on shore, the blockade-runners would land the most valuable portion of their cargoes and set fire to their vessels. In September, 1864, Mr. Welles made an-

fell into

other application for troops to co-operate with the Navy in an attack on the defences of Cape Fear River, and, being encouraged by General Grant to expect assistance, the

Navy Department began to assemble a.t Hampton Roads a proper force of vessels "The command of the for the occasion. squadron was tendered to Rear - Admiral Farragut, and on the 5th of September, 1864, Mr. Secretary Welles, in a letter to that officer, says :

"Lieutenant-General Grant has recently given the subject his attention, and thinks an army force can be spared and moved by tlie first day of October. Upon consultation, he is of the opinion that the best results will follow the landing of a large force under the guns of the Navy on the open beach north of New Inlet, to take possession and intrench across to Cape Fear River, the Navy to open such fire as is possible on the works on Federal Point in conjunction with the army, and at the same time sucli force as can run the batteries to do so, and thus isolate the !rebels. "You are selected to command the naval force, and you will endeavor to be at Port Royal by the latter part of September, where further orders will await you. Bring with you to the rendezvous at Port Royal all such vessels and officers as can be spared from the West Blockading Squadron without impeding its efficiency and when you leave, turn over the command of the squadron to the officer next in rank to yourself until the pleasure of the Department is known." Owing to failing health. Admiral Farragut declined accepting this command, and on the 22d of September the Secretary of the Navy wrote to Rear- Admiral Porter as ;

follows " SiR^Rear- Admiral D. G. Farragut was assigned to the command of the North Atlantic squadron on the 5th instant but the necessity of rest on the :

;

part of that distinguished officer renders it necessary that he should come immediately North. You will therefore, on the receipt of this order, consider yourself detached from the command of the Mississippi squadron, and you will turn over the command, temporarily, to Captain A. M. Pennock. As soon as the transfer can be made, proceed to Beaufort, N. C., and relieve Aoting-Rear-Admiral S. P. Lee, in command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Take with you your personal staff, and a number of officers, not exceeding five, may be transferred f.-om the Mississippi to the North Atlantic squadron.

Under the above orders, Rear-Admiral Porter assumed command of the North Atlantic squadron, and visited City Point, Va., in company with Mr. Fox, Assistant-Secretary of the Navy, to confer with General Grant in regard to the necessary contingent of troops required to co-operate with the Navy in the reduction of Fort Fisher. Admiral Porter had asked for but eight thousand troops, and a sufficient number of

vessels to fire one hundred and fifty guns As Fort Fisher had seventyin broadside.

heavy guns mounted, the above would only be two guns afloat to one on shore, a small proportion considering that most of the naval force would be wooden ships, against heavy earth- works, protected by The wishes of the Secresolid traverses. tary of the Navy were made known to General Grant, and he at once decided to send the requisite number of troops to cooperate with the Navy as soon as the ships could be prepared. The next thing was to select a General to command, who would act in harmony with the Navy. There were plenty of able commanders, but the trouble was whom could General Grant best spare. Admiral Porter merely suggested one thing namely, that General Butler should not go in command. North Carolina was in the district over which Butler held control, and the Admiral did not know but that the General would claim the right to go in command of troops operating in that district. It was at length decided that General Weitzel should have five

—

command

of the military part of the ex-

pedition.

By the loth of October, 1864, the ships-ofvvar of the fleet destined to attack Fort Fisher were assembled at Hampton Roads, to the number of about one hundred. Many of them were from other squadrons which had been depleted for the occasion. There was a great variety of vessels, as every class in the Navy was represented, from the lofty frigate down to the fragile steamer taken from the merchant service all mounted good guns. Admiral Porter had quite a task before him to organize this large force and make it fit for combined service, for it was not in good condition for battle sucli as the occasion demanded. A regular system of

but

drilling

was

at once

commenced with

sails,

masts, yards and guns, particularly the latter, and a large portion of the time wa.s spent in target practice. Immense quantities of shells were fired away, for the commanding officers of the ships were giyen carte blanche in this respect, the Admiral believing that it would be an ultimate

saving in time of

battle.

was now formed into three divisions. There were five Commodores in the fieet — Thatcher, Lanman, Godon, Schenck and Radford. The latter officer The

fieet

had immediate command of the iron-clads. From all these officers Rear Admiral Porter received hearty support, although, owing to the fortunes of war, he had been advanced over their heads, and naturally expected to find some little feeling in regard to it but there was none whatever. They met the Admiral in the most cordial manner and

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

ever gave Uim their heartiest support. This was, it is true, the proper course, for success has always in time of war been recognized Several of in all services by promotion. these gentlemen were oflRcers of great

and it may be wondered why they were not employed in command of indeThe wonder will be pendent squadrons. ability,

less

when we consider how

little

was known

by the Navy Depai-tment of the character and qualifications of officers. With the exception of Assistant - Secretary Fox, there seemed to be nobody at headquarters who had much comprehension of the matter, and we had so few squadrons that it was difficult to find separate

commands

for all

who

deserved them.

The Navy Department, through Assistant-Secretary Fox, showed great energy in assembling the vessels of the fieet at Hampton Roads, and they never denied Admiral Porter anything he asked for. As soon as the fleet was fairly organized. Admiral Porter made an effort to close up the port of Wilmington, N. C. so that supplies could not get in, or cotton get out. This was a most difficult thing to do, and his predecessor, Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee, with one of the largest squadrons afloat, had never succeeded in the attempt. His officers, it is true, captured a large number of vessels, but where one was captured or destroyed two new ones were built on an improved plan. Towards the last the English commenced building these vessels of steel— long, nar,

row and shallow

—

which were capable of and could cross the bar of Cape Fear River at all times day or night, for at night range-lights were kept burning. Once under the guns of Fort Fisher they were safe. The gun-boats generally drew too great speed,

much water

to follow the blockade-runners over the bar, where the depth never exceeded ten feet. The conduct of the blockading officers was sometimes severely criticised by the

Northern newspapers, who, although they had positive evidence of their watchfulness in the shape of numerous fine prize steamers, loaded with cotton, coming into Northern ports, were not satisfied unless every bottle of brandy and bunch of cigars sent to the Confederates were captured to fill the pockets of Northern prize-agents. The people at home had little idea of the arduous service performed by the blockading vessels. whose officers and men had, at the peril of their lives, to hold on to Wilmington bar at all seasons, in the endeavor to prevent the entrance and exit of blockade-runners. The advantage was all on the side of the latter. They could chose their own time. Painted a light, neutral tint, they fearlessly

085

guiding them by night as well as if it were daylight, and a vessel within a short distance could only surmise their presence by a faint streak of light made by their wake. If the gun-boats fired, they were liable to hit each other; if they made the flash - signal agreed upon between them, the blockade-runner would make a similar one,

and

in the

confusion, the latter,

going at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, would soon pass out of sight. If the Federal vessels laid close in to the bar, they ran a risk of being carried into the breakers

by the

current, in which case their destruction was certain. The display of a twinkling light on board one of the gunboats, near the bar, was the signal for a general discharge from the guns of Fort Fisher, and, although these shots were more noisy than damaging, yet a stray shell striking one of the Federal boats would have knocked it to pieces. Sometimes the Federal vessels would discern " black smoke " in the distance then was bustle and excitement. Chase all would be given, and a "long, low two-pipe" steamer would show herself standing in for the bar. With the slow vessels, there was often not much chance of catching one of these swift blockade - runners, but they were sometimes intercepted and driven back to Nassau or Bermuda to make a fresh attempt. Eight times in ten they succeeded in eluding the closest blockade of a The profits of a coast ever maintained. successful voyage were so great, that the ;

English adventurers, provided with good readily took the risks, which were nothing compared with those run by the blockading vessels. If one vessel in three succeeded in running into port, it remunerThey were paid ated the owners largelj''. for their ventures in Confederate cotton at eight cents a pound, worth at that time eighty cents in England and one dollar in the North. At first the blockade-runners were insured in England against capture, so many successful voyages were made, but towards the last the insurers charged very high premiums. Admiral Lee's squadron captured or destroyed a large number of blockade-running steamers, perhaps to the value of ten millions of dollars. The shores of North Carolina were strewn with the pilots,

wrecks of these vessels, which were generally run aground and set on fire to prevent the Federal Navy from deriving any benefit from their capture. We do not know what were Admiral Lee's particular plans in regard to the blockade-runners, but it was determined, while the fleet was waiting for the Army to get ready, that a new system should" be adopted to take the contraband traders by CI

nT.T»viao

THE NAVAL HISTORY

G8G

vessel on the blockade of Capo Fear River, upon which was described two half-circles close to the two bars at the enHere were statrance of that stream. tioned twenty vessels, ranged in a halfAt the terminticircle, ten off each bar. tion of Frying-Pan Shoals was described another half-circle of about twelve miles' On this circle was stationed, five radius. miles apart, some twenty of the fastest

which could communicate with each other by signal all the way round. One hundred and thirty miles from land

vessels,

tliird line, on which the vessels were about eight miles apart, tlie half-circle ending at Beaufort, N". C, on one side, and closing in on the south entrance to Cape Fear River. If a blockade-runner came out of Wilmington before daylight, she would be seen by vessels on the middle circle; and, if she escaped those, she would be chased by the vessels on the outer circle. If she started at midnight, she would be seen at midday by the vessels of the outer circle. Should a vessel approach the outer circle in order to run into Wilmington just before daylight, the outer circle would cliase her

was the

she eluded the outer circle after dark, she would be picked up by the middle circle; and instances were rare of vessels attempting to run this stringent blockade that were not captured or driven off. The number of English steamers sent into Hampton Roads was surprising. They came in on an average of nearly one each day, and the commodores commanding divisions who shared in these prizes were well pleased to see them coming into port. The blockade-runners themselves were quite astonished and crowded into Nassau to concoct new plans to circumvent the Federal cruisers; but from that time the business grew more and more unprofitable, for in thirty-seven days some six million of dollars worth of property was captured or destroyed. off; or. if

—

—

While General Sherman was marching through the South, he used up everything in the shape of provisions for the support of an army, and the enemj' at Richmond depended in a great measure on what supplies they could get from Nassau for the maintenance of 3U0,000 men By an order of the Confederate Government, one-third of the space in every vessel running the blockade was devoted to carrying provisions and stores for the Army. Had this stringent blockade been kept up for three months, the port of Wilmington would have been deserted but tliis was hartUy possible, for tlie United States Government would have been obliged soon to withdraw a large portion of the blockading vessels for service elsewhere, and the old system would ;

likely

have been resumed.

While these operations were in progress, Admiral Porter was engaged in perfecting tlie organization of his fleet, and his only objection to the delay was the fact that tlie winter was rapidly approaching, the season when storms are very severe on the coast of North Carolina. However, the delay gave Admiral Porter an opportunity to become acquainted with liis officers, so that when the time came he knew where to place them. The plan of attack had been lithographed on a large scale, and each vessel assigned the position it would occupy in action.

Every commanding

officer

had

a copy of this chart, and all that was wanting now were the troops to co-operate with the Navy. In the meantime the naval forces were not idle. One of the best executed feats of the war was the destruction of the Confederate ram "Albemarle," at Plymouth, N. C. This was most important for, as has been already related, when the ram sunk the "Southfield" and drove off the "Miami," she attacked the flotilla under Captain Melancton Smith, and after a hard fight slipped off in the darkness and returned to Plymouth. Here she was fastened to a wharf to undergo necessary repairs after the terrible hammering received from the flotilla, and it was evident that her commanding officer did not care to make anotlier attack until his vessel was strengthened in those parts which had been shown to be the weakest.

The engagement was criticised somewhat at the time, but it must be remembered that the vessels of the flotilla were unarmored, and that they fought gallantly against a vessel completely encased in iron; that the

misfortune which happened to the "Sassacus " might have happened to one or two more, in which case not only the injured vessels, but all the others in the sounds of North Carolina, would have been at the mercy of the enemy. These considerations made it important for Captain Smith to avoid risking a defeat, and that he was successful in getting rid of the ram, and depriving her for the time being of power to do further mischief, is proof that he was master of the situation. This was the view taken of the affair by the Navy Department, as is shown by the following compli-

mentary letter

—

Navy Department, May 25, 1SG4.

\_

)

Sir I have had great satisfaction in receiving and perusing your report, as the senior officer of tlie several vessels that were engaged with the rebel raui " Albemarle " and her tender on the 5th instant, in Albemarle Sound. The Department congratulates a]l the officers and men of the United States Navy who participated in this remarkable contest between wooden gun-boats and a formidable armored vessel, in which the latter was forced to retreat to prevent

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

capture, and it particularly tlianks you for the vigilant and gallant use made of the means placed at your command to thwart the designs of the rebels to regain control of the Sounds of North Carolina.

Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.

Captain Mklancton Smith, U. Senior Officer Carolina.

8. N.,

commanding Sounds

of North

Notwithstanding the satisfaction expressed at the gallant conduct of Captain Smith, the Department was greatly troubled over the fact that the "Albemarle " still existed, and might sally out from Plymouth as soon as the necessary repairs were made, and drive the Federal gun-boats from the Sounds. The Department considered that they had no vessels at their disposal fit to cope with the ram; but the attack of the "Sassacus" should have showed them that four or five double-enders, each fitted with a heavy iron shield to the stem, would have been all-sufficient to crush the ram by a simultaneous attack. The experience of the Confederate

687

instructed to proceed at once to blow up the "Albemarle." Commander W. H. Macomb, commanding in the Sounds of North Carolina, was ordered to give him all the assistance in his power, and, in case Cushing was successful, to attack and recover the town and defences of Plymouth. On the very morning appointed for Cushing to set out, an order came from the Navy Department directing Admiral Porter to investigate some charges preferred by Mr. Secretary Seward against Cushing for violating certain neutral rights while in command of a vessel on the Southern coast. Here was a dilemma but the Admiral, after a brief investigation, decided that Cushing was free from blame, and the brave fellow, who dreaded a court-martial far more than he did the enemy, went ;

commander had assured him of this fact, which was probably the chief reason why he did not again venture out. Under these circumstances. Lieutenant W. B Cushing was offered a further opportunity to distinguish himself an offer he at once accepted. He was sent to New York, to superintend the fitting out of three torpedo steam-launches, arranged according to the plans of Chief Engineer W. W. W. Wood and Assistant - Engineer G. W. Lay, which proved to be all that were claimed for them. About the middle of October, 1864, the launches were ready, and Cushing got away with them from the .

—

New York Navy Yard. Cushing was not so well adapted for the command of a flotilla, even of steamlaunches, as he was of a single vessel. One of his torpedo - launches sank sooq after he started, and another was run ashore and surrendered to the Confederates in

Chesapeake Bay, while Cushing, steam-

ing through a rough sea, safely reached Hampton Roads, and reported to Rear-Admiral Porter, then on board his flag-ship, the "Malvern." Lieiitenant Cushing's condition at this time was pitiable. He had been subjected _

to terrible exposure for more than a week, had lost all his clothing except what he had on, and his attenuated face and sunken

eyes bore witness to the privations he had undergone. Himself and crew had existed on spoiled ship's biscuits and water, with an occasional potato cooked before the boiler fire. Admiral Porter at once ordered Cushing to get some necessary rest and not to come near him until sent for; and in the meantime his torpedo - launch, which had been somewhat shattered and disarranged.

LIEUTENANT (AFTERWARDS COMMANDER) WM.

B.

CUSHING.

on his way rejoicing, passed through the Dismal Swamp Canal, and on the 27th of October reported to Commander Macomb. That night Cushing proceeded up the river in the steam torpedo-launch with thirteen officers and men, mostly those who had volunteered from Commander Macomb's floThe distance from the tilla for the service.

mouth of the river to where the ram lay was about eight miles, and the stream, of an average width of two hundred yards, was lined with the enemy's pickets. The wreck of the U. S. S. "Southfield" lay a mile below the town, surrounded by some schooners, and it was understood that a gun was mounted here to command the bend in the river. In consequence of this report, an armed boat frona the U. S. S. " Shamrock " was taken in tow, with orders

THE NAVAL HISTORY

688

case

the

expedition

was hailed by the

enemy.

When the steam-launch and her tow n eared the wreck of the " Southfield," there were anxious feelings on the part of the brave fellows whose lives it was thought by many would all be sacrificed on this hazardous expedition; but lao one faltered, and Cushing's keen eye looked into the darkness intent only on the " Albemarle." The "Southfield" was passed by the party unobserved by the enemy, and the pickets along the river banks, depending on those at the outpost to give the alarm, were not on the alert. This was a fortunate circumstance for Gushing and his comrades, for he was thus enabled to approach unmolested within a few yards of the "Albemarle." The look-out on board the iron-clad finally hailed, when Gushing, casting off the cutter, ordered her to proceed back to the wreck of the " Southfield" and capture the picket guard. Gushing then dashed ahead under full steam for the " Albemarle," which was secured to the wharf within a pen of logs extending about thirty feet from the vessel. A fire on shore lighted up the surroundings and Gushing's quick eye at once took in the situation. He dashed at the logs, which the steam-launch shoved aside, and struck the "Albemarle " bows on. In the meantime the enemy had become thoroughly aroused, and the men on board the ram rushed to their quarters and opened a severe fire on the assaulting party but they were swept away by a discharge of canister from the 12 -pound howitzer mounted in the torpedo-boat's bow. A gun loaded with grape was also fired at the launch, but the fire from the howitzer disconcerted the gunner's aim and the shots were harmless. While all this firing was going on, the torpedo boom was deliberately lowered, and by a vigorous thrust Gushing drove the torpedo under the ram's overhang and exploded it. There was a tremendous crash and a great upward rush of water which filled the steam-launch. The pumps of the "Albemarle" were manned, and her commanding officer, Lieutenant ;

Warley, encouraged his crew to try and keep the vessel free, but the water gained so rapidly through the great aperture made by the explosion that the "Albemarle" soon went to the bottom, her smoke-stack only showing the place where she had last floated. As the enemy had none of the necessary appliances at hand for raising the iron-clad, they made vigorous efforts to still further disable her, anticipating that the Federal gun-boats would soon be on the spot to try and secure the sunken vessel. The "Albemarle," although apparently taken by surprise, had been quite prepared for the emergency. There were two field-

pieces on her deck loaded with grape, and of artillery ready to fire at a moment's notice. That a good watch was kept on board is proven by the quickness with which the crew got to quarters, and opened fire on the torpedo-boat. It was fortunate for Gushing that he succeeded in passing the pickets along the river undisturbed, otherwise the sailors on board the "Albemarle " and the troops on shore might have given him such a warm reception as would have prevented the carrying out of But Gushing seemed ever to be his design. the child of fortune and his good luck followed him to the close of the war. But to return to the torpedo-boat when the

manned by a company

:

was opened on her by the enemy. Paymaster Swann was wounded at Gushing's side, and how many others had been injured

fire

he did not know. It seemed as if a shower of grape-shot had struck the boat, but in the confusion the aim was misdirected and the grape did little injury. The torpedo, exploding directly afterwards, filled the launch with water, when, seeing that she would be captured. Gushing and others jumped into the river and swam down stream under a shower of musketry, which, however, failed to do any harm. As soon as the Gonfederates saw the torpedo-launch filled with water and floating away, they sent boats to take possession of her, and captured most of her crew. Some of the latter were drowned in their efforts to reach the opposite shore and, so far as Gushing knew at the time, only one escaped besides himself, and he in a different direction. As he swam down the stream he met Acting-Master's Mate Woodman struggling in the water, almost exhausted, and endeavored to assist him to the shore; but the attempt was a failure, and Mr. Woodman was drowned. Gushing himself could barely crawl out of the water when he succeeded in reaching the bank, half a mile below the town. He dragged himself into a swamp, and, while lying concealed a few feet from the path along the river, two of the " Albemarle's " officers passed, and from their conversation Gushing learned for the first time that the iron-clad was at the bottom of the river. As soon as his strength would allow. Gushing plunged into the dense swamp, where he would not likely be followed, and after incredible difiiculty'in forcing his way through the mud and slime, he reached a point well below the town and met a negro, whom he sent into Plymouth to find out the particulars of the sinking of the ram. The negro soon re turned with assurances that the "Albemarle " was actually sunk. Thus cheered. Gushing pursued his tedious journey through the swamps, till, coming suddenly ;

;

OF THE on a creek, he found one of the enemy's picket-boats, of which he took possession, and pulled away with all his remaining strength, not knowing at what moment he might get a bullet through his brain. By 11 o'clock the following night he reached Valley Cit\%" and was taken the gun-boat on board and cared for, after one of the most perilous adventures on record. The blowing-up of the " Albemarle" was a very gallant achievement. It was done in the face of almost insurmountable obsta'''

we have shown,

the enemy had taken every precaution against just such Here was a. an attempt as was made. chance, and Gushing seized it. He would undoubtedly have made the attempt if he had had to run the gauntlet of the picketfiring all the way to Plymouth. Gushing himself did not know vsrhen he arrived on board the "Valley Gity" who had been captured and who had escaped; but the following list from a report he subsequently prepared gives the names of the gallant fellows who risked their lives to dispose of an iron-clad that threatened the destruction of all tlie vessels in the Sounds of North Carolina: as

cles, for,

"

William B. Cushing, Lieutenant, commanding

expedition, escaped; William L. Howarth, ActingMaster's Mate, picket - boat, missing WUliam Stotesbury, Acting - Third - Assistant Engineer, picket -boat, missing; John Woodman, ActingMaster's Mate, U. S. 8. 'Commodore Hull,' drowned Thomas S. Gray, Acting Master's Mate, U, S. S. Charles S. Keener, Otsego,' missing Acting- Third- Assistant Engineer, U. 8. S. 'Otsego,'

CIVIL

WAR.

68!)

When, last Summer, the Department selected you for this important and perilous undertaking, and sent you to Rear-Admiral Gregory, at New York, to make the necessary preparations, it left the details to yourself to perfect. To you and your brave comrades, therefore, belong the exclusive credit which attaches to this daring achievement. The desti-uotion of so formidable a vessel, which had resisted the combined attack of a number of our steamers, is an important event touching our future naval and military operations. The judgment as Avell as the daring courage displayed would do honor to any officer, and redounds to the credit of one of twenty-one years of age.

Ou

four previous occasions the Department has gratification of expressing its approbation of your conduct in the face of the enemy, and in each instance there was manifested by you the same heroic daring and innate love of perilous adventure, a mind determined to succeed, and not to be deterred by any apprehensions of defeat. The Department has presented your name to the President for a vote of thanks, that you maybe

had the

promoted one grade, and your comrades also shall receive recognition. It gives me pleasure to recall the assurance you gave me, at the commencement of your active professional career, that you would prove yourself worthy of the confidence reposed in you, and of the service to which you were appointed. I trust you may be preserved through further trials and it is for yourself to determine whether, after entering upon so auspicious a career, you shall, by careful study and self-discipline, be prepared for a wider sphere of usefulness on the call of your country. Very respectfully, etc., ;

Gideon Welles,

;

;

'

;

Francis H. Swan, Acting-Assistant PayS. 8. 'Otsego,' missing; Edward T. Horton, ordinary seaman, U. 8. 8. 'Chicopee,' escaped; Bernard Harley, ordinary seaman, U. S. 8. Chicopee,' missing William Smith, ordinary seaman, U. 8. 8. 'Chicopee,' missing; Richard Hamilton, coalheaver, U. 8. 8. 'Shamrock,' missing; R. H. King, landsman, picket boat, missing Willies, landsman, picket -boat, missing; Demming, landsman, picket-boat, missing Samuel Higgins, iirst-class fireman, picket-boat, drowned." missing master;

;

C

'

;

;

;

The bodies

of

Acting

-

Master's

Woodman and Fireman Higgins shore near Plymouth, and it satisfaction to know that only ing's

comrades

Mate

floated on

was a great two of Cush-

lost their lives in this des-

perate adventure.

We cannot hope to do justice to this remarkable episode in the naval history of the civil war. The narrative should be written in letters of gold on a tablet for the benefit of future ages ; but we will here insert the official communication of the Secretary of the Navy to Lieutenant Gushing, after the latter's report had been forwarded by Admiral Porter to the Department :

Navy Department, November

9,

1864.

Sir — Your report of October 30 has been received, announcing the destruction of the rebel iron-clad steamer "Albemarle," on the night of the 37th ultimo, at Plymouth, North Carolina.

Lieutenant W.

Secretary of the Navy. B. Gushing, U. S. N.,

Washington.

As soon

as he heard of the sinking of

" Albemarle, " Gommander Macomb promptly prepared to carry out the orders of Admiral Porter, which directed that in case of the destruction of the ram he should proceed to recapture Plymouth. For their part, the Gonfederates were not idle in preparing to resist the advance of the gunboats, although their main dependence was now taken from them. They impeded the advance of the flotilla by sinking schooners in the channel under the guns of the fortifi-

the

cations.

On

the 39th of October, 1864, the flotilla

proceeded up the Roanoke River in the following order " Gommodore Hull," " Shamrock," "Ghicopee," "Otsego," "Wyalusing"and "Taconv." At the same time :

the "Valley Gity " went up the "Middle River," which joined the Roanoke above Plymouth, in order to cut off any vessels the enemy might send in that direction.

At about noon Commander Macomb came within range and opened fire on the land batteries protecting Plymouth. The fire was promptly returned, but Macomb continued to advance until he was checked by the sunken vessels and exposed to the fire enemy's heavy guns protected by earth -works. Present advance was out of the question, and signal was made for the vessels to retire down the river. In the of the

THE NAVAL HISTORY

690

meantime the commanding officer of the "Valley City," hearing the firing cease, concluded that the Federal vessels had won the day, and ran down towards Plymouth, when, fire being opened on his vessel, he also returned to the Sound. Thus far the expedition

was a failure. Something must be done, and from the reports of the "Valley City," and a reconnoissance made by Lieutenant-Commander Earl English in a boat, it was found that there was plenty of water in the channel of " Middle River," and that any of the vessels could turn the bends with the assistance of a tug. This would enable Macomb to come out into the Roanoke River, above Plymouth, a contingency which the Confederates had not provided against. The flotilla accordingly again got underway to try the new channel. Commander

When

the

flotilla

got near Plymouth the

commenced shelling the enemy's works, which was the first intimation the vessels

Confederates had of the approach of the Federal forces from this unexpected direction. As it was now late in the day, it was not deemed judicious to make a serious attack in the dark, but the vessels dropped close enough to the town to keep up a fire and command the channel, so that no torpedoes could be planted. Next morning, the " Commodore Hull joined the flotilla, and at 9 a. m. the attack was made in close order. The Confederates kept up a heavy fire, particularly on the "Commodore Hull" and the "Shamrock"; but as the vessels neared the batteries the order was given, "' Go ahead at full speed! so that the flotilla was soon pouring in a shower of grape and canister, which drove the artillerists from their guns and cleared the rifle-pits of sharp-shooters. In ten minutes time the victory was comj)lete, and Plymouth was once more in Union hands. One battery still held out, but a shell from the " Shamrock " exploding in the magazine, the fort blew up, some of the fragments falling on the decks of the steamers. The explosion caused a panic among the Confederates, who ceased firing and fled in all directions.

The Union forces were landed and took possession of the batteries without resistance. Never was victory more complete, and the news was transmitted by Rear-Admiral Porter to the Navy Department in the following dispatch United States Flag-ship " Malvern,'' Hampton Roads November 11, 1864.

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER (NOW COMMODORE) WILLIAM TRUXTUN,

T.

COMMANDING THE "TACONY."

Macomb

in the

"Shamrock" following

the

tug " Bazley," Acting-Ensign M. D. Ames, having on board the pilot of the " Wyalusing;" next came the " Otsego," LieutenantCommander H. N. T. Arnold; " Wyalusing," Lieutenant-Commander Earl English;

"Tacony," Lieutenant-Commander Wm. T. Hull," ActingTruxtmi; "Commodore Master Francis Josselyn, in the order named. Owing to the skill of the pilot. Acting -Master Alfred Everett, the vessels, with a great deal of hard work, succeeded in entering Roanoke River at 4 p. M., with the exception of the " Commodore Hull," which remained in " Middle River" to prevent the enemy from laying torpedoes there, in case the vessels should be obliged to return that way.

C

have the honor to inclose you the report Commander William H. Macomb, in relation to

Sir of

—I

|

the capture of the batteries and the town of Plymouth, North Carolina, which place with all its defences was captured from our land forces some time last spring. This was a very gallant affair, and reflects great credit on the commander of the expedition and all concerned. I' is a handsome finishing stroke after the blowing up of the ram. The fruits of this capture are twenty-two cannon, thirty-seven prii/-i

fVion

rw^Oi

/*

l->

o Ti nc\

r\T

o TM^£im a t.n ft*

wam."

Henry Arey, and he and

his officers

and

men

shared with the others the danger attending the enterprise. The powder-boat was finally anchored as near the beach as possible a some wliat difficult task, as by approaching too near the breakers the vessel would be liable to drift on Commander Rhind and Lieutenant shore. Preston then lighted the candles, while the fire of pine-knots in the " Louisiana's" cabin was started by Engineer Mullan. Commander Rhind was then obliged to let go another anchor with a short scope of chain, as he saw that the vessel would not tail in shore. This done, the party jumped into their boats, and pulled for the "Wilderness," which vessel had steamed off shore a con-

—

sirlArablfi

flist,fl.ncfi

a.nfl

tlifin

Ifit

hfir stfia.m

THE NA VAL HISTORY

696

go down, as

it

was supposed that the con-

cussion would seriously affect the boilers if a high pressure of steam was maintained. The fuzes were set by the clocks to one hour and a half, but the explosion did not take place until twenty minutes after the expected time, when the after-part- of the

Exactly at "Louisiana" was in flames. 1:30 A. M. of the 24th, the powder-boat went up in the air, the shock being scarcely felt by the vessels of the fleet. For a moment the scene was illuminated, then darkness settled down, and all was still as before no sound or movement in the fort indicating that any damage had been done. In fact, the Confederates took the explosion for that of a blockade - runner with a quantity of ammunition on board, and were not at all troubled about the matter. When, after the lapse of twenty years, we think of this futile attempt to destroy such a powerful work as Fort Fisher at the risk of so many valuable lives, in order that the pet scheme of a Major- General of Volunteers should be carried out, we may wonder that any one should countenance such an absurdity. The only powder that was needed was that fired from the cannon of the ships, and what would have been fired from the muskets of tlie gallant soldiers had they been permitted by their commanding general to advance on the enemy. But tliese experiences will teach the soldiers and sailors of the future and if there is ever a scheme proposed for blowing up a huge earth-work with a powder-boat, the recollection of Fort Fisher will deter people from attempting to carry it out. It was supposed by Admiral Porter that the explosion would be heard on board the transports and bring them all in by morning but, although the water was quite smooth, the transports seemed to keep as far as possible from Fort Fisher. Agreeably to the orders issued the preceding evening, the fleet got underway at daylight on the 24th of December, 1864, and stood in, in line of battle. At 11:30 A. M. the signal was made to engage the forts, the "Ironsides" leading, and the " Monadnock," '-Canonicus" and "Mahopac" following. The ' Ironsides" took her position in the most beautiful and seamanlike manner, got her spring out, and opened deliberate fire on the fort, at that time opening on her with all its guns, which did not seem numerous in the northeast face, tliough what appeared to be seventeen guns were counted. These were fired from that direction, but they were silenced almost as soon as the fleet opened all their ;

;

batteries.

The ''Minnesota" took her position in handsome style, and her guns, after getting the range, were fired with rapidity;

"Mohican," " Colorado " and the vessels marked on the plan, got to large their stations, all firing to cover themselves while anchoring. By the time the last of the large vessels anchored and got their batteries into play, but a few guns of the enemy were fired, this feu (Tenfer driving them all to their bomb-proofs. while

tiie

The small gun-boats "Kansas," "Una"Pequot," "Seneca," "Pontoosuc." and " Huron " took positions to the northward and eastward of the MoniThe " Shenantors, enfilading the works. doah," Ticonderoga," "Mackinaw," "Tacony " and " Vanderbilt " took effective positions, as marked on the chart, and added their fire to that already begun. The " Santiago de Cuba," Fort Jackson." "Osceola," "Chippewa," "Sassacus." " Rhode Island," " Monticello," " Quaker City " and " Iosco," dropped into position according to order, dilla,"

" Yantic "

and the battle became general. In an hour and a quarter after the first shot was fired, not a shot came from the Two of the magazines in the works fort. had been blown up by shells, and the woodwork in the fort set on fire in several places and such a torrent of missiles were falling into and bursting over the works, that it was impossible for anything human to withstand it. Finding that the batteries were completely silenced, the ships were directed to keep up a moderate fire, in ;

hopes of attracting the attention of the transports and bringing them to the scene of action. At sunset General Butler came in with a few transports, the rest not having arrived from Beaufort. As it was too late to do anything more, the fleet was signalled to retire for the night to a safe anchorage, which movement took place without molestation from the enemy. Some mistakes were made this day when the vessels went in to take position, although, the plan of battle being based on accurate calculation and reliable information, it seemed almost impossible to go astray. Those vessels that had not followed the plan of battle closely were required to get underway and assume their proper positions, which was done promptly and without confusion. The vessels were placed somewhat nearer to the works, and were able

throw in their shells, which were before falling short. One or two leading vessels having anchored too far off shore, caused those coming after them to make a like error; but when they all got into place and commenced work in earnest, the shower of shell —one hundred and fifteen per minute was to

—

So quickly were the enemy's guns silenced that not "an oflScer or man in the fleet was injured by them, but there were some severe casualties bv the bursting irresistible.

OF THE CIVIL WAR. of several

lOO-pounder Parrott cannon. One

burst on board the " Ticonderoga," killing six of the crew and wounding seven others;

another burst on board the " Yantic," killing one officer and two men another on board the "Juniata," killing two officers, and killing and wounding ten other persons; another on board the "Mackinaw," ;

097

vessel disabled, got her into close action and assisted materially in silencing the works, and the "Santiago de Cuba" and "Fort Jackson" took such positions as they could get, owing to other vessels not

forming proper

lines

and throwing them

out of place, and fought their guns well.

The taking of a new position while under by the "Brooklyn" and "Colorado" was well done, and when they got into

killing

one officer and wounding five men; another on board the " Quaker City,"

fire

wounding two or three persons. The bursting of these guns much disconcerted the crews of the vessels, and gave them

place both ships delivered a fire that nothing could withstand. The " Brooklyn " well sustained her good name under her commanding officer. Captain James Alden, and the "Colorado" gave evidence that Commodore H. K. Thatcher fully understood the duties of his position. The " Susquehanna " was most effective in her fire,

great distrust of the Parrott lOO-pounder. Some of the vessels were struck once or twice from the fort. The "Mackinaw" had her boiler perforated with a shell, and

though much hampered by a vessel near her that had not found her right place.

The "Mohican" went into battle gallantly and fired rapidly and with effect and wlienthe "Powhatan," "Ticonderoga "and " Shenandoah " got into their positions, they did good service. The "Pawtucket" fell handsomely into line, and did good service with the rest, and the " Vanderbilt " took her place near the " Minnesota" and threw in a rapid fire. The firing of the Monitors was excellent, and when their shells struck great damage was done, and the little gun - boats that covered them kept up a ;

fire

sufficient

to

disconcert the

enemy's

aim.

The Confederates fired no more after the vessels all opened on them, except a few shots from the Mound and upper batteries, which the "Iosco" and consorts soon silenced. The men were at work at the guns five hours and were glad to get a little rest. They came out of action with rather a contempt for the enemy's batteries, and anxious to renew the battle in the morning.

LIEUTEMANT-COMMANDER (NOW REAR-ADMIRAL) JOHN LEE DAVIS.

On Christmas Day

all the transports had and General Butler sent General Weitzel to see Admiral Porter, and arrange the programme for the daj\ It was decided

arrived,

were badly scalded. The "Osceola" was struck with a shell near her magazine, and was at one time ten or twelve persons

a sinking condition, but her efficient commander stopped the leak, while the 'Mackinaw" fought out the battle, notwithstanding the damage she had received. Only one vessel left the line to report damin

ages.

Commander John at the east

end of

Guest, in the " Iosco," the line, showed his

usual intelligence in selecting his position and directing his fire. Twice his shot cut away the flag-staff on the Mound Battery, and he silenced the guns there in a very short time, the " Keystone State " and

'Quaker City" co-operating effectively. Lieutenant-Commander John L. Davis i(0

„

j>

,.,:j-u

..,AA,^„^

^f

in

V,i

Navy should again attack the works, while the Army should land and assault them, if possible, under the heavy The Admiral dispatched fire of the ships. seventeen gun-boats, under command of Captain O. S. Glisson, to cover the troops and assist with their boats in landing the Finding the smaller vessels kept soldiers. too far from the beach, which was quite bold, the " Brooklyn" Avas sent in to carry out the Admiral's orders. To the number before sent were added all the small vessels that were acting as reserves and, finally, there were sent some eight or nine vessels that were acting under Commander Guest in endeavoring to find a way across the bar. that the

;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

C98

to land the troops, in addition to tlie

twenty

with whicli the army was already provided. At 7 a. m., on the" 25th, signal was made for the sliips to get underway and form in line of battle, which was quickly done. The order to attack was given, and the " Ironsides " took the position in her usual hand-

some style, the Monitors following close after her. All the vessels followed according to order, and took position without a shot being fired at them, excepting a few fired at the last four vessels that got into The firing this day was slow, only line. sufficient to distract the enemy's attention while the army landed, which they were doing five miles northward of the fleet.

About three thousand men had landed, the Admiral was notified they were re-embarking. He had seen the soldiers near the forts reconnoitering and sharpshooting, and was in hopes an assault was deemed practicable. General Weitzel, in person, was making observations about six hundred yards off, and the troops were in and around the works. One gallant officer went on the parapet and brought away the Confederate flag that had been shot down by the Navy fire a soldier went into the works and led out a horse, killing the orderly mounted on the animal and capturing his dispatches. Another soldier fired his mus-

when

'

;

ket into a bomb-proof among the Confederates, and eight or ten others who had ventured near the forts were wounded by shells from the fieet. As the ammunition gave out, the vessels retired from action, and the iron - clads "Minnesota," "Colorado" and " Susquehanna " were ordered to open rapidly, which they did with such effect that it seemed to tear the works to pieces. The fleet drew off at sunset, leaving the ironclads to fire tlirough the night, expecting the troops would attack in the morning, when the ships would recommence the

bombardment. The Admiral, however, received a message from General Weitzel, informing him that

it

was impracticable

to assault and later a letter from General Butler, assigning his reasons for withdrawing his troops which letter, together with the Admiral's answer to the same, we shall insert in full. In the bombardment of the 25th, the fleet The enemy fired slowly for seven hours. kept a couple of guns on the upper batteries firing on the vessels, hitting some of ;

;

them

several

much damage.

times without

doing them

The "Wabash "and the

"Powhatan,"' being within their range, the object seemed mainly to disable them, but a rapid fire soon silenced the Confederate guns. Everything was coolly and systematically done throughout the day, and there

was some

beautiful practice.

The army commenced landing about

2

Captain Glisson, in the " Santiago de Cuba," having shelled Flag-Pond battery to insure a safe landing, and they commenced to re-embark about 5 o'clock, the weather corning on thick and rainy. About a brigade were left on the beach during the night, covered by the gun-boats. As the troops landed, sixty-five Confederate soldiers hoisted the white flag, and delivered themselves up to the seamen landing the troops, and were conveyed to the " Santiago Two hundred and eighteen de Cuba." more gave themselves up to the reconnoitering party, all being tired of the war. We do not pretend to put our opinion in opposition to General Weitzel, whose business it was to know more of assaulting forts than a but we cannot help sailor could know thinking that it was worth while to make the attempt after coming so far. About noon the Admiral sent in a detachment of double-enders under Commander John Guest, to see if an entrance through The great the channel could be effected. number of wrecks in and about the bar had changed the whole formation, and where the original channel had been. Guest found a shallow bar. The Admiral then sent Lieutenant W. B. Gushing in to sound and buoy out a channel, if he could find one, with orders for Commander Guest to drag for torpedoes and be ready to run in by the buoys when directed. A very narrow and crooked cliannel was partly made out and buoyed, but running so close to the upper forts that boats could not work there. Lieutenant Gushing, in o'clock.

;

his boat, went in as far as Zeke's Island, but his researches would not justify attempting the passage with six double-enders, some of which had burst their rifled Parrott guns and injured many of their men. One boat belonging to the " Tacony " was sunk by a shell, and a man had his leg cut off; still, they stuck to their work until ordered to withdraw for other duty. At the conclusion of his report to the Secretary of the Navy, Rear- Admiral Porter

makes the following remarks "Allow me to draw your attention :

to the conPreston. They engaged in the most perilous adventure that was, perhaps, ever undertaken; and, though no material results have taken place from the efleots of the explosion that we know of, still it was not their fault. As an incentive to others, I beg leave to recommend them for promotion also tliat of Lieutenant R. H. Lamson, who piloted them in and brought them off. No one in the squadron considered that their lives would be saved, and

duct of

Commander Rhind and Lieutenant

;

Commander Rhind and Lieutenant Preston had made an arrangement to sacrifice themselves in

—

case the vessel was boarded a thing likely to happen. " I inclose herewith the report of Commander Rhind, with the names of the gallant fellows who

volunteered for this desperate service.

Allow me

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

mention the name of Mr. Bradford, of the Coast Survey, who went in and sounded out the place where the Louisiana was to go in, and has al\*aiys patiently performed every duty that he has been cafled on to carry out. "My thaifke are due to Lieutenant - Commander K. R. Breese, Fl6©t-Captain. for carrying about my orders to the fleet dilri-ng the action, and for his general usefulness to Lieutenant - Commander H. A. Adams, for- his promptness in supplying the fleet with ammunition. Lieutenant M. 'W."Sanders, Signal-OfHcer, whose whole time was occupied in also to

'

'

;

signals, performed his duty well, and my Lieutenant S. W. Terry and Lieutenant S. W. Preston, afforded me valuable assistance. " I have not yet received a list of the casualties, but beheve they are very few, from the enemy's

making aides,

We

guns.

had

and wounded, about

killed,

forty-

persons by the bursting of the Parrott guns. I beg leave to suggest that no more of these guns be introduced into the service. There is only one kind of firing that is effective at close quarters, that is, from 9, 10 and 11 inch guns, they cannot be five

equalled. " Until further orders, I shall go on and hammer away at the fort, hoping that in time the people in it will get tired, and hand it over to us. It is a onesided business altogether, and in the course of time we mast dismount their guns, if, as General Weitzel

we cannot

'injure it as a defensive work.' also think it of sufficient importance to undertake more serious operations against these works. " An army of a few thousand men investing it would soon get into it, with the aid of the Navy. When smooth water permits, I will go to work looking for a channel over the bar, which has not yet been found to my satisfaction. " I must hot omit to pay a tribute to the officers and crews of the Monitors riding out heavy gales on an open coast without murmuring or complaining of the want of comfort, which must have been very serious. They have shown a degree of fortitude and perseverance seldom witnessed. Equally says,

The Government may

—

brave in battle, they take the closest work with pleasure, and the effect of their shells is terrific. "The following are the names of the commanding ofScers, and I hope I shall keep them under

my command

Commodore William Radford, commanding New Ironsides Commander B. SParrott, commanding Monadnock Commander B. R. Colhoun, commanding Saugus Lieutenant George E. Belknap, commanding Canonicus Lieutenant-Commander E. E. Potter, commanding :

'

'

;

'

'

;

'

;

'

'

'

;

'Mahopac' "There are about one thousand men left on shore by the army who have not yet got off on account of the surf on the beach. These will be taken off in the morning, and the soldiers will then be sent home.

Pear River, will explain itself, but the order of taking position is as follows It is first proposed to endeavor to paralyze the garrison by an explosion, all the vessels remaining twelve miles out from the bar, and the troops in transports twelve miles down the coast, ready to steam up and be prepared to take the works by assault in case the latter are disabled. :

signal, all the bar vessels will

"Minnesota" (the headmost

vessel) will

go ahead

slowly and anchor about a mile from Fort Fisher, opening fire the moment she passes the " New Ironsides," and anchoring so that her stern gun will fire just clear of that vessel. The "Mohican" will then anchor ahead of the "Minnesota," " Colorado" ahead of "Mohican," "Tusoarora" ahead of "Colorado," " Wabash " ahead of "Tuscarora," " Susquehanna '' ahead of "Wabash,'' "Brooklyn" ahead of "Susquehanna," " Powhatan" ahead of "Brooklyn," "Juniata'' ahead of "Powhatan," with their cables ready to slip, and with not more than fifteen fathoms of chain, the fifteen-fathom shackle inside the hawse-hole. The " Seneca," " Shenandoah," " Pawtucket," "Ticonderoga," "Mackinaw," " Maumee," " Yantio"and "Kansas" will take their positions between and outside the different vessels, as marked on the plan, anchoring with their cables ready to slip.

When the large ships and

intermediate ones get

"Nyack," "Unadilla," "Huron" and "Pequof'will take positions between and outside the Monitors, in the order marked on the plan, keeping up a rapid fire while fairly

into

position, the

the Monitors are loading, 'The following vessels wall next take their positions as marked on the plan. Commencing with the " Fort Jackson," which vessel will anchor ahead of the "Juniata," leaving a space between of three lengths, "Santiago de Cuba," " Tacony," "Osceola," " Chippewa," " Sas-

"Rhode Island," "Monti"Mount Vernon," "Montgomery," " R. R.

sacus," "Maratanza," cello,"

Cuyler," " Quaker City"

and " Iosco " will pass on commencing with the rear, until they form the line marked on the plan. The reserves of each division will form a line, as slowly,

may require.

rear-admiral porter's general, order no. 70. [genbral orders no. 70.] North Atlanttc Squadron, U. S. Flag-ship " Malvern," Hampton Roads, December 10, 1864. The chart plan of the proposed attack on the batteries of the enemy at New Inlet, mouth of Cape

At a given

go in under the forts. When the explosion takes place, all the vessels will stand in shore in the order marked on the plan. The " New Ironsides " will steam along shore, coming from eastward, until the flag-staff on Fort Fisher bears southwest by west - half - west, and anchor (chain ready to slip) with her broadside bearing on the largest of the enemy's works, and open fire without delay. The Monitors will come up astern, anchoring not more than one length apart, directly in line along the shore, leaving space only for a gun-boat to lie outside of them, and fire between them or over them. The "New Ironsides " and Monitors will lie in not less than three and a half fathoms "water, which will place them about three-fourths of a mile trom Fort Fisher, and a little over a quarter of a mile from the Tseaeh. In the meantime, the large ships will lie formed in line of battle to the eastward of the iron-clads, and heading parallel with the land in a south-halfwest course, in five fathoms water. When the signal is made to "take position," the will

per plan, out of gun-shot, ready to act as occasion

" I inclose general order for the attack."

^

699

run

off

Circum'This is the main plan of the battle. stances may require some deviation from it, such as a partial attack (before going seriously to work) to feel the enemy's strength, all of v/hich will be regulated by signal or by orders. Great care and coolness will be required to drop the vessels in their right places, and a too-early commencement of fire on the part of those going into position may create confusion. As we know but littleabout the calibre and number of rebel guns, the vessels must concentrate but get the their fire on the heaviest batteries For instance, the range before firing rapidly. large vessels and ironclads concentrate on Fort Fisher, while the " Vanderbilt." "Fort Jackson," and the vessels in the line with " Fort Jackson " will open on the forts within their reach between ;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

700

All the reserve vessels will prepare to attack Zeke's Island battery by taking a position where they can enfilade it, which is when the fort bears northwest. Vessels drawing fourteen feet can go within a mile and three-quarters with perfect safety, and use their rifle-guns with good effect. They can also reach the forts on Federal Point, and prevent their firing accurately on the other portions of the fleet in closer range. All the movements of the different lines will be made by sending orders in a tug, as signals will not be seen in the smoke. As it is desirable not to have superfluous directions,

plan,

each commander will be furnished with a and the matter fully discussed, and points

explained at a general meeting of commanders. Vessels in distress, and finding it necessary to retire from battle, will steer out southeast, excepting the headmost vessels, "Iosco," "Quaker City," "R. R. Cuyler," etc., which had better keep on southwest half-south course, until they clear an eight-foot shoal (at low water) outside of them. It is not desirable that the vessels of the squadron should show themselves to the enemy until the time comes for them to act, and they wiU keep off shore about twenty-five miles, or far enough not to be seen, with New Inlet bearing west, in about the latitude of 33 56, longitude 77 .20 that will be the rendezvous. Commanders of divisions will assemble the vessels of their divisions, get them into line, and keep them so, each division being far enough from the other to allow them to manoeuvre without interfering. When the signal is made or given to fall in line of battle, every vessel will take her station in line according to the plan of the chart, the first division forming first, and the others ;

dropping in, in order. As only low steam will be required, those vessels that can move and work handily with half their boilers will only use those on one side, keeping the boilers (on the side near the enemy) full of water and without steam, with water warm only, and ready to make steam in case of necessity. Slow, deliberate firing is desirable there will be smoke enough anyhow. Rapid and indiscriminate firing will amount to little or nothing. I hope no shot may be thrown away. ;

David

D.

Porter,

Rear-Admiral Commanding North Atlantic Squadron.

lbttbr of major-gbkbrai/ butler to rearadmiral porter. Headquarters, Department Virginia and North Carolina, V \

—

December

25, 1864.

)

Admiral Upon lauding the troops and making a thorough reconnoissance of Fort Fisher, both General Weitzel and myself are fully of the opinion that the place could not be carried by assault, as it was left substantially uninjured as a defensive work by the Navy fire We found seventeen guns protected by traverses, two only of which were dismounted, bearing up the beach and covering a strip of land— the only practicable route— not more than wide enough for a thousand men in Hne of of battle.

Having captured Flag -Pond Hill battery, the garrison of which— sixty-five men and two commissioned officers- were taken off by the Navy, we also captured Half-Moon battery and seven oiflcers and two hundred and eighteen men of the Third North Carolina Junior Reserves, including its commander, from whom I learned that a portion of Hoke's division, consisting of Kirkland's and Haygood's brigades, had been sent from the lines before Richmond on Tuesday last, arriving at Wilmington Friday night. General Weitzel advanced his skirmish line within fifty yards of the fort, while the garrison was kept

in their bomb-proofs by the fire of the Navy, and so closely, tliat three or four men of the picket line

ventured upon the parapet and through the sallyport of the work, capturing a horse, which they brought off, killing the orderly, who was the bearer of a dispatch from the chief-of-artillery of General Whiting to bring a light battery within the fort, and also brought away from the parapet the flag of the fort. This was done while the shells of the Navy were falling about the heads of the daring men who entered the work, and it was evident, as soon as the fire of the Navy ceased because of the darkness, that the fort was fully manned again, and opened with grape and canister upon our picket line. Finding that nothing but the operations of a regular siege, whicii did not come within my instructions, would reduce the fort, and in view of the threatening aspect of the weather, wind rising from the southeast, rendering it impossible to make further landing through the surf, I caused the troops with their prisoners to re-embark, and see nothing further that can be done by the landI shall, therefore, sail for Hampton Roads as soon as the transport- fleet can be got in order. My engineers and officers report Fort Fisher to me as substantially uninjured as a defensive work. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Benj. F. Butler,

forces.

Major-General Com.manding.

Rear-Admiral Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

BEPLT OF REAR-ADMIRAL PORTER TO MAJOR-

GBNERAL BUTLER. North Atlantic Squadron, U.

S.

Flag-ship "Malvern."

General — I beg leave to acknowledge the

/

f

receipt

your letter of this date, the substance of which was communicated to me by General Weitzel last of

night. I have ordered the largest vessels to proceed off Beaufort and fill up with auimunition, to be ready for another attack, in case it is decided to proceed with this matter by making other arrangements. We have not commenced firing rapidly yet, and could keep any rebels inside from showing their heads until an assaulting column was within twenty yards of the works. I wish some more of your gallant fellows had followed the officer who took the flag from the parapet, and the brave fellow who brought the horse out from the fort. I think they would have found it an easier conquest than is supposed. I do not, however, pretend to place my opinion in opposition to General Weitzel, whom I know to 1)6 an accomplished soldier and engineer, and whose opinion has great weight with me. I will look out that the troops are aU off in safety. We will have a west wind presently, and a smooth beach about three o'clock, when sufficient boats will be sent for them. The prisoners now on board the " Santiago de Cuba" will be delivered to the Provost-Marshal at Portress Monroe, unless you wish to take them on board one of the transports, which would be inconvenient just now. I

remain,

General, respectfully, your obedient

servant,

David

D. Porter,

Hear Admiral. Major- General B. F. Butler, Commanding, etc., etc., etc.

The abandonment

of the expedition by his army, created the greatest indignation on the part of the

General Butler,

vs^ith

OF THE CIVIL WAR. who had seen the prize so nearly within their reach. It had been the liope of the Admiral to hand over the fort to the Government as a fitting Christmas present; but now all that could be done was for the Navy to hold on in the hope that General Grant would send the troops back again, under another leader, and bring the matter The Admiral sent a mesto a conclusion. sage as soon as possible to General Grant, requesting that this might be done, and his request was complied with, the troops reerabarked, and, under command of BrevetMajor-General Alfred H. Terry, returned to the scene of action. In consequence of the improper interference of General Butler, in assuming command of an expedition for which General Weitzel had been designated, tlie former was directed to proceed to his home in Lowell, Mass., and report from that place, which virtually ended his career in the Army, while Weitzel succeeded him in command of the Army of the James. In one respect this was unfair to General Butler. It was not considered by the Army that Butler had any military ability, either natural or acquired, but he had around him men of talents and reputation, who were supposed to be his advisers. The chief of these was General Weitzel, whose counsel seems to have had great influence with Butler on all occasions, and, particularly, on the Fort Fisher expedition. Instead of asserting his claim to command the military part of the expedition, Weitzel simply figured as Butler's chief - of - staff and while all orders were signed by General Butler, as " MajorGeneral Commanding," General Weitzel seems to have really directed all the military operations. It was a mixed-up affair, and it was evidently General Butler's purpose to claim the credit if the fort was captured, and to let Weitzel bear the odium in

Navy,

,

case of failure. It is not at all certain that the result of the expedition would have been different had General Weitzel had sole command of the troops, as he seems to have advised General Butler in all his movements. In

we

a letter have quoted, from General Butler to Rear-Admiral Porter, the former says:

"Both General. Weitzel and myself are fully of the opinion that the place could not be carried by assault, as it was left substantially uninjured as a

work by the Navy fire." Notwithstanding which statement, he

defensive

in-

consistently relates in the same letter that " Gen. Weitzel advanced his skirmish line -within fifty yards of the fort, while the garrison was kept in their bomb-proofs by the fire of the Navy, and so

men of the picket line ventured upon the parapet and through the sallyport of the work, capturing a horse, which they closely that three or four

brought

off," etc.

Comment on

the above

is

unnecessary;

yet,

701

in the face of this condition of affairs

and with the certain victory that could have been gained. General Weitzel recommended a retreat to Hampton Roads Tlie officer who was to have gone in command !

advised the one

had

better

who

liad

abandon the

usurped it, that he field on the eve of

victory and let the Navy manage the affair as best they could. General Weitzel's course at Fort Fisher was quite in keeping with his previous recorcl at Sabine Pass, where, with a force greatly outnumbering the enemy, he ig-

nominiously

retired, leaving two frail gunboats to attack the Confederate works and be cut to pieces; at Baton Rouge, where he was only saved from defeat and capture by a gun-boat; and at Forts Jackson and St. Philip, which works he also reported as " substantially uninjured " by the Federal

bombardment. It is possible, if General Weitzel had been in independent command with the entire responsibility resting on his shoulders, he might have viewed matters at Fort Fisher in a different light, especially when seconded by so gallant a soldier as General Curtis, who volunteered to assault the works with the military forces

that were landed on the beach. The author regrets to be obliged to criticise the acts of any officer, but the facts must be related in order to account for the utter failure of the Army in the first attack on Fort Fisher, and to show the world that the Navy was in nowise responsible for it. The official correspondence of the time contains a pretty full account of what occurred between the naval and military commanders, and a history of the Fort Fisher affair would not be complete without it. The plea of General Weitzel, that Fort Fisher was uninjured as a defensive work, is of no avail in the light of the facts ascertained by the commanding officers of the ships. Commodore Thatcher, in his official report, says: " On the 24th instant, an explosion took place during a heavy fire from the fleet within the main fort of the rebels, immediately after which flames were observed streajning high above the walls, naturally leading to the conclusion that we had fired tlie barracks and other tenements connected During the continuance of this with the fort. blaze, which continued for hours, not a gun was fired by the enemy except from the isolated work

Mound Battery.' " On the 25th instant, the range was shorter and the firing of the fieet more accurate than on the preceding day. It is my belief that not a shot or shell was fired by the advanced line of ships that did not either penetrate the earth-works of the enemy or explode within them. "On the first day, 1,569 projectiles were fired from the Colorado' into the fort. This ship ('Colorado') planted 230 shot in the enemj^'s works on the 25th, called the

'

'

and exploded 996

shells."

The above will give a general idea of the precision of the firing throughout the fleet.

THE NA VAL HISTORY

702

circumstances, an engineer-officer could report the work "unuajured," especially after the strong palisades were nearly all knocked away, is beyond ordinary comprehension. The following letter from Rear- Admiral Porter to the Secretary of the Navy gives a more detailed account of the bombardment and expresses the disappointment felt at the withdrawal of the troops

How, under such

:

North Atlantic Squadron,

U. S. Flag-ship "Malvbrn," Off New Inlet, December 27, 1864.

We silenced the guns in one hour's time and had not one man killed (that I have heard of), except by the bursting of our own guns, in the entire fleet. We have shown the weakne.ss of this work. It can be taken at any moment, in one hour's time, if the right man is sent with the troops. They should be sent here to stay— to land with a month's provisions, intrenching tools, guns, and Cohorn mortars. Ten thousand men will hold the whole country.

rebels have been able to send here, j-11 told, 4,000 men; seventy-five of them that were sent here to observe us gave themselves up to the

The

about

Navy. Two hundred and eighteen men sent on the same duty gave themselves up to our reconnoitering party, and this would have been the case all the

dispatch of yesterday will give you an account of our operations, but -will scarcely give you an idea of my disappointment at the conduct of the army authorities in not attempting to take possession of the forts which had been so completely silenced by our guns; they were so blown up, burst up, and torn up. that the people inside had no intention of fighting any longer. Had the army made a show of surrounding it, it would have been ours but nothing of the kind was done. The men landed, reconnoitred, and, hearing that the enemy were massing troops somewhere, the order was given to re-embark. They went away as soon as the majority of the troops were on the transports, and it coming on to blow rather fresh, about 700 were left on shore. They have been there ever since, without food or water, having landed with only twenty-four hours'

Sir— My

way through.

better, I will land the sailors, and I full credit for what we do. trust, sir, you will not think of stopping at this, nor of relaxing your endeavors to obtain the right kind of troops for the business, the right number, and the proper means of taking the place, even if an assault. Every attack we make we we fail will improve in firing, and if the weather would permit, I could level the works in a week's firing. If I can't

try

if

we

do

can't

have

m

I opened communication with them this morning and supplied them with provisions. To show that the rebels have no force here, these men have been on shore two days without being molested. I am now getting them off, and it has taken half the squadron (with the loss of many

rations.

boats in the surf) to assist. I can't conceive what the army expected when they came here it certainly did not need seven thousand men to garrison Fort Fisher— it only requires one thousand to garrison all these forts, which are entirely under the guns of Fort Fisher that talven, the river is open. Could I have found a channel to be relied on in time, I would have put the vessels in, even if I had got a dozen of them sunk but the channel we did find was only wide ;

;

;

for one vessel at right angles, and we were not certain of the soundings. There never was a fort that invited soldiers to walk in and take possession more plainly than Fort Fisher and an officer got on the parapet even, saw no one inside, and brought away the flag we had cut down. A soldier goes inside, through the sallyport, meets in the fort, coming out of a bomb-proof, an orderly on horseback, shoots the orderly, searches his bodj', and brings away with him the horse and communication the orderly was bearing to send up

enough

;

field-pieces.

Another soldier goes in the fort and brings out a mule that was stowed away; and another soldier, who went inside while our shells were falling, shot his musket into a bomb-proof, where he saw some rebels assembled together he was not molested. Ten soldiers, who went around the fort, were wounded by our shells. All the men wanted was the order to go in; but because every gun was not dismounted by our fire, it was thought that the fort "was not injured as a defensive work," and that it would be to lose men to attack it. It was considered rash to attack the works with wooden ships, and even the officers who have been on the ;

bar a long time (and witnessed the building of the works) thought that half the ships would be destroyed; and it was said that the only hope we could have of silencing the batteries was in case the powder vessel did the damage expected.

EEAE-.\DMIEAL) JOHN

COMMAMDER (NOW

C.

HOWELL.

strong as they are but there is only one day in six that a vessel can anchor so close. We had a most beautiful time, and the weather for the attack was just what we wanted. If fireneral Hancock, with ten thousand men, was sent down here, we could walk into the fort. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your'obedient servant, David D. Porter, ;

Hon. Gideon Welles,

Rear-Admiral.

Secretary of the Navy.

Washington,

J}.

C.

additional report of commander j. c. howell—capture OF flag-pond battery. IJ. S. Steamer " Nereus, Off Wilmington, December 27, 1864. f Admiral— At 12:40 p. m., in obedience to your I

verbal order, I anchored off Flag-Pond battery, mooring head and stern in four and a half fathoms of water. Immediately opened fire upon the battery. No response was made by those inside and at 2:15 P. M. a white fiag was wavedand the soldiers boat was iminside the fort showed themselves. mediately sent from one of the small gun-boats, the American flag planted on the fort, and the surrender of the command received by a naval officer. Some ;

A

OF THE

CIVIL WAR. Porter; "

seventy men, a captain and lieutenant, The "Santiago de Cuba" and were captured. "Nereus" sent boats, and, by order of Captain GlisSantison, the prisoners were transferred to the ago de Cuba." Respectfully, Admiral, Your obedient servant,

sixty -Ave or

'

HOWBIL, Commander.

eo 1 fciciXa o c T ;

;

;

Navy Department, December

29, 1864.

)

S

Lieute7iant-Gfeneral Gfrant, City Point, Va. : The substance of dispatches and reports

from Rear-Admiral Porter off Wilmington is briefiy this The ships can approach nearer to the enemy's works than was anticipated their fire can keep the enemy away from their guns a landing can easily be effected upon the beach north of Fort Fisher, not only of troops but of all their supplies and artillery this force can have its flanks protected by gun-boats the Navy can assist in a siege of Fort Fisher precisely as it covered the operations which resulted in the capture of Wagner. The winter also is the most favorable for operations against Fort Fisher. The largest naval force ever assembled is ready to lend its co-operation RearAdmiral Porter will remain off Fort Fisher, continuing a moderate fire to prevent new works from being erected, and the iron-elads have proved that they can maintain themselves in spite of bad :

;

;

;

;

;

weather. Under all these circumstances, I invite you to such a military co-operation as will insure the fall of Fort Fisher, the importance of which has already received your careful consideration. This telegram is made at the suggestion of the President, and in hopes that you will be able at this time to give the troops, which heretofore were required elsewhere. If it cannot be done, the fleet will have to disperse, whence it cannot again be

brought to this

coast.

Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.

(confidential.)

Navy Department,

a

Saturday, December 81, 1864. Sir Lieutenant - General Grant will send immediately a competent force, properly commanded, to co-operate in the capture of the defences on Federal Point. It is expected that the troops will leave Hampton Roads next Monday or Tuesday. This is all the information the Department has, to give you, but relies upon your skill and judgment to give full effect to any more that may be arranged. The Department is perfectly satisfied with your efforts thus far, and you will convey to all hands the satisfaction the Department feels. I am, sir, etc.,

—

Gideon Welles. Rear-Admiral D. D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron

off

Wilmington.

After the transports had departed there for the fleet to do but to proceed to Beaufort, N. C, and fill up with

was nothing

THE NAVAL HISTORY

706

the Besides, promised reinforcements. weather was getting stormy, and it was

advisable to get

the smaller vessels into

port. It would not do to attempt an assault on the Confederate works with sailors, for they had been heavily reinforced by General Hoke, and, for the present. Fort Fisher was The troops that secure against attack. General Butler, in his hurry to get away, had left on the beach were embarked after the gale was over, and returned to Fortress Monroe. This ended the first attack on Fort Fisher which, although unsuccessful in reducing the enemy's works, was not without its valuable lessons, which contributed to cause in the second attack a final and gratifying success. The reports of the commanding officers ;

,

my port quarter acting as a spring, my port anchor with twenty-five (25 chain, which brought my starboard

kedge upon letting go fathoms of

I immediately broadside to bear upon the forts. opened a vigorous fire upon the batteries, paying especial attention to Fort Fisher with my ll-inch gun, and to the Mound with my two (3) 100 pounder Parrotts, and with my 9-inoh guns to the batteries more immediately abreast of us. It is reported and believed on board this ship that one of the shells from our 11-inch, which exploded in Fort

At 3:45 p. M., finding that Fisher, set fire to it. 9 -inch shell fell short, and that the some of " Brooklyn," being underway, occasionally interline of sight, I got underway, confered with tinuing the action, and stood into four and a-half (4}) fathoms water, from which position every shot told with great effect. From this time the action was continued underway. At 3:10 p. M. the end of our spanker gaff was shot away, and our flag came down with it hoisted it immediately at the mizzen. About the same time, the rebel flag on Fort Fisher was shot away, and was not raised again during the action. At 3:45 P. M. the flag-stafif on the Mound was shot away, which shot is claimed by our pivot rifle. At 5:20 P. M the signal was made to discontinue the action. Hauled off, having sustained no loss of life or injury to the ship. During this day's action we fired two hundred and thirty-six f236) 9-inch shell, fifty -four (54', 11-inch shell, and eighty.-two (82) 100-pounder rifle shell. Not a shell was wasted from the 11-inch and rifles, and only a few in the early part of the action from, the 9-inch guns. The starboard battery only was used in action, viz eight (8) 9-inch guns, two (2) 100-pounder Parrott rifles, and one (1) 11-inch pivotgun. position as before, although On the 25th I took nearer the batteries, and further in. The batteries between Fort Fisher and the Mound being abreast position was an admirable one for engagof us, 9-inch guns were prining these Ijatteries, and cipally employed in doing this, as it was only by these we were annoyed, with an occasional shot from the Mound. During this day not a shot fell short, which accounts for my increased expenditure of 9-inch shell. At 2:10 p. M. we opened Are, which was replied to by the batteries abreast of us more \igorously than the day before. I am not aware of having received a single shot from Fort Fisher

my my

;

:

my

my

COMMODORE (^VFTEKWAKDS

KEAR-AD.MIBAL, JAS.

F.

SCHENCK.

my

this day. At 8:30 P. M. a port main shroud was shot away soon after we were struck three (3i times in pretty rapid succession. One (1) shot struck us under No. 3 port, three feet above the water line, passing through into a store-room and depositing itself in a mattress it is a solid 8-inch shot. Two (3) shot struck under No. 2 port twenty inches below the water line, one remaining in the side and the other ;

of vessels in the North Atlantic squadron are too many and too voluminous to insert them all here, but we append some of the most graphic and interesting, which are animated with the zeal in tlae performance of duty which is characteristic of the naval

profession

:

rbport of commodore schknck, commanding u. s. s. "powhatan" and 3d division north atlantic squadron. United States Steamer "Powhatan,' Off Beaufort, N. C, January 1, 1865 Admiral— Your General Order No. 75 did not

me until this morning, owing to its being sent on board the " Colorado." In reply to that part of it requiring me to make a report of the part I took in the actions of the 24th and 25th ultimo, I have to state that at 1:20 P. M., on the 24th, I took my position in the line, as directed by you, with a reach

going through and lodging in a beam on the orlop deck, causing the ship to leak badly. A glancing shot struck the stern of the ship, but did no material injury, and some of our running rigging shot away. At 4:10 p. m., having expended all the ammunition for ll-inch and rifles, and nearly all for 9-inch guns, made signal, " Ammunition I am short of," which was replied to "Save some," and immediately after, "Discontinue the action," when anchor, lifted I weighed kedge, and hauled

my

my

out of

my

line.

During this day's action we fired four hundred and ninety-four (494) 9-inch shells, fifty-two (52) ll-inch shell, and seventy -two (72) rifle shell. In conclusion, I beg leave to state that every ofBcer and man on board this ship, under my command, did his duty nobly, and I have yet to hear of any complaint, either of ofBoer or man, except as to the failure to take advantage of our two (3) days' work. With regard to the "damage apparently done to the works," I must confess that I was pay-

OF THE CIVIL WAR. ing luore attention to the proper management of my owtt battery than the general effect but it appears to me utterly impossible that any works could ;

withstand such a fire and not be terribly damaged and I am also fuUy impressed with the belief that by a prompt and vigorous assault late in the afternoon of either day% Fort Fisher might have been taken by a comparatively small force, say one thousand (1,000) resolute men. Fort Fisher was silent, the Mound firing feebly the only active firing from the enemy that I witnessed was from the two or three guns that annoyed me, and as long as my ammunition permitted me to fire rapidly I could keep them pretty quiet. 1 have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. FIBTDLAY SCHEJSrOK, Comrrndore Commanding U. S. Steamer "Powhatan," Sd Division J^orth Atlantic Squadron. ;

;

REPORT OP COMMODORE WILLIAM RADFORD, COMMANDINa U. S- S. "new IRONSIDES." United States Steamer "New Ironsides,") w Ironsides,"] "

707

they took in the action of the 24th and 25th instant, but also their impressions as to the damage done to the enemy's work, the effect of our firing, and the defensibility of the fort after we had finished the

bombardment.

On the first day, the 24th, this ship was in line of attack and opened fire on Fort Fisher at 12:50 P. M., being then within good "10-second" range. The fire was kept up, with occasional Intermissions for the men to rest, till 5:15 (more than four hours), when darkness intervened, and the signal was made to retire. The enemy's fire, during the whole of that time, was much less than that of one of our large ships an occasional shot was fired from Fort Fisher a very feeble and desultory reply to our fire was kept up by the forts between the main work and the Mound battery, which latter was heard from but five or six times during the whole afternoon. In a word, I am satisfied from past experience, that if this ship, or any one of the larger ones, could have gotten near enough, say within two or three hundred yards, she would not only have silenced ;

;

Anchored at sea, Beaufort, bearing ring ." N.N. W., \ Distant about five miles, Decembr eembr 31, 1864. Sir I have the honor to report that, in obedience to your orders, I took possession under the guns of Fort Fisher, from thirteen to fifteen hundred yards distant, or as near as the depth of water would permit, the Monitors "Canonicus," "Monadnock,"and "Mahopac" following the "New Ironsides " in. As soon as I anchored, I opened my starboard battery, and continued a well-directed fire for some five (5) hours. Night coming on, I hauled off, in obedience to orders. On the morning of the 25th the iron-clad division again led in under the guns of Fort Fisher and took the position we occupied the day previous. The "Saugus,'' having arrived the night previous, took her station, and

—

with the others, drove the fort, they only firing one or two guns, and those at long intervals. All the Monitors were handled and fought well. Lieutenant-Commander Belknap took the in-shore berth, and is reported to have dismounted one or more guns in the fort Judging from the immense number of shells which struck the fort, it must have been considerably in jured. Several guns were reported to have been dismounted, two explosions took place, and three this division, in connection

the

men from the guns in

fires.

The face of the fort was very much plowed up by the shells from the fleet. If the fort was uninjured (as a defensive work', no artillery known to modern warfare can injure it. My impression is, that any considerable number of troops could have stormed and taken the fort, im.mediate]y after the second day's bombardment, with but little loss. All the officers and men belonging to the "New Ironsides " served their guns and country well and I am greatly indebted to Lieutenant-Commander Phythian, the executive officer, for his energy and ability in getting the crew and ship in such good ;

fighting order. Very respectfully,

their batteries fully

and

entirely,

but would have

driven every rebel from the point. On the second day, the 25th, this ship was sent to silence some of the enemy's earth-works, which were contiguous to the place fixed upon for the disembarking of the troops, to shell the woods, and to cover their landing. The first troops landed at about 2 P. M. sent all our boats to assist. At 4 o'clock, just two hours after the landing commenced, the General commanding came alongside this ship and said, It has become necessary to re-embark the troops; will you send your boats to assist?" You can judge of my surprise at the turn affairs had taken, for at that moment everything seemed propiThe bombardment was at its height, little or tious. no surf on the beach, and no serious indications of bad weather. Still, the order for retiring had gone forth, and our boats were employed tiU very late (the launch not returning till next morning) in reembarking the troops, the surf not interfering seriously with operations till near midnight, when it ;

your obedient servant,

WM. RiDFORD, Commodore Commanding Iron-clad Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, Commanding N.

Division.

A. Squadron.

REPORT op captain JAMES ALDBN, COMMANDING united states steamer "brooklyn." United States Steamer "Brooklyn, ..( Off Beaufort, N. C, December 30, 1864

—

COMMODORE (NOW EEAE-ADMIBAL) WILLIAM RADFORD.

Sir I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of General Order No. 75, which not only calls upon

'

'

i_

1

'l-l— J._

1

J

"Xl-

j?_

»*

_i_

THE NAVAL HISTORY

708

am

dissatisfaction, I told, was shown by the soldiers and their officers vvlien they were informed that tliey were to re-embark, and it was with some difficulty that they could be made to get into the boats. They were loud in their denunciation of the order

turning them back, saying that they had gone there to take the fort, and tliey were going to do it before they left, etc., etc. The next day, the 86th, the surf was too high for sate transit from the shore, and this vessel was employed in making a reeonnoissanoe of the enemy's works. Nothing new, however, was discovered, and after exchanging a few shots with Fort Fisher we returned to the anchorage for tlie night. The following day all our boats were sent, and, after some difficulty, the remaining troops were safely

embarked. I have endeavored in the above to give you my ideas of the effect of our fire on the enemy's works, which was to almost silence them. In regard to the damage done, it is, under the circumstances, impossible for any one to tell without a closer inspection, for, as you remember at Forts Jackson and St. Pl^ilip, everything from the outside seemed in statu quo, hardly any trace of injury was apparent; but on entering and lookmg around, the terrible effect of the bombardment was manifest at every turn. So, too, at Fort Morgan, little or no injury could be discovered from without, but upon close examination it was found that almo.st every gun on its carriage was seriously damaged, if not entirely destroyed. Now, as to the "defen.sibility " of the fort. The rebels, I am satisfied, considered, from tlie moment that our troops obtained a footing on the shore, the work (battered as it was) was untenaVjle, and were merely waiting for some one to come and take it. The General commanding furnishes us with proof of that fact. I think, in his letter to you, informing you of his determination to withdraw, a copy of which you sent me, he says that " threeor four men

ventured upon the parapet and through the sallyport of the worlv, capturing a horse, which they brought off * * * and also brought away from the parapet the flag of the fort." This was all done in open day and without resistance— if, indeed, there was anybody there who was disposed to question their right to such trophies. From tiiat and other current testimony, lam satisfied that, if our troops had not been stopped in their triumphant march towards Fort Fisher, they would have been in it before dark, in quiet possession without firing as hot. With grfeat respect, I am your obedient servant, James Alden, Captain. Rear-Admibal David D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. ;

REPORT OF COMMANDER DANIEL AMMEN, COMMAIS'DING

U, S. S.

"MOHICAJS'."

States Steamer "Mohican"," Off Beaufort, N. C, December 31, 1864. Admiral I have the honor to acknowledge the IJjsriTED

|

)"

—

receipt of

your General Order No.

75, directing officers to make their report in relation to our attack on Fort Fisher and the adjacent earth-worlis, and also a copy of a communication to you from Major-General Benjamin F. But'er, and, in regard to some points touched upon, you request an opinion. At about 1 1 ;30 A. m. of the 34th, tlie fleet got underway and stood in, in line of battle, towards Fort Fisher, bearing about vvest-,9outhwest, and some six or seven miles distant. The "Mohican" was kept closely in position assigned, following the leading vessel, the frigate " Minnesota," and followed by the frigate " Colorado, and she successively \>y the

commanding

'

other vessels forming the main line. At about 1 P. M., the " Minnesota" sheered in out

of line and took up her position at anchor, opening at once on Fort i'isher, some twenty -one hundred yards distant. As per plan of battle, the "Mohican " was sheered in ahead of her, fired slowly on the fort to get a range and anchored, then opened The fort had briskly with the whole battery. opened on the " Minnesota " and on the " Mohican " The "Colorado' previous to our anchoring. sheered in ahead of us, letting go kedge astern,

and then anchored and opened fiercely on the fort. The vessels forming the line then successively, with more or less success, took up their positions and opened.

The iron-clads, led by the "New Ironsides." had anchored a few minutes preceding the "Minnesota" some five or six hundred yards to the northward and westward, and were slowly getting their range when we anchored, and the outer line of vessels moved into position after the main line had anchored and opened on the Mound and several detached casemated guns. The fire from the forts became weak as the vessels anchored and opened fire. It was soon apparent that they could not work their barbette guns without great loss of life, and the guns' crews, no doubt, retreated under shelter, with a few exceptions, where high traverses and favorable angles gave them great Different

protection.

casemated guns,

particularly

those

mounted in detached mounds and towards the Mound, continued to fire slowly, and evidently with not much effect, nor would the position of tlie guns The whole body of served favor an effective fire. Fort Fisher was filled with bursting shells, andonly at long intervals, if at aU, was a gun fired from the main work. In the meantime, owing to the wind and the set of the tide, I found that the use of the propeller and the helm would no longer enable me to bring the broadside to bear, and was obliged to weigh anclior and manoeuvre under steam, holding our position as nearly as possible, and avoiding interfering with the firing of the other vessels. After exhausting all the filled 9-inch shells on board ready for use, the "Mohican" was withdrawn from the line at about 4:10 P. M., making signal to you of the cause, and we commenced filling shells without delay. After sunset the fleet withdrew, and the "Mohican" ran into line and

anchored.

At about 9 A. M. of the 35th, signal was made to get underway and form line of battle. The " Mohican " took her position, and the fleet stood in to the attack. When nearly under fire, I was directed verbally from you "not to take position until further orders." The " Minnesota," the leading vessel of the main line, proceeded in and anchored, got underway, and, after various attem|its, obtained a well -chosen position, the main line awaiting her movements. The ironclads, having Ijreceded during this time, were in position, firing slowly, and receiving a part of the fire of Fort Fisher. After the position of the " Minnesota" was satisfactory, I received orders from you about noon to take position close astern of the "New Ironsides,'' which I did without delay, firing slowly until a good range was obtained, then opened briskly on the fort. I was enabled to see, through the absence of smoke, that our fire was very effective, delivered at a short ten second range. One of the rebel guns was seen to be dismounted by our fire. Half an hour after we had anchored, the "Colorado" passed ahead of the "Minnesota" and into position, anchoring and delivering a very effective fire. The wliole line soon took position, and opened very heavily, and evidently with great effect, driving the rebels from tlieir guns, with a few exceptions, as those in casemates and other places sheltered and distant. The position of the "Mohican" enabled me to see well, as I was first at anchor within half

OF THE CIVIL WAR. a ship's length of the "New Ironsides,'' and, finding that anchoring impeded an effective use of the battery, I weighed, and, in delivering fire, drifted one or two hundred yards nearer the fort. At 3:05 P. M. the supply of ten-second fuses and the rifle ammunition was exhausted, and the " Mohican " was withdrawn from action for the purpose of obtaining more, speaking the " Malvern for the purpose, and obtaining none. Not being directed to go under fire again, we remained spectators near "Minnesota" until about 4 p. m., when I rethe ceived orders to aid in debarking troops, and proto execute but, instead of debarking, aided ceeded in bringing off the soldiers that had already reached the shore. It has not been my lot to witness any operations comparable in force or in effect to the bombardment of Fort Fisher by the fleet, and I feel satisfied that any attempt to keep out of their bomb-proofs or to work their guns would have been attended with great loss of life to the rebels, and would have proven a fruitless attempt. On the first day we delivered two hundred and seventeen (317) 9-inch shells, fifty -nine 59) one hundred-pound rifles, and eighty-nine (89) thirty-pound rifle shells. On the second day we delivered one hundred and three (103) 9 inch shells, twenty (30) one hundred-pound rifles, and twenty-five (35) thirty-

rying the work would be greatly increased by such disposition, without loss of life to the assaulting forces. I liave the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Dah^ibl Ammen, Commander.

Rear- Admiral D. D. Porter,

Commanding North

'

;

pound rifle shells, making a total of five hundred and thirteen. Our firing was effective as well as rapid, and I have to express my high aopreciation of the ability and zeal of Lieutenant J. I). Marvin, the executive officer of this vessel, and of Acting-Master William Burditt, whose long and varied professional experience proved useful; Acting-Boatswain Josiah 13. Aiken, owing to a deficiency of officers, had charge of the one hundred-pounder rifle and served

admirably. I have to express my satisfaction at the excellent behavior of the officers and crew, and do not doubt that, when the occasion arrives when they should do so, they will stand to their guns as long as enough men remain to serve them. In relation to the effect of the fire of the fleet on the fort, I beg leave to express my congratulations, as I did verbally on meeting you after the action. It did not require a visit to the fort to see that enormous traverses were nearly levelled, as at the southeast angle. The stockade or abatis must have been much shattered, and the debris from the parapets must have filled in the ditch greatly. I feel satisfied that everything was effected that can be bj' powerful batteries against a sand-work, and that we could and can keep the enemy in their bomb-proofs pending an advance of troops to the foot of the parapet. The official letter of General Butler referred to, states that General Weitzel advanced his skirmish line within fifty yards of the fort, while the garrison was kept in their bomb-proofs by the fire of the Navy, and so closely that three or four men of the picket line ventured upon the parapet and through the sallyport of the work, is, I think, entirely confirmatory as to the effectiveness of our fire. He adds: "This was done while the shells of the Navy were falling about the heads of the daring men who entered the work ;" but he appears to forget that, at any given signal from an assaulting column, this fire would cease, and the enemy be found not defending the parapet, but safely stowed away in bomb-proofs. I do not know what more tould be asked of naval guns than to afford a safe approach to the foot of the parapet, with no lines of the enemy drawn up to receive our forces beyond that, I suppose everything would depend upon the relative forces of the combatants and the vigor of the assault; and although the work might not, in a military sense, be much injured, I would think the likehhood of carit

;

709

Atlantic Squadron.

REPORT OP mbutenant-commandbr m. sicard, commanding u. s. s. "seneca." United States Steamer " Seneca," i

December 31, 1864. f ADMlRAly—I would respectfully report that, in the action of the 24th and 35th instant, this vessel was with the vessels on the extreme rigtit that wera operating with the iron-clads. It was evident from the first half-hour of the engagement that the enemy did not intend seriously to reply to the fire of the fleet. This vessel fired one hundred and twelve 11-inch shells and one hundred and forty 30 - pounder Parrott shells at the northeast face of Fort Fisher during the two days'

bombardment.

Our division fired quite slowly on the second day, and as I was quite close to the fort in the afternoon, and only fired at long intervals, the enemy fired at me several times with a heavy rifle, which, however, did no damage, being evidently hurriedly pointed. This gun could have been silenced in a few minutes if the vessels had chosen to throw away shot on it; and as it was, by an occasional shot from the divi ion, it soon ceased its fire. I refrained from firing much towards the close of the second day's work, because I expected an assault by the troops, and I wished to save my shrapnel for the purpose of covering their advance. I was much disappointed that the Army did not make an attempt on the fort. I saw the advance

of a skirmish line, and of a reserve (comprising in all about 80 men). They advanced quite close to the works within pistol-shot. After that I lost sight of them until I saw two returning along the beach with the flag of

—

the fort, which had been shot away about an hour previously by a Monitor. At dusk, and for a short time after, there was some musketry-firing between this skirmish line and the fort, but up to dark no attempt was made by any adequate body of the Army to assault the fort. It is my opinion that the fire of the fort was completely under the control of the fleet, and that we could stop it whenever we chose, as the fire by the two frigates on the afternoon of December 23th abundantly showed. In fact, the fort was silent nine-tenths of the time that w; were engaging it. I am furthermore of the opiuion that the fort could not hold out against a combined attack of the

Army and Navy. I think it a good proof of the effectiveness of the fire of the fleet, that, though our skirmishers advanced so close to the fort, no serious fire was opened on them. Indeed, I do not know from luy own observation (and I was in a good position to that they were fired on at all in this first adsee vance and I scarcely think that the enemy would have suffered his flag to be upon the ground so long after it was shot away, though he must have known that we were landing troops, and that from the flag's position it was very liable to capture), unless he had been fearful to venture out and recover it under our fire. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Montgomery Sicard, ,

;

i

Lieutenant-Commander, Commanding

IT.

" Seneca. ^^

Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron.

S.

S.

CH A PTER SECOND ATTACK ON FOKT FISHER.

—

—

Preparations for the Attack. The Fleet withstands the Elements. General Terry arrives and prepares to Co-operate with the Navy. General Butler vs. General Terry.— Landing of Troops. Iron-clads Open Fire on the Batteries.— Plan of General Attack by Sailors Land and throw up Intrenchments. Army and Navy. Bombardment of the Forts. Sailors make a Gallant Assault, BUT ARE Repulsed with Great Loss. — The Soldiers surprise the Confederates in Rear of Fortifications. Fort Fisher Captured. Fearless Gallantry displayed by Troops. Serious Damage to Confederate Cause. Grappling for Torpedoes.—The " Tallahassee " and " Chickamauga " Blown Up.— Evacuation of Fort Caswell and Works on Smith's Island. Wilmington, N. C, Blockaded. List of Officers Killed and Wounded during Attack on Fort Fisher. General Orders of Second Attack. Reports of the Admiral and other Officers. Cases of individual Feats of Heroism. Casualties. Evacuation of Forts along Cape Fear River. Capture of Smithville. List of Guns mounted IN chain of Forts. Bombardment and Capture of Forts Anderson, Strong and Lee. Scrimmage with Infernal Machines. Capture of Wilmington, N. C. Firing National Salutes. Additional Reports of Officers. Operations after Capture of Fort Fisher. Confederate Gun-boats and their Movements in James River. Miscellaneous Operations of North Atlantic Squadron, prom October, 1864, to April, 1865.

—

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—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

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—

—

— —

—

reader can imagine the disappointment in the North when the failure to talce Fort Fisher was announced, and the numerous reports that were flying about must liave

THE

considerably mystified the public. One said the whole expedition had gone back to Hampton Roads, and the chances were that, in the estimation of the public, the Navy should be consigned to oblivion. What an ignominious fate that would have been However, the Admiral's equanimity was not in the least disturbed. He knew that this set-back was one of the chances of war, and did not regret it, as it would show the stuff

American naval officers were made of. Here was a large fleet of over seventy vessels, most of them too large to enter any harbor. They had expended nearly all their coal and ammunition the commanders were obliged to anchor their vessels off Beaufort, N. C, on an open coast, with pro;

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

from the northwest winds, and with a southeast gale blowing at least once a week. Yet they were ordered to repair there at once and fill up with coal and ammunition without delay. To the Admiral's great surprise, he found that General Butler had seized a large quantity of coal (which the Navy had in re-

tection only

serve) for his transports to get home with, and that the Chief of the Bureau of Equip-

ment, through some misunderstanding, had ordered that no more be sent to Beaufort. The naval ammunition had not all arrived from Hampton Roads, and the ships bade fair to be found unprepared in case General Grant ordered the troops to return. No time was lost in sending dispatches overland to Norfolk, directing Lieutenant-Commander Nichols to hurry forward every

pound

of coal

and ammunition

available.

Fortunately, a fair wind brought all this down to Beaufort, and matters looked more

THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE cheerful; the Wavy also seized the Army coal in Beaufort, upon the plea that "necessity

knows no

lav/."

It is difficult to

appreciate the hardships

and delays encountered by the fleet in coaling and getting on board the ammunition. Gale after gale swept over the coast, through all of which the ships-of-war, the coal and ammunition vessels had to ride it out. Many anchors and chains were lost, ships were damaged and boats swamped; but no one left his post. There was a dogged determination to take Fort Fisher even if the Navy had to do it alone. When the wind howled at night, and the sound of the breakers was heard booming in the distance, the Admiral would go to sleep feeling as secure as if nothing was going on, knowing that he had good sailors with brave hearts in his ships, and that no one would desert his post any more than he would in time of action. Every morning, at daylight, the officer of the watch would come down and report, "The fleet is all right, sir;" and answering, "I knew it," the Admiral would turn over and take another sleep. There was all kinds of flghting in the Navy, but this was a new phase of the matter

— fighting the elements as men

never fought them before.

was a new

It

school of practice to the officers, who had been taught that ours was the worst coast in the world, and that a vessel could not there ride out a gale at her anchors. If they profited by the experience they gained on that occasion, they should feel amply repaid for any anxieties they may have felt. An officer should realize that great risks should be run to insure success. do not wonder that Admiral Farragut said " Porter will lose that fleet he is rash to undertake operations when the elements are so opposed to him." It was not judicious in him, it is true, and was not an evidence of what he would have done himself but if he had remembered the perseverance shown in getting his vessels over the bar at New Orleans, when all others had given it up, he would have said otherwise. The moment Butler's troops re-embarked, the Admiral sent a swift steamer to General Grant and told him the situation of affairs, urging him to send " other troops and

We

:

:

;

another General.'" Grant had made up his to do so the moment he heard of

mind

Butler's failure.

The Admiral was daily

expecting this force and dreaded its arrival before he was ready. It was a joyful sight when he saw the signals flying from each masthead, reporting, "All ready for action." He had watched all the operations with a critical eye and could see no one lagging. He endeavored, with the means at his disposal, to be impartial in supplying "Mio mQf£iT»iQlo r\f

-xxrciT*

T .of.

Qmr

rvno

+.Vn*n

V nf

CIVIL WAR.

711

a

fleet of seventy vessels -of- war to be coaled and supplied with ammunition at sea, and all to be done in time to co-operate with an army that could be moved in a week We recollect that some of the old officers with whom we sailed at different times would not go within ten miles of Cape Fear shoals in good weather, and would think any man crazy who was rash enough to anchor off !

Beaufort one night, much less ride out a gale there. It was rough practice, and we sincerely hope the lesson will not be lost on the young men now coming forward, many of whom participated in the events of that period.

Many

of

them were unknown

to

fame, but they performed their parts well, and will show hereafter of what material the American Navy is made. On January 8th, 1865, General A. H. Terry arrived at Beaufort, and communicated the intelligence that he was in command of the army that was to co-operate with the Navy in capturing Fort Fisher. The Navy was all ready for its share of the work; but, as a storm was approaching, the Admiral advised Terry of the fact, and suggested that his transports should go in-

where there was plenty of room for To his disappointment, Terry declined any advice, and decided that they should ride it out with the Navy. This beinning did not augur well for a good unferstanding between General Terry and the Admiral. Terry was rather cold and formal in his manner, and did not meet the Admiral at once with the frankness of a true soldier. He had, however, been a long time under the command of General Butler, who, for a wonder, had treated him very well, because he saw he was a good soldier, and a man of talent besides. Butler also relied on Terry to help him over the rough spots of soldier - life. Of course, Terry had heard Ms side of the story, and was cautious in his first approaches; but all this wore off like snow before a summer's sun when Terry found that the Admiral had but one object in view the capture of Fort Fisher, and did not care how it was done or who got the credit of it. On his side,

them.

—

visit Terry was quite a different man, and they soon understood each other. Here was a different person from the Admiral's last "confederate" we wonder what Butler would say at our calling him a confederate who was fond of display, and whose staff was exceptionally large. Terry had no staff, wore no spurs, and we do not think he owned a sword. He had a well-formed head, full of sense, which served him in lieu of feathers, sword, boots, spurs and staff of which a General can General Terry was achave too many. companied by General Comstock, of the

second

—

—

—

F.ncrinfifirs-

'who had

hfifin

on Rntlfir's staff

via

L

r

tjj-^

and this fact made Admiral careful about expressing his views in his presence. He learned finally to appreciate Comstock as a good officer. The Admiral was made to sav a spiteful thing of him by the reporter of the War Committee, an untrue in the formerexpedition,

the

statement; and, if the General or his heirs are living when this is published, they will alDsolve the Admiral fi'om saying or meaning anything disrespectful concerning him. General Grant thought highly of Comstock, and that was the latter's recommendation with the Navy. If Comstock had not been made by that same reporter of the War Committee to say some untrue things about the Admiral, the latter would have taken to him at first sight and endorsed him as an '"A No. 1" engineer, as, no doubt, he was. Admiral Porter offered to do all he could for General Terry, and explained to him how matters stood. The Admiral was not shown Terry's instructions, but afterwards saw them printed in General Grant's report. They were, in effect, *' to defer to Admiral Porter's opinions in all that related to nautical matters, and to confide in his judgment, as he ivas an officer tvho had the nerve to carry Old anything he might propose." Had the Admiral been shown these orders, Terry and himself would have understood each other at once; but we do not think the General appreciated the Navy until after the capture of Fort Fisher, when he saw the fruits of its labors, and witnessed the unselfish sincerity

with which

all

worked

for

the public good. It was arranged that the fleet should sail from Beaufort on the 12th of January. This was done the Navy sailing in three

—

the Army transports in another. Terry preserved quite as good order among his vessels, in the matter of sailing, as the Admiral did with his which is saying a great deal. At 8 o'clock A. M., on the 13th of January, I860, the Navy commenced to land General Terry's troops, batteries and provisions, and by 2 o'clock there were 8,000 troops on shore, with all their stores and munitionsof-war. The Admiral then got underway, making signal to the fleet, and attacked the batteries, by way of diverting the minds of some of the soldiers who had been dropped into the water. So Butler would have been landed, but he would not be made a hero of on any such terms, and so lost his chances for the Presidency. Quite a change had been made in the Confederate arrangements since the fleet lines,

—

The enemy gained a great deal of experience in the first bombardment, and had strengthened every weakness that had developed under the last left Fort Fisher.

hammering from

the ships.

They had

also

J.J.J.KJ

J.

\^A\.j.

repaired all damages as far as was necessary to make the fort more enduring, and had placed a larger force within the works. The Confederate authorities had in the first instance placed too much confidence in their strong sand-works, and had no idea of the effect of a steady naval fire from three or four hundred heavy guns; but having realized this, they did the best they could in twenty days to remedy all defects. The authorities at Richmond became very much alarmed when they heard how near the fort came to falling into Federal hands, and, in consequence. President Davis selected General Bragg to command at its second defence. Bragg's name had once

been a household word in the United States, but he was not so well thought of by some of the Southern politicians. It was a foregone conclusion to them that Fort Fisher would fall, under his management of affairs. To do justice to Bragg, the best General in the Southern Confederacy could not have held Fort Fisher, with the force he had, against the terrific fire that was poured upon the works by the Federal fleet. The most important matter to the Confederates was to prevent a landing by the Federal troops, or to dislodge them as soon as they got on shore, and drive them into the sea; but this had been anticipated by having a line of sixteen or seventeen gunboats anchored inside of the transports within one hundred yards of the beach, the " Brooklyn " with her heavy battery lying in the centre of the line and, before a single boat was allowed to leave a transport, there was opened all along the line such a tremendous fire from the vessels reaching as far as Cape Fear River, about a thousand yards distant, that no troops could withstand it five minutes. General Terry landed his troops as rapidly as one hundred and twenty boats could put them on shore. With their intrenching tools, within an hour after landing, they had thrown up heavy intrenchments right across the land ;

and manned them so that at the very first step the fort was comparatively cut off from all support. By two o'clock, 8,000 troops had been landed, and the artillery posted behind the breastworks. The place of landing was admirably selected, the troops being disembarked just above the neck of the Sound, interposing a small stretch of water between them and an attacking force, or compelling such force to work around the lower extreme of the Sound, either of which movements would have to be executed under the fire of the

to the river,

whole fleet. General Hoke had the immediate com-

mand

of the Confederate troops, and it was his purpose to attack the Federals as they landed from the boats. His cavalry was

ii'^

THE NA VAL HISTORY

714

thrown out on the right flank to observe the Federal movements, and report the first step towards establishing a line across the neck of land to the river but it was found in the morning that, owing to the want of vigilance on the part of the Confederates, the Federals had laid out a second line of defence during the night ; General Terry's troops, passing between Hoke's cavalry and threading their way through the thick undergrowth of the marsh, made their advance to the river, and the next morning held an intrenched line on Hoke's right flank, extending nearly across the peninsula. General Bragg at first gave the order to charge the Federal troops in their works; but after a reconnaissance, which discovered the Federal force and position, he determined to withdraw, after managing to increase the number of men in the fort to 2,500, which was the force that manned the works on the second attack. The Federals, the same afternoon of the landing, pushed a reconnaissance within five hundred yards of the fort, and held the point attained. While all these Army movements were f:oing on, the fleet was moving into position or the attack. This time a different plan ;

Line No. 2, " Minnesota," Commodore Joseph Lanman leading, consisted of the " Colorado," Commodore H. K. Thatcher; "Wabash," Captain M. Smith ;" Susquehanna," Commodore S. W. Godon " Powhatan," Commodore J. F. Schenck; "Juni;

Lieutenant-Commander T. S. Phelps " Shenandoah," Captain D. B. Ridgley " Ticonderoga," Captain Charles Steedman; " Vanderbilt," Captain C. W. Pickering " Mackinaw," Commander J. C. Beaumont; "Tuscarora," Commander J. M. Frailey. Line No. 3, "Santiago de Cuba," Captain O. S. Glisson leading, consisted of the "Fort Jackson," Captain B. F. Sands; " Osceola," Commander J. M. B. Clitz; "Sassacus," Lieutenant-Commander J. L.

ata,"

;

was pursued from the last. The "Iron(Commodore Eadf ord) leading, was followed in by the Monitors " Saugus," "Canonicus," " Monadnock" and " Maho-

sides "

pac," taking a position within eight hundred yards of the fort, and much nearer than on the last occasion. At 7:30 a. m. the forts opened on them as they approached, but they took up their position without firing a gun until they were ready, and then opened their batteries. In this way the enemy was tempted to engage the iron-clads, so that their points of fire could be observed and the positions of their guns noted, thus

dismount them. When were well engaged. Commander Rhind was sent in a boat to plant a buoy in four fathomj of water at the point where the "Minnesota" was to anchor, and

showing how

to

the iron-clads

also to serve as a guide for the other vessels. The fleet stood in, in three columns. Line No. 1, led by the "Brooklyn," Captain James Alden, consisted of the " Mohican,"

LIEUTENAKT-COMMAKDER (NOW COMMODORE)

Davis;

"Chippewa,"

Ammen; "Tacony," Lieutenant - Commander W. T. Truxtun

mander

E.

" Kansas," Lieutenant

tanza,"

Commander

Daniel

;

Watmough

;

-

"Yantic,"

Commander

P. G.

Lieutenant-Com-

mander T. C. Harris; "Unadilla," Lieutenant-Commander F. M. Ramsey; "Huron," - Commander T. O. Selfridge "Maumee," Lieutenant-Commander Ralph Chandler; "Pequot," Lieutenant - Commander D. L. Braine; "Pawtucket," Commander S. H. Spotts "Seneca," Lieutenant-Commander M. Sicard "Pontoosac," Lieutenant - Commander W. G. Temple ' Nereus," Commander J. C. Howell.

Lieutenant

;

;

;

COMMANDING

Commander

U.

S.

"

PEQUOT

"

D. L.

BEAME,

"

Lieutenant

Potter; R. R. C. H. B. Caldwell

E.

'

;

-

Com-

Cuyler," " Mara-

Commander George Rhode Island," Commander

Lieutenant

W. Young;

S.

-

D. Trenchard; " Monticello," Lieutenant W. B. Cushing; "Alabama," Acting-VolunS.

teer-Lieutenant A. R. Langthorne; " Montgornery," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant T. Dunn " Iosco," Commander John Guest. The reserve division, under LieutenantCommander J. H. Upshur, in the " A.. D. Vance," consisted of the "Britannia," Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant W. A. Sheldon; "Tristram Shandy," Acting- Volun.

;

OF THE CIVIL WAR. - Lieutenant F. M. Green: "Lillian," Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant T. A. Harris " Fort Donaldson," Acting-Master G. W. Frost; "Wilderness." Acting-Master H. " Aries. " Acting- Volunteer - LieuArey tenant F. S. Wells; "Governor Buckingham," Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant J. Macdiarmid. The "Nansemond," Acting-Master J. H. Porter; "Little Ada," ActingMaster S. P. Crafts; " Eolus," ActingMaster E. S. Keyser, and " Eepublic," Acting-Ensign J. W. Bennett, being used as

teer

;

;

reserve vessels. Some of the vessels that

accompanied the expedition were badly damaged in various ways. The " Sassacus " had both rudders disabled, but her energetic commander, Lieutenant - Commander J. L. Davis, was ready in time. The "Mackinaw," Commander J. C. Beaumont, had one of her boilers knocked to pieces, but her commander would go with but one boiler. The " Osceola," Commander J. M. B. Clitz, in the same condition— one boiler smashed up with shot and a hole near the bottom was ready for anything, and no complaint was heard from any one. With such a disposition on the part of the officers, the Admiral anticipated the most favorable results. last

715

" Brooklyn " was ordered to throw in a fire, to keep the enemy from

pretty quick

working their guns. The attack was commenced at 1 p. M. and lasted till long after dark. One or two guns only were fired this day from the upper batteries, inflicting no serious damage on any of the vessels, except cutting away the maintopmast of the " Huron " and hitting the " Unadilla " once or twice. These guns were always silenced when a rapid fire was opened. The attack of the gun-boats lasted until long after dark, and one vessel was employed at a time (an hour each) in firing throughout the night.

On this evening General Terry went on board to see the Admiral and arrange the plan of battle for the next day. The troops had got rested after their long confinement on shipboard and sea-voyage, and had recovered from the drenching they received when landing through the

—

The different divisions, having formed into line of battle, steamed towards Fort Fisher, the " Colorado" leading (the " Minnesota " having a hawser around her propeller).

The

—

vessels took their positions

handsomely having had some practice at that place— and delivered their fire as they

The rapid fire of the Monitors and " Ironsides " kept the enemy partly away from their guns, and they inflicted no damage on the fleet, their firing being very unsteady indeed, it was strange how they could fire at all. After the first and second lines got fairly anchored in position, the bombardment was very rapid and severe. The fire was continued without intermission from 4 o'clock p. m. until some time after dark, when the wooden vessels were ordered to haul out and anchor. The Monitors and " Ironsides " were directed to keep up the fire during the night. The enemy had long ceased to respond, and kept in his bomb-proofs. It was seen that the bombardment had damaged some of the enemy's guns, and it was determined, before the Army went to the assault, that there should be no guns within reach to arrest its progress. Having found that the enemy could still bring some heavy guns to bear, which annoyed thefieet somewhat, the Admiral determined to try another plan, and, on the morning of the 14th, ordered in all the small gun-boats carrying 11-inch guns, to fire slowly and try to dismount the guns on the face of the works fell in.

—

SURGEON (NOW MEDICAl DIRECTOR) GEORGE MAULSBY, FLEET-SURGEON.

Having been long enough on their native element, they were eager for the attack. It was arranged between the General and Admiral that the ships should all go in early, and fire rapidly through the day until the time for the assault arrived. surf.

The hour named was 3 p. M. The Admiral detailed 1,600 sailors and 400 marines to accompany the troops the

—

board the sea - face, while the troops assaulted on the land side. Many of the sailors were armed with cutlasses and revolvers, while a number had Sharpe's sailors to

We

insert the order or short carbines. of attack on the fort, and the manner of ap-

rifles

proaching

it.

The Admiral and General had a

perfect

THE NAVAL HISTORY

710

signals by the Army Code, by which they could converse at pleasure, even amid the din of battle, when they were nearly a mile apart. At 9 a. m., on" the 15th, the fleet was directed by signal to attack in three lines, or assume position, as shown in the plan. The vessels all reached their stations at about 11 a. m., and each opened fire when anchored. The same guns in the upper batteries opened again this day, and with some effect; but no vessel was injured enough to interfere in the least with her eflBciency.

The fire was kept up furiously all day. The Mound Hill Battery returned a rather galling fire with its heavy guns, but the enemy was driven from its works into the bomb-proofs, so that no vessel was in the least disabled. The signal for the vessels to " change the direction of their fire," so that the troops might assault, was expected at 2 o'clock. The sailors and marines by digging ditches, or rifle-pits, had worked to within two hundred yards of the fort, and were all ready. The troops, however, did not get into position until later, and the signal was not made until 3 o'clock. The vessels then changed their fire to the upper batteries, all the steam-whistles were blown, and the troops and sailors dashed ahead, nobly vying with each other in the endeavor to reach the top of the parapet.

The fleet had evidently injured all the large guns, so that they could not be fired to annoy any one. The sailors went to the assault by the fiank along the beach, while the troops rushed in at the left through the palisades that had been knocked away by the fire of the fleet. All the arrangements on the part of the sailors were well carried out. They succeeded in getting up to within a short distance of the fort, and lay securely in their ditches, with but a few

killed or

marines were

wounded

to this point.

The

have held the

rifle-pits

and cover the boarding party, but

failed to

do

to

On rushing through

the palisades, which reached from the fort to the sea, the head of the column received a murderso.

ous fii-e of grape and canister, which failed, however, to check the officers and sailors who were leading in their advance. The parapets then swarmed with Confederates, who poured in a destructive fire of nmsketry. At this moment, had the covering party of marines performed their duty, every one of the enemy on the parapet must have been killed or wounded. The Admiral witnessed the whole affair, saw how recklessly the enemy exposed themselves, and what an advantage they gave the marine sharp-shooters, whose guns were scarcely fired, or fired with no precision. Notwithstanding the hot fire, the officers and sailors in tlie lead rushed on, some even reaching tlie parapet, while a large

number reached the ditch. was swept from the parapet

The advance

like chaff; and, notwithstanding all the efforts made by commanders of companies to stop them, the men in the rear, seeing the slaughter in front, and that they were not covered by the marines, commenced to retreat; and, as there is no stopping a sailor if he fails on

such an occasion at the first rush, the assault on this front had to be abandoned. In the meantime, the troops on their side were more successful. The Confederates seeing so large a body of men advancing on the sea-front, were under the impression that this was the main attack. They, therefore, concentrated their forces at that point, and when they gave three cheers, thinking they had gained the day, they received a volley of musketry in their backs from the gallant soldiers who had been successful in gaining the highest parapets. Then commenced such a system of fighting as has seldom been beaten. The soldiers had gained two traverses, while the Admiral directed the " Ironsides " to fire on the traverses occupied by the enemy Four, five

and

six traverses were carried by the troops in the space of an hour. These traverses were immense bomb-proofs, about sixty feet long, fifty feet wide and twenty feet high; seventeen of them in all being on the northeast face. Between each traverse, or bomb-proof, were one or two heavy guns. The fighting lasted until 10 o'clock at night, the " Ironsides " and the Monitors firing through the traverses in advance of the troops, while the level strip of land called Federal Point was enfiladed by the ships, to prevent reinforcements reaching the

enemy.

General Terry himself went into the fort, and the Admii-al kept up constant communication with him, until three hearty cheers, which were taken up by the fleet, announced the capture of Fort Fisher. Finding that the General felt anxious about the enemy receiving reinforcements, the sailors and marines relieved the troops in the outer line of defences, and a large number of soldiers were thus enabled to join the forces in the fort. It will not be amiss to remark here, that we never saw anything like the fearless gallantry and endurance displayed by the troops they fought like lions, and knew no such word as fail. They fought and chased the enemy from traverse to traverse, until they finally reached Battery Lamb, or the Mound, a work extending about 1,400 yards. At this point the Confederates broke and fled to the end of Federal Point. The victorious troops followed, and the enemy surrendered at dis-

—

cretion.

Thus ended one of the most remarkable on record, and one which did more damage to the Confederate cause than any battles

OF THE CIVIL WAR. Twentyhundred Confederates manned Fort Fisher eighteen hundred were taken prisoners; the rest were killed or wounded.

that took place during the war. five

:

We visited Fort Fisher and the adjoining works, and found their strength greatly beyond what had been conceived. An engineer might be excused for saying, they could not be captured except by regular

We

siege.

wonder even now how

it

was

done. The Avork was really stronger than the Malakoff Tower, which defied so long the combined power of France and England, and yet it was captured by a handful of men under the fire of the guns of the fleet, and in seven hours after the attack began in earnest. cannot say too much in praise of the conduct of the fleet during the time it had been engaged in these operations. do not know an officer in command who did not perform his duty to the best of his ability. There may have been some who did better than others, but, after all, that may be a mere matter of opinion, or a matter of prejudice or partiality all did their best. To make invidious distinctions would be causing matter for dispute, and we shall be content with saying that the Government might well be proud of those to whom it intrusted the command of its vessels. The result of the attempt on the sea-face

We

717

After three of the gun-boats were inand under the Mound, the Confederates prepared to evacuate Fort Caswell. Two steamers near the fort (the "Tallahassee" and "Chickamauga") were set on fire and blew up with a heavy explosion after the enemy had set fire to the fort. This was followed by some minor explosions. The barracks were apparently in flames all night, and some small works between Fisher and Caswell were blown up. The enemy commenced burning up everything in Wilmington, and were getting away as fast as they could. In the meantime a large force of gun-boats occupied the river between Caswell and Wilmington. The latter place was hermetically sealed against tide.

side the bar

We

—

was not what the Admiral expected when he planned the attack but it would have succeeded without severe loss had the marines done better. As it was, the Navy lost heavily, including some gallant officers who fell on the ramparts. The success was so great that the country should not complain. Men, it seems, had to die that this Union might live, and the Constitution under which we have gained our prosperity be maintained. We regret the dead heroes and shed a tear over their remains; but, if the Confederates had succeeded, we should have nothing but regret left us, and our lives would have been spent in terror and sorrow. As soon as the forts were taken, the lightdraft gun-boats were pushed into the river that is, as soon as they could find and buoy out the channel and take up the torpedoes, which were very thick. The searchers found the wires leading to many, and underran them with boats. The torpedoes were too heavy to lift with ordinary means, and some of them must have contained at least a ton of powder. The Confederates seemed disposed to pay the fieet back for the famous torpedo "Louisiana," which exploded in their harbor and did them no harm. There was some difficulty in getting the vessels across the bar and into the river, as the ciiannel was very narrow and the bar very shoal a few of them got ;

—

;

^A

1

J.

,„i„.;i

„*e „„„,•„

„,;4-L,

j-u„

ACTING-ENSIGN (NOW COMMANDER) EOBLEY OF THE U.

S.

S.

D.

EVANS, U.

S.

N.

"POWHATAN."

blockade - runners, and no " Alabaraas " or "Floridas," " Chickamaugas " or " Tallahassees " could ever fit out again from that port. Forty-four thousand shells were ex-

pended in the bombardment and as many more were left on hand. The fieet was much indebted to the Bureau of Ordnance for so promptly supplying it with guns and ammuniiion. The number of guns captured in Fort Fisher amounted to seventy - five, many of them superb rifle-pieces of very heavy All those facing the ships were calibre. dismounted or injured, so they could not be used, or the muzzles filled up with sand or dirt, which rendered them useless. There were only two that were not rendered per-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

718

OF OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED DURING THE ATTACK UPON FORT FISHER. Killed in the assault — Lieutenant S. W. Preston, lilST

Flag-Lieutenant Lieutenant B. H. Porter, commanding flagship "Malvern": Assistant Surgeon Wm. Longshaw, U. 8. steamer "Minnesota" Acting-Ensign Robert Wiley, U. S. steamer " Mont;

:

gomery

"

Killed by explosion of magazine in Fort Fisher, January 16 Acting - Assistant Paymaster R. H. Gillett, U. S. steamer "Gettysburg"; Acting-Ensign J. S. Leighton, U. S. steamer " Gettysburg." Wounded in the assault Lieutenant-Commander W. N. Allen, U. 8. steamer " Tuscarora " Lieutenant G. M. Bache, U. 8. steamer "Powhatan" Lieutenant R. H. Lamson, commanding U. 8. steamer "Gettysburg"; Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant F. F. Baury, U. 8. steamer "Colorado''; Ensign R. D. Evans, U. 8. steamer "Powhatan"; Ensign Ira Harris, U. 8. steamer "Powhatan"; Acting -Ensign L. R. Chester, U. 8. steamer "Pontoosuc"; Acting Ensign James Bertwistle, U. 8. steamer " Minnesota " Acting - Ensign F. A. O'Connor, Acting-Ensign G. W. U. 8. steamer "Minnesota" Coffin, U. 8. steamer "Gettysburg"; Acting-Ensign B. Wood, U. 8. steamer "Tristram Shandy"; Acting-Master A. J. Louch, U. 8. steamer " Mackinaw " Acting-Master's Mate E. K. Green, U. S. steamer "MacKinaw"; Aoting-Master's Mate J. M.

—

—

;

;

;

;

;

Simms, TJ. 8. steamer "Minnesota"; Acting-MasMate A. P. Aldridge, U. 8. steamer "Tusca-

ter's

rora."

Total

officers killed

and wounded,

21.

tion to cover the landing, and drive away the rebels, if there are any. The landing will probably be made at the same place as before. Line No. 2 will anchor where their guns can reach (somewhere in about five fathoms water and not less), and where they can fire clear of the first line.

Line No. 3 will keep underway a short distance outside the other lines, ready to act as circumstances may require. The transports will anchor in line outside Una No. 1, and be ready to deliver their troops as fast as the boats go alongside. All the vessels will lower their boats as quick as they anchor, and send them to the transports; line No. 3 doing the same. When the troops are all landed, the boats will be hoisted upon the port side, and those belonging on the starboard side will be secured alongside for towing, so that they can be manned at a moment's notice when the assault comes off. If practicable, the "New Ironsides" and the Monitors will be ordered in to bombard the fort and dismount the guns while the troops are getting on shore. This will be done when the signal is made to the " New Ironsides" to attack, the Monitors following her. While the vessels are firing, the commanders will keep an intelligent officer at the maintopmast-head to regulate the firing and tell the effect of the shot. The commanders of smaller vessels will have a like look-out kept at the main-mast-head. The officers aloft will note all information that may be valuable, as they can see what is going on in the river inside.

KILLED,

UPON FORT FISHER, INCLUDING THE EXPLOSION OF THE MAGAZINE. Flag-ship "Malvern," 3 killed and 1 wounded; "Saugus,"! wounded; "Pontoosuc," 7 wounded; "Kansas," 1 wounded " Tacony," 3 killed and 13 " Canonicus," 3 wounded " Ticonwounded deroga," 1 killed and 6 wounded Iosco," 2 killed and 13 wounded; "Shenandoah,'' 6 killed and 5 missing; "Tuscarora," 3 killed and 13 wounded; "Rhode Islarfd," 8 killed and 2 wounded " Huron," 5 wounded " Montgomery," 2 killed and 4 wounded; " Monticello," 4 killed and 4 wounded " Wabash, "Tristram Shandy," 3 (incom^plete) 12 wounded wounded and 1 missing; "Susquehanna," 3 killed ;

;

;

''

;

;

;

;

;

and 15 wounded; "Juniata,' 5 killed and 10 wounded; "Santiago de Cuba," 1 killed and 9 wounded; " Fort Jackson," 1 killed and 10 wounded; "Yantic," 2 killed and 3 wounded "Powhatan,'" 3 killed, 19 wounded and 7 missing; "Minnesota," 13 killed and 23 wounded; "Colorado," 3 " killed, 14 wounded and 8 missing Nereus," 3 " Pequot," 3 killed and 5 killed and 3 wounded wounded; "Gettysburg," 6 killed and 6 wounded; " Mackinaw," 3 wounded " Mohican," 13 killed. Total—Killed, 74 wounded, 213 missing, 22.— Total killed, wounded and missing, 309. ;

;

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;

;

;

general order on second attack. [special order no. 10.] North Atlantic Squadron,

(

Flag-ship " Malvern," January 9, 1865. The following vessels will form a separate line, under the command of Lieutenant - Commander )

Upshur, for the purpose of landing the provisions stores forthe army, viz. " A. D. Vance," " Fort Donaldson," "Aries," "Emma," "Lillian," "Tristram Shandy," "Britannia and "Wilderness." The "Nansemond," " Moccasin " and "Little Ada"

and

Datid

WOUNDED AND MISSIN& IN THE ATTACK

:

"

will act as messengers, as before. It is proposed now that the troops shall be first landed before any attack is made on the fort by all the vessels. The " Brooklyn " will lead in with the vessels attached to her line, and anchor in a posi-

D.

Porter,

Rear-Admiral, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron.

[general order no. 78.] North Atlantic Squadron, Flag-ship " Malvern," January 2, 1865. The order of attack for the next bombardment of ) )

Fort Fisher will be as follows "

The lead

in,

New

Ironsides,"

:

Commodore Radford,

will

and anchor with the centre of the northeast

face of the fort bearing west by south half -south, Ihe Monitors following The irdn-clads will anchor in succession, as follows: The "Mahopac," "Canonicus," and " Saugus " will anchor in a Une close together, between the "New Ironsides" and the beach and the " Monadnock " will select a position in the same line, so that she will have room to swing and bring both turrets to bear. When these vessels are fully engaged, signal will be made to the "Brooklyn " to go in and engage the enemy, taking a position at anchor close under the stern of the "New Ironsides," with her broadside bearingon Fort Fisher. The "Brooklyn" will be followed in by the "Mohican," "Tacony," " Unadilla," "Kansas," "Huron," " Maumee," "Pawtucket," "Seneca," "Pontoosuc," "Nyack," "Yantic," and "Nereus," in the order in which they are marked on the chart. The Une, when anchored, should be with the " Brooklyn," bearing about south by east. This will be line-of-battle No. 1. Line No. 2 will take position when the leading vessel of line No 1 is anchored, with the "Minnesota" leading, "Colorado" next, "Wabash," "Susquehanna," "Powhatan," "Juniata," "Shenandoah," " Ticonderoga." After the "Minnesota" anchors in her old place (or closer), where her guns will clear the "New Ironsides," the "Colorado" will pass her and anchor, both ships firing slowly to get their range as they go in. When the "Colorado" is anchored and firing with effect, all the vessels of line No. 2 will anchor in position, exactly as they did on a previous occasion. The " Vanderbilt " will then anchor a little out;

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

and between the "Colorado" and " Wa"Mackinaw," between "Susquehanna and "Wabash," and "Tuscarora" between " Juniata and "Powhatan."

side of

bash,"

'

When line No. 2 has anchored, line No. 3 will take position, the " Santiago de Cuba " leading, which vessel wiU anchor with the centre of the southeast face of Fort Fisher bearing northwest half-north, or just ahead of " Ticonderoga." The " Fort Jackson " will then pass the "Santiago de Caba," and anchor as close as she can get the " Osceola " will pass the "Fort Jackson'' and anchor, and soon with the " Sassacus," "Chippewa," " R. R. Cuyler," "Maratanza," "Rhode Island," "Monti-

719

attention. When the range is once obtained, the officer of division shall note in a book the distance marked on the sight, so that he will not forget it. When the smoke becomes thick, and objects dim, a reference to the notes and an examination, to see if the sight is properly set, will assist very much in insuring accuracy of fire.

David D. Porter, Rear- Admiral. Commanding North Atlantic Squadron.

;

cello,"

State,"

"Alabama," "Montgomery," "Keystone "Quaker City," ending with the "Iosco."

When the signal

is made to form line of battle, the vessels of lines Nos. 1, 3 and 3 will fall in line in the order mentioned; the "Brooklyn" leading line No. 1, the "Minnesota" line No. 2, and the " Santiago de Cuba " line No. 3. When any vessel is missing, the vessels behind must close up. All the vessels can with safety get in closer than they did the last time. For this they must depend on the lead and past experience. All firing against earth-works, when the shell bursts in the air, is thrown away. The object is to lodge the shell in the parapets, and tear away the traverses under which the bomb-proofs are located. A shell now and then exploding over a gun en barbette may have good effect, but there is nothing Uke lodging the shell before it explodes. The red lines on the chart indicate the object each vessel is to fire at, as near as we can make out the works. In case it is determined to land the troops before engaging the forts, signal will bemade. Each reserve vessel will have her boats in readiness to disembark the troops as rapidly as possible. When the signal is made, they will run in and anchor close to the shore, covering the landing with their guns. The paddle - steamers will not use their paddle - boats (but only their davit-boats) unless ordered to do so. All these things will be regulated by signal. All the precautions observed in General Order No. 75 will be observed on this occasion. Fire deliberately. Fill the vessels up with every shell they can carry, and fire to dismount the guns, and knock away the traverses. The angle near the large ships has heavy casemates knock it away. Concentrate fire always on one point. With the guns disabled, the fort will soon be ours. No vessel wiU retire from line unless in a sinking condition, nor without permission. So many accidents have happened with the 100pounder rifles that I recommend, if they be used at all, the charges be reduced to seven (7) pounds and as the time-fuzes burst after leaving the gun, fire them with a patch on or fire percussion shell. When the troops are ready for the assault, signal will be made to " change the direction of fire," by hoisting general signal 2211, and blowing the steam- whistle, which whistle every vessel will repeat, and officers will be stationed at the hatches to pass the word. When the signal 2211 is made, all the vessels wUl stop firing at Fort Fisher, and concentrate their fire on the batteries to the left or above it; the "Tacony," "Kansas," "Unadilla,'' "Huron," "Maumee," "Pawtucket," "Seneca," "Pontoosue," "Nyack," "Tantic" and " Nereus," giving their guns great elevation, and firing over to reach the river, to disturb any rebel troops that may be resting there. To avoid accidents by firing over our troops by these last - mentioned vessels, the patches will not be taken off the shell, until the assaulting column is in the works. If the troops are driven back, the firing will be directed on Fort Fisher again when the signal is made, and this plan will be followed from time to time as assaults are made and repulsed. all

;

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^.-.^ 4-X.i.r.^

rbab-admiral porter's lianding orders. Flag-ship "Malvern," Off New Inlet, N. C, January 15, 1865.

)

(

[Landing Orders.] The landing party will land out of gun-shot of the fort, and as fast as the boats get rid of their loads they will be shoved off, and the boat-keepers will pull off and hang to the stern of the "Nansemond," which vessel will be anchored off the landing. When the men are landed they will be formed and kept together, the marines forming by themselves. S. W. Preston will have charge of the shovels. He will advance as near the fort as he safely can, without running the risk of a single mati, and commence throwing up rifle-pits rapidly. He will first advance with a thin line of sappers, and as soon as he can get a ditch deep enough for shelter, the marines will go in, in thin

Lieutenant

men with

squads, and occupy them. As the sand is thrown up high enough to conceal a person, other sappers will come in behind and dig ]t deeper. There will be required a three and a half feet ditch, and about the same height of earth thrown out. The object is to get as close to the fort as possible, and with perfect safety, so that the men will have shelter to go to in case of the enemy firing grape and canister.

leading the men must make them not sho w themselves until the signal is made and the Army moves to the assault. move is No to be made forward until the Army charges, when the Navy is to assault the sea or southeast face of the work, going over with cutlasses drawn and revolvers in hand. The marines will follow after, and when they gain the edge of the parapet, they will lie fiat and pick off the enemy in the works. The sailors will charge at once on the field-pieces in the fort, and kill the gunners. The mouths of the bomb-proofs must be secured at once, and no quarter given if the enemy fire from them after we enter the fort. Any man who straggles or disobeys orders is to be sent to the rear under a guard. The men must keep their fiags rolled up until they are on top of the parapet and inside the fort, when they will hoist them. Remember, the sailors, when they start to board, are to go with a rush, and get up as fast as they can. Officers are directed not to leave their companies under any circumstances, and every company is to be kept together. If, when our men get into the fort, the enemy commence firing on Fort Fisher from the Mound, every three men will seize a prisoner, pitch him over the walls, and get behind the fort for protection, or into the bomb-proofs. The fleet-captain will take charge of the landing garty, and all the commands wiU report to him. [e represents me on this occasion, and all his orders will be promptly obeyed. David D. Porter, Rear-Admiral.

The

officers

keep under command

—

report of flbbt-captaiif k. r. breese. Flag-ship "Malvern," Off Fort Fisher, N. C, January 16.

—I

)

)

have to report that, in obedience to your order, I represented your flag in commanding the assault on Fort Fisher, and beg leave to state as Sir

follows

:

T.ionfiinanf.

S

W

"Pr(iofr,Ti

Vinr!

plinro-p nf

a.

ffM*ni>

THE NAVAL HISTORY

720 of about ten men picks, and threw

from each ship, with shovels and up within 600 yards of the fort a well-protected breastwork, and from that gradually advanced to within two hundred yards a succession of rifle-pits, which were most promptly occupied by a line of skirmishers composed of marines under Second - Lieutenant L. E. Fagan, United States marine corps. The manner in which this was done reflects most creditably upon Lieutenant Preston. As the advance was made, he came to me and reported his work finished, and asked that he might be employed in any way. Lieutenant Preston's services were most useful to me, and in his last moments he attempted to send me word that he had carried out my orders. The assaulting party was composed of about sixteen hundred seamen and four hundred marines, divided into four lines, as follows First line, composed of marines. Captain L. L. Dawson, United States marine corps, commanding. Second line, composed of the landing party of the first and fourth divisions of the squadron, Lieutenant-Commander C. H. Cushman, commanding. Third line, :

galling fire of musketry, threw a portion of the marines into the first line, and the rest of them did not talie position as they should. The second and third lines came along, and the heads of the three lines joined and formed one compact column, which, filing up to the sea-face of Fort Fisher, assaulted to within fifty yards of the parapet, which was lined with one dense mass of musketeers, who played sad havoc with our men. Although exposed to a most severe fire from the

enemy, the men were rallied three times under the personal encouragement and exposure of their commanding officers, but failed to gain much ground. A few officers and men reached the parapet. I don't know their names, but they will doubtless be found in the reports of the officers accompanyingthe party. The marines, having failed to occupy their position, gave the enemy an almost unmolested fire

upon

us.

Men armed with

Sharpe's rifles, and the few marines in the front, opened fire, but it was too feeble to be of avail. Finding the rear of the men retreating, I hastened toward it to form them under cover, and have them use their rifles; but they were too far distant for me to reach them, and I accordingly returned to a position near the works. As I did so, the remaining men, notwithstanding all attempts to stop them, fled, with the exception of about sixty, among whom were Lieutenant-Commanders James Parker, C. H. Cushman, T. O. Selfridge, and M. Sicard, and Lieutenants N. H. Farquhar and R. H. Lamson, the latter of whom was wounded, and several volunteer officers whose names I unfortunately do not know. The fire of the enemy was so severe that the few of our men remaining had to seek such cover as they could, and there remained until dark, when a demonstration upon the part of the rebels induced all to make a rush, and most succeeded in escaping. The country will regret the death of Lieutenant S. W. Preston, acting as my aide in carrying orders, who was killed in front and of Lieutenant B. H. •

Porter, killed in the early assault, at the head of the column and of several volunteer officers, seamen, and marines, killed during the attack. Of Assistant Surgeon William Longshaw special mention should be made on account of his great bravery and attention to the wounded under the hottest fire, until finally he fell a victim in the very act of binding up the wounds of a marine I can but attribute the failure of the assault to the absence of the marines from their position, as their fire would have enabled our boarders to use their cutlasses and pistols most effectively. By this I would imply the lack of proper organization, it being impossible in the short space of time, on account of throwing so many small squads of men from the different vessels together in one mass, lacking proper company formations, and wholly unacquainted with each other, to secure such organization. This led to the confusion exhibited, for it was not due to any want of personal valor on the part of ;

LIEUT.

SAMUEL W. PEESTON OP ADMIRAL PORTEK'S STAFF. (KILLED IN

THE ASSAULT ON FORT

FISHEK).

composed of the landing party of the second

divis-

ion of the squadron, commanded by LieutenantCommander James Parker, who most generously waived his seniority upon reading your order that I should represent you on shore. Fourth line, composed of the landing party of the third division of the squadron, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander T. O. Selt'ridge. The second, third, and fourth lines were of about equal strength. It was intended that the men should assault in line, the marines acting as sharp-shooters, and the different lines were to charge over them but from the difficulty I had of informing myself of the time when the army was to assault, which was to guide our movements, that moment found us too far off to move to the attack unless under cover. When I ;

discovered that the army was moving to attack the fort, I ordered the men to advance by the flank, along the beach, hoping to be able to form them for the assault under cover of the marines; but four hundred yards' distance, exposed to a most

the officers or men. Although the officers and men were exposed to a severe fire from the enemy, to them of a novel character and upon a novel element, which would have tried veterans, yet they advanced nobly, and the survivors must be satisfied that they contributed in no small degree to the success of the army. The enemy believing, as I am informed, that the main assault was to come from us, were much surprised upon looking to their rear to find the army so far advanced in their works. The medical officers sent on shore with the landing party established their field hospital at a work about a mile from the fort, where Assistant Surgeon B. H. Kidder took charge of the wounded who were conveyed there, and attended to their wants as well as circumstances would permit.

SECom) .vrxvcK O'O.N

FORT "bv-aie

FrSHEll.

U.S.A'A\n' luiJcr

EEAR^\D]SimAL B.D. P OHIEli. .its'.13,li,15J8G5.

Slloranfihe rpsilimi nrSesaolii !miUiiiBon''ui:

V

-e^"v.,„,

OF THE As near as

I

could estimate, there were about

and two hundred wounded. Lieutenant-Commander W. B. Gushing,

WAR.

in the extreme front, finding: nothing could be done, left with the retreating men, and succeeded finally in rallying them, and, at the request of General Terry, occupied the lines near his headquarters, which en-

abled him to withdraw men to reinforce his force in the fort. Being a witness to the assault of the army after our repulse, I cannot but express my admiration of the extreme gallantry of its attack. Where one act of personal bravery was displayed on the part of the enemy, a dozen or more were

main

force. In saying this, I would wish not understood in the least to detract from the splendid gallantry exhibited by our army, which was worthy of the highest commendation that can be bestowed.

the'r

Very

servant,

K. R. Bbbese, Fleet-Capiain.

Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. dispatch of rear-admiral

d. d.

commending officers,

and was the most imsplendidly our brave sol-

posing sight to see how diers did their worli. In conclusion, I would say that I may have omitted the names of officers who have distinguished themselves by their gallantry, yet I could not fail to mention those above named, who came personally under my notice, and I trust that the commanding officers of the assaulting lines will do justice to all. To Lieutenant-Commander James Parlcer I would

respectfully.

Your obedient

porter,

etc.

North Atlantic Squadron,

it

;

721

to be

sixty-five killed

conspicuous on our part

CIVIL

U. S. Flag-ship "

Malvern,"

1 [•

Cape Fear River, January 28, 1865. ) Sib— After such an engagement and success as this fleet has met with, I think it due to the officers engaged to mention tliose particularly who, in my opinion, deserve the commendation of the Department

or merit promotion. I did not think it well to mention these matters in my late official dispatch, as such reports seldom or ever give satisfaction to officers or their friends, and give rise more often to heart-burnings and jealousies, which it is desirable to avoid on an occasion like this. It is no easy matter for a commander-in-chief to do fuU justice to all concerned, but [ will endeavor to do so to the best of my ability, without partiality to any one beyond what I must naturally feel towards those who have given me their warmest support on tliis occasion. I trust I need not remind the Department that our success here has, in material and facts, been greater than on any other occasion during this war. I trust that some promotions will grow out of this, if only to show the officers that there is reward in store for those who do the fightFirst and foremost on the list of commodores ing. Full of honest is Commodore H. K. Thatcher. zeal and patriotism, his vessel was always ready for action, and when he did go into it, his ship was no vessel in the handled with admirable skill squadron was so much cut up as the "Colorado' for some reason the rebels selected her for a target. I believe Commodore Thatcher would have fought his ship until she went to the bottom, and went into the fight with a full determination to conquer or die. There is no reward too great for this gallant officer he has shown the kind of ability naval leaders should possess a love of fighting and an invincible courage. Commodore Joseph Lannian, commanding the " Minnesota," was selected to lead the line, his vessel being the slowest and least manageable consequently he led into action, except on an occasion when the " Colorado" took his place. ;

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—

;

;

a-P. POETEK (NOW MARINE CORPS).

ADMIRAL'S SECRETARY, CARLISLE

LIEUTENANT

n.

S.

FIRST-

say that I was a witness to his efforts to advance the men, to the free exposure of liis person, and, although ranking me, he would let no obstacle of that nature interpose and check his endeavors to do his utmost to capture the fort. To your secretary, Mr. C. P. Porter, acting as my aide, I am very" much indebted. Thougli frequently sent to the rear with orders, he was most promptly back, and at the assault he was found at the front. Although the assaulting party failed, I think it but due to those that advanced, and to the memories of the slain, to claim for them, through their strong demonstrations, a corresponding resistance from the enemy, and a weakening of the rebel defence toward our army I have been informed by the officers who conversed with nrisoners that the enemy believed ours

was much pleased with the manner in which he handled his ship and fired throughout the action, the whole affair on his part being conducted with admirable judgment and coolness. I recommend him to the consideration of the Department as one on whom they can place the utmost reliance, place him in any position. Commodore S. W. Godon, commanding the "Susquehanna," is an unusually intelligent officer, and who does not need to be told a second time where to go in time of action. This is the second important affair in which he has been engaged during this war, in both of which he has acquitted himself in the most handsome manner. His ship was beautifully handled, and impressed me with her good discipline and accurate To me personally he has given his warmest firing. support, and I should fail in my duty if I did not I

him the full credit he deserves. His conduct throughout this harassing affair has met my wannest approbation, and I think he is one who merits pi'omotion when the Government thiidvs proper to reward those who have borne the brunt of the battle. give

THE NAVAL HISTORY "Powhatan," have come up to my expectations in every respect. This officer in battle has shown himself worthy to command so fine a ship. He per-

formed his duty most faithfully, and I am proud not only to have had him under my command, but to see him reinstated in the position to which he has done so much credit. He deserves all I can say of him, and is worthy of promotion. Commodore William Radford, in command of that noble ship the "Ironsides," and also in command of the division of Monitors, gained my warmest admiration by his conduct throughout this a ;fair. He has shown abilities of a very high character, not only in fighting and manoeuvering his Ready vessel, but in taking care of his division. at all times for battle, and eager to go into the fight alone, he performed admirably when his guns were brought to bear on the enemy. His vessel did more execution than any vessel in the fleet and even when our troops were on the parapet, I had so much confidence in the accuracy of his fire that he was directed to fire through the traverses in advance of our troops and clear them out. This he did most ;

me on this late occasion has been very valuable. Always intelligent and energetic, he never had to be told to get ready; he always kept ready; he anticipated, which is a quality very desirable in an officer, and without which he cannot be expected to be very useful. His vessel was ^ways in the right place and at the right time, and when his batteries opened, no frigate could have done more execu tion. I have spoken before of the high qualities of this officer. I consider him able and worthy to fill the highest rank, and I know that the Government has no one in its navy more full of energy, zeal or to

intelligence in his profession.

I

shall feel

much

disappointed if Captain Alden is not promoted to a rank he has won more than once during this rebellion. I am sure the Department will appreciate all I have said of this gallant officer. His record speaks for him. " Captain Melancton Smith, on the Wabash,'' has performed his duty well. He has also made a good record at the department, and has been actively engaged in fighting since the rebellion first broke out. His old ship has done good service here and if he had done nothing more than assist, as he has done in the capture of this place, he deserves promotion, which I hereby recommend. I also recommend Captain Charles Steedman, commanding "Ticonderoga,"' and Captain D. B. ;

Ridgley, commanding "Shenandoah." Though commanding smaller vessels than the others, and

they did the best they This is the second important affair Captain Steedman has been in, and Captain Ridgley has been very energetic during the war against blockade-runners. I recommend them both for promoless effective in their fire,

could.

tion.

COMMODORE (AFTEEWAKDS REAR-ADMIRAL) COMMANDING THE

U.

8.

S.

"

S.

W. GODON,

SUSQUEHANNA."

effectually, and but for this, victory might not have been ours. Having broken his rudder in a heavy gale, he rigged up a temporary one under adverse circumstances, and had his ship ready as soon as the rest. He seemed never to tire of fighting, and for three days laid within 1,000 yards of Fort Fisher without moving his anchor, and made the rebels feel that we had come there to stay. Under all and every circumstance, Commodore Radford has ac-

quired an enviable reputation, and is deserving of the greatest promotion that can be given him. Captain James Alden, commanding the "Brooklyn," has been near me, and at times associated with me during this war. He had already done enough to deserve promotion before the commencement of operations before Fort Fisher but if this matter was at any time doubtful, he has certainly earned promotion now. Always leading heretofore, or assisting with all his energies, he has been engaged in all the successful attacks on forts. His aid ;

Lieutenant-Commander R. K. Breese, my fleetcaptain, has been with me nearly all the time since the rebellion broke out. In command of a division of the mortar fleet, which opened the way to Ne wr Orleans, he made his fh-st record there. In the Mississippi with me for two years, engaged in harassing and dangerous duties, he always acquitted himself to m^y satisfaction. In charge of the mortars at the siege of Vicksburg, he helped to hasten the surrender of that stronghold. At Fort Fisher he led the boarders in the assault, and though we were not successful in getting into the work in the face of equal numbers, yet that assault helped materially to gain the day, as is generally admitted on every side. Our troops obtained a footing without much resistance and then nobly maintained what they had won. Lieutenant-Coiiimander Breese did all he could to rally his men, and made two or three unsuccessful attempts to regain the parapet; but the marines having failed in their duty to support the gallant officers and sailors who took the lead, he had to retire to a place of safety. He did not, however, leave the ground, but remained under the parapet in a rifle-pit, using a musket, until night favored his escape. He is a clever, gallant officer, and I strongly recommend his immediate pi'omotion to a commander. I also recommend the promotion of LieutenantCommander H. A. Adams, Jr., ordnance officer, without whose services we should have been brought to a standstill more than once. He volunteered for anything and everything. The following officers, who volunteered to lead their men in the assault on Fort Fisher, deserve particular notice. These officers volunteered for the service, and undertook what was considered by the regular army the forlorn hope of the assault. Nowhere in the annals of war have officers and sailors undertaken so desperate a service, and one which was deemed impossible by a former general and an engineer having a high reputation in the service. Twenty-one officers were killed and wounded in this service, and twenty officers and sixty men were kept for four hours under fire from the enemy's sharp-

OF THE CIVIL WAR. shooters, not being able to escape until night set in. The courage of these oiBcers deserves the highest reward. Their efforts,- though unsuccessful, gained the day, as the enemy considered this the main attack, and brought superior numbers from a superior position to bear on it. The names of some of these officers will be found on record on the files of the Department, among which those of LieutenantCommander T. O. Selfridge and Lieutenant George M. Bache will be found most conspicuous. I recom-

mend

that

Lieutenant

-

Commander James

A.

Lieutenant-Commander T. O. Selfridge, Lieutenant-Commander C. H. Cushman, Lieutenant R. H. Lamson and Lieutenant George M. Bache The three latter were severely be promoted. wounded. Though the marines did not do their duty, Captain L. L. Dawson, Captain George Butand Second Lieutenants William Wallace, ler, Charles F. Williams and Louis E. Fagan were found in the front, and fought gallantly. I recommend them to the favorable notice of the department. To Captain O. S. Glisson, commanding the " Santiago de Cuba," I am particularly indebted Parker,

-

for his zeal in covering the troops,

landing guns.

723

name to the Monitors, and have shown what they were capable of performing when properly placed and managed. They had the hardest part of the work, and there is no end to their energy, bravery and untiring zeal. I can draw no distinction between the following ofHcers, whom I recommend for promotion. They were under fire most all the time, and at close quarters, and coolly performed what was required of them Lieutenant-Commander W. T. Truxton, commanding the "Tacony"; Lieutenant -Commander P. G. Watmough, commanding the "Kansas"; Lieutenant-Commander F. M. Ramsay, commanda world-renowned

:

ing the "Unadilla"; Lieutenant - Commander D. L. Braine, commanding the "Pequof; Lieutenant-Commander Ralph Chandler, commanding the

"Maumee"; Lieutenant Commander M. Sicard, commanding the "Seneca"; Commander J. H. Spotts, commanding the" Pawtueket" LieutenantCommander W. G. Temple, commandingthe "Pontoosac"; Lieutenant Commander T. C. Harris, commanding the ''Yantic"; Commander J. C. Howell, commanding the"Nereus"; Commander D. Ammen, commanding the "Mohican"; Commander J. C. Beaumont, commandingthe "Mackinaw Connnander J. M. B. Clitz, commanding the "Osceola"; Lieutenant - Commander J. L. Davis, commandingthe "Sassacus"; LieutenantCommander E. B. Potter, commanding the " Chi|>pewa"; Lieutenant W. B. Cashing, commanding Commander S. D. Trenchard, the " Montioello " commandingthe "Rhode Island"; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant A. R. Langthorne, commanding the "Alabama"; Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant T. I also C. Dunn, commanding the "Montgomery." recommend for promotion Acting - Master S. P. Crafts, commanding the "Little Ada"; ActingMaster J. H. Porter, commanding the " Nansemond " Acting- Master B. Keyser, commanding -

;

-

''

;

;

;

—

the " Eolus " for gallant conduct throughout the action also Acting- Volunteer John McDiarmid, commanding the "Governor Buckingham." I must refer you to the reports of different commanders for recommendations of those under their command, as it would be impossible for me to know When it is rememanything in relation to them. bered that the surrender of the defences of Cape Fear River is one of the most, if not the most, important event of the war, in which the largest stronghold of the enemy was captured under adverse circumstances, the justice of promotion will be seen. Its importance will be soon felt in the fall of Richmond, to which it is as necessary now as the main artery is to the human system. I trust the Department will be liberal in its promotions. This is almost a naval affair entirely, for the idea originated in the Navy Department and until the reputation of the Army became in danger of being reilected upon, we met from that branch of the service Uttle or no encouragement. Few promotions have taken place during the war, and it would be gratifying to the friends of all concerned to see the advancement of those who have worked so patientlj' for three years, and have made so handsome a denoueinent. I have heard a matter freely dissussed among the officers, to which I beg leave to draw the attention of the Department. A distribution of medals to officers would be a most popular thing. This is so common a method among modern nations, and so universally accepted as a reward for eminent services among officers and men, that I ;

#ffl

rm.

CAPTAIN (NOW EEAR-ADMIRAL) COMMANDING THE

U.

s.

S.

O. S.

GLISSON,

"SANTIAGO DE CUBA."

and taking his division into action; and to Captain

commanding the " Port Jackson," for performing the different duties he was called on to perform. I recommend them both for promotion. I refer to Captain Glisson 's report in relation to B. F. Sands,

commanding ofBcers in his division. recommend to the departinent LieutenantCommander T. 8. Phelps, in command of the " Juthe

I also

Lieutenant-Commander

J.

H.

Upshur, in the

had charge of the reserves, and was employed night and day in landing army stores and guns, and covering the troops from the rebels out" A. D. Vance,"

our lines. His guns did good execution, and though his duties prevented him from part icigating in the attack on the forts, I cannot withold his name, and recommend him for advanceside of

ment. I recommend that Commander B. G. Parrott, commanding the "Monadnock," Commander E. R. Colhoun, commanding the "Saugus," LieutenantCommander A. W. Weaver, commanding the " Ma-

;

its adoption in our naval service. Any one who has seen the pride with which sailors wear the medals bestowed upon them for gallant conduct can readily imagine how grateful it would be to Trifling as such a mere bauble may be in officers.

recommend

intrinsic value, yet the history of war tells n nnrr\r\r\ +0 +^ ,^^«f^ I

how

val-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

724

presuming in recomiuending what, no doubt, they ah-eady intend to adopt. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, David D. Pobtbr, Ruar-Admiral.

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.

C.

COMPLIMENTARY LETTER OF BEAR ADMIRAL PORTER IN REGARD TO GENERAL TERRY. North Atlantic Squadron, y U. S. Flag-ship "Malvern," Off Smithsville, N. C, Jan. 30, 1865. Sir— I have been so much pleased with General Terry, and the manner in which he has conducted his part of the operations here, that I deem it -

i

)

worthy

of a special dispatch to

express

what

I

feel.

General Terry

is,

no doubt, well known to his aswho have served with him,

sociates in the field,

and to the Lieutenant-General who selected him for the service, but the American people should know and feel the very great service he has rendered them by his most admirable assault on these tremendous works. Young, brave and unassuming, he bears his success with the modesty of a true soldier, and is willing to give credit to those who

lieved by darkness from the lire of the fort, he collected together the men of his column, and posted them in the lines occupied by us that night, requiring a great exertion and constant movement until 3 A. M. the following morning. I also would wish to bring to your notice the eonduct of a young lad of the "Wabash," named Myers, who three several times left a good protection from the fire of the enemy and went to the assistance of wounded men, and under fire carried them to the friendly shelter of his hole in the sand, and this within a hundred yards of Foit Fisher. I had hoped to obtain the name of a very brave and gallant officer of the " Vanderbilt," who led their assaulting party, but have been unable to do so. This officer was conspicuous for his gallantry and most richly deserves special mention. I would also wish to say that Aeting-LieutenautCommander Danels, of the "Vanderbilt," suffering from ill-health and unable to keep up with the assaulting party, rendered much valuable assistance in rallying the men and in caring for the wounded. personal acquaintance with the I regret that

my

shared with him the perils of the assault. No one could form the slightest conception of these works, their magnitude, strength and extent, who had not seen them, and General Whiting, the engineer, must have had an abiding faith in the durability of the Confederacy when he expended so many years labor on them. The result of the fall of Fort Fisher was the fall of all the surrounding works in and near this place Fort Caswell, a large work at the West Inlet, mounting twenty - nine guns, all the works on Smith's Island, the works between Caswell and Smithsville up to the battery on Reeves' Point, on the west side of the river in all, 169 guns falling into our hands 3 steamers were burnt or blown up, and there never was so clean a sweep made anywhere. A timid man would have hesitated to attack these works by assault, no matter what assistance he may have had from other quarters, but General Terry never for an instant hesitated; and though I feel somewhat flattered at the confidence he reposed in my judgment, I am quite ready to believe that he acted on his own ideas of what was proper to be

—

—

;

done in the matter, and was perfectly qualified to judge without the advice of any one. Throughout this affair his conduct has been marked by the greatest desire to be successful, not for the sake of personal considerations, but for the cause in which we are all alike engaged. I don't know that I ever met an officer who so completely gained my esteem and admiration. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

David

D. Porter, Rear-Admiral.

Hon. Gideon Welles, HecretnryofihejSavy, ^Yashington, D.

C.

additional report of fleet captain

k.

-

r.

BREESE.

Flag-ship Malvern," { Cape Fear River, January 38, 1865. Admiral — In my report of the assault of Fort ''

J

mention the

fact of Lieutenantas he made so light of the affair and did not wish to be ineluded among tho.se mentioned as such. Since, I

Fisher, I did not

Commander Cushman being wounded,

have learned that Lieutenant-Connnander Cushwound was more severe than I had even thought, and I think it but right that I should mention that, though in this condition and very much fatigued from his efforts of the day, being reinan's

LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN

H.

PORTER

(OF ADMIE.\L

PORTER'S STATE.) (KILLED IN THE ASSAULT ON FOKT FISHER.)

many

brave officers and men around me on that day was so slight that I could not soon recognize to what ships they belonged, except in the instances named, and that, necessarily, I have failed to mention particularly some who, I saw, behaved splendidly^ and have trusted to the commanding oiBcers of columns to name them. I wish also to bear witness to the handsome manner in which Lieutenant Pagan, of the marine corps, did his duty with his sharp-shooters, and to the gallantry he exhibited in advancing his men so close to the enemy's works. An additional regret I feel in the loss of Flag-Lieutenant Preston, who could so much better have done justice, that it devolves upon me to mention how w^ell the officers and men behaved in digging rifle-pits, and of the bravery evinced by many of them in advancing under a perfectly exposed "fire to within 300 yards of the fort, and digging their pits under the'fire. A number were killed and wounded in the undertaking. Although these men had been hard at work all day% and were told by Lieutenant Preston that

OF THE CIVIL WAR. they were not expected to join in the assault, I know of scarcely any who had arms that did not join

it.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, K. R. Breesb, Fleet-Captain.

Rear- Admiral Dayid D. Porter,

Commanding North

Young, talented, and handsome, the bravest of the brave, pure in their lives, surely their names deserve something more than a passing mention, and are 'worthy to be handed down to posterity with the greatest and beat of naval trepid men.

heroes.

Were you not

Ailantio Squadron.

so well acquainted with their charit my duty to speak of their high merits but, as chief of your staff, to which they belonged, I must speak of their wonderful singleness of purpose to do their whole duty always most cheerful and willing, desirous of undertaking anything which might redound to the credit of the service giving me at all times the most ready assistance in my duties; combining with their intelligence a ready perception as to the best mode of accomplishing their orders, the country has lost two such servants as could illy be spared, and your staff its brightest ornaments. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, K. R. Breese, Fleet-Captain, North Atlantic Squadron. Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. acters, 1

DISPATCH OF REAR-ADMIRAL D. D. PORTER, TRANSMITTING REPORT OF FLEET - CAPTAIN K. R. BREBSE, IN REGARD TO THE DEATHS OF LIEUTENANTS PORTER AND PRESTON.

KoRTH Atlantic Squadron, U. S. Flag-ship " Malvern," Cape Fear River, February 1, 1865.

—

r25

my

Sir I inclose a communication from fleetcaptain, Lieutenant-Commander K. R. Breese, in relation to the lamented Lieutenants Pi-eston and Porter, who fell together before the walls of Fort Fisher, and while ti-yiiia: to plant the Union colors on the enemy's ramparts. No eulogy passed upon these two gallant men could do them full justice. To me they had both endeared themselves by their noble qualities, and in their deaths I feel as if I had lost two members of my own family. Their names and gallant deeds during their short service in the war will long be remembered by their associates in arms, and the memory of their heroic gallantry will inspire future heroes to emulate their conduct. The officers of the squadron propose to erect a monument at Annapolis to the memory of the gallant dead, but their memories will live in history long after the stone that records their deads has crumbled into dust. I must not omit to pay a just tribute to the memory of the noble Assistant Surgeon William Longshaw, who was shot dead near the enemy's works while engaged in an act of mercy, binding up the wounds of a sailor, and of the gallant Acting-Assistant Surgeon John Blackmer, who fell and died in the same way. Nor must I omit the name of Acting-Ensign Robert Wiley, who died fighting manfully, and endeavoring to reach the enemy's parapets. They all died like heroes, and the nation is as much bound to mourn their loss as those who have held higher positions. They are all regretted deeply here, and their names will be forever associated with one of the most gallant attacks ever made on a powerful fort-

should deem ;

;

;

Thus was Fort Fisher vv^on after a galand as gallant a defence on the

lant attack

ress.

I

am,

sir,

very respectfully, your obedient servant, David D. Porter, Rear-Admiral.

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.

C.

report of fleet-captain k. r. breese. North Atlantic Squadron, U. S. Flag-ship" Malvern," Off Fort Fisher, January 18, 1865. Admiral—In my report of the assault on Fort Fisher I have scarcely mentioned the

names and

services of Lieutenant S. W. Preston, your flag-lieutenant, and Lieutenant B. H. Porter, your flagcaptain, thinking that by a little delay I might the more do justice, yet I seem to feel that impossible in me. Preston, after accomplishing most splen-

work assigned him by you, which was both dangerous and laborious, under constant fire, came to me, as my aide, for orders, showing no flagging of spirit or body, and returning from the rear, whither he had been sent, fell among the foremost at the front, as he had lived, the thorough embodiment of a IJnited States naval officer. Porter, conspicuous by his figure and uniform, as well as by his great gallantry, claimed the right to lead the headmost column with the "Malvern's" men he had taken with him, carrying your flag, and fell at its very head. Two more noble spirits the world didly the

SUKGEON (AFTERWARDS SDBGEON-GENEEAL) PHILIP S. WALES. OF THE

V.

S.

S.

"FORT JACKSON."

part of the Confederates as any one interested in their cause might desire. It vs^as a terrible sight to see those men. all of one blood, sternly fighting in the dark for over four hours, almost breast to breast, shooting or bayonetting each other on the tops of the traverses or around the sides, vs^hile the "Ironsides" would explode her li-inch shrapnel so well timed that they would burst over the heads or in amongst the struggling mass of Confederates, who were doing their utmost to hold on to the traverses behind the bomb-proof but when the calcium-light of the "Malvern" was thrown upon these desperate soldiers, and exposed _i^:^i,^ 4-^ 4-1.^ a T„„„„; J„„ ;

i-i

THE NA VAL HISTORY

726

they

were swept away by the dozens. Never did men fight harder than the Confederates, and never were cooler soldiers

and how they battered the heaviest earthwork in the Southern Confederacy until not a gun remained serviceable on its car-

than the Federals, who gained traverse after traverse with the aid of the wondrous fire of the " Ironsides," until they stood on

riage.

the last one, when the enemy fled to the beach near the Mound, pursued by the Federal troops; and the former, having no more hope of escape, laid down their arms and

submitted to their captors. Three cheers went up from the Federal soldiers, the crews on board the ships made the welkin ring with their shouts of joy, the steam-whistles blew, the bells rang, sky-rockets filled the air, and every yardarm was illuminated with the Coston nightsignals. Not a man there but saw this was the death-blow to the rebellion. No more

Amidst

all

the rejoicing, the

Army

and

Navy had to deplore the loss of a great many gallant men who freely offered their lives that their country might live and in the march of progress, civilization and liberty, that in future ages would make it the greatest nation on the face of the earth. The casualties of the Federal were 691 officers and men killed,

move on

Army

wounded and missing, while the Navy lost 309 more. The defeated but gallant enemy went into the battle 3,500 strong and surrendered only 1,800 men. A second casualty took place, the morning after the surrender of the fort, by the blowing up of a bomb-proof. How it happened no one knew, but about a hundred bodies were thrown up into the air, soldiers, sailors, and Confederates all mixed up together. It was a sickening sight and took away much of the pleasure of the victory but soldiers and sailors grew accustomed to such things during the war, and the active work still before them, ere they could reach Wilmington and secure the railroad leading to Richmond, soon drove the dreadful spectacle from their minds. Regarding the gallant soldiers, who so nobly fought their way over the bomb-proofs, too much cannot be said in their praise. Terry, their leader, Ames, Curtis, Lawrence, and Pennypacker, should never be forgotten; while those in the Navy, who fought their ;

COMMANDEB CHARLEa ENSIGN ON THE

army

U.

S.

S.

D.

SIGSDEE,

" BROOKLYN. " AT FOKT FISHER.

provisions or clothing could enter the

only open port— Wilmington. Submission might not come immediately, but the end was not far off. The soldiers who had so strenuously fought to gain the stronghold Avould go back rejoicingto Hampton Roads, having wiped out the disgrace inflicted through no fault of theirs, and could now, at the end of the war, join their families with the proud boast that they were the assaulters that finally carried" Fort Fisher. While the Navj^, that had for so many days breasted the storms of winter on the dangerous coast of North Carolina, could hope soon to haul into '•Snug Harbor," where, in years to come, they could tell their companions how for thirty-five days they had fought the ocean in its wrath and defied the elements; how they coaled their ships and took in tlieir ammunition while the vessels were rolling and pitching ' like mad,"

ships so well and so persistently, will, in future years, be remembered and lionored as were the heroes of 1813. when our infant Navy showed the mistress of the seas that she would one day have to divide her honors with the young'^Republic. number of the 100-poimder Parrott rifles burst while in action, and the commanders and men, having lost confidence

A

in them, they were no longer used. The consequence was that, before the forts in Cape Fear River could be attacked, a requisition had to be made on the Bureau of Ordnance in Washington for twentyfour n-inch guns. These were sent from New York in a fast steamer, and in ten days were all mounted on tlie vessels in Cape Fear River and readv for service. One Monitor, the " Montauk," had been gotten over the bar, and the gun-boat fleet was ready to move up as soon as

the Army could make its preparations to advance. The Confederate General, Hoke, was intrenched about six miles above Fort Fisher, where it was said that General Bragg intended to dispute the further advance of the Federal troops—a foolish resolution, as there was a force of gun -boats

OF THE CIVIL WAR. in the river that could bid defiance to all the

guns the Confederates had mounted. As soon as General Grant heard of the victory, he proceeded to Fort Fisher in a transport, taking with him General Schofield and an additional number of troops. General Schofield's seniority gave him the command of the whole, a circumstance that could not be well avoided, as the troops came from his division. As soon as possible after General Grant's arrival, preparations were made for the Army and Navy to move on up the Cape Fear River in concert. The effect of the surrender of Fort Fisher was a stampede in all the forts south of Federal Point. Lieutenant Gushing was sent in the gun-boat " Monticello" around to Fort Caswell, a strong fortification, built in former days by the United States engineers as a protection to the Western bar. Lieutenant Gushing found Fort Caswell blown up, the works at Bald Head destroyed, Fort ShaV blown up, and Fort

Campbell abandoned. These works, mounting 9 and 10 inch guns and 150-pounder Armstrongs, completely commanded the channel, and were nearly out of reach of projectiles from the seaward. After an examination of the forts. Lieutenant Gushing hoisted the American flag on Fort Caswell and pushed on to Smithville, a heavily fortified point on Cape Fear Eiver. The garrison departed as soon as the "Monticello" hove in sight, leaving everything in this heavy and beautiful for-

and only two 9-inch guns spiked in the work at Deep River tification uninjured,

Point. Up to

January 20th, only one gun-boat, the " Tacony," Lieutenant-Commander W. T. Truxton, had succeeded after hard work in getting past the Rip, a bad shoal which barred the way, after passing Fort Buchanan, to the fair channel of Cape Fear River. The Admiral at once sent her to Reeves' Point, about three miles above Fort Fisher, on the "west side of the river," to disable the guns at that place, presuming that the enemy had already abandoned it in the panic. Thus, in twenty-four hours after the capture of Fort Fisher and its outworks, all the formidable chain of works around the two entrances of Cape Fear River were in the hands of the Navy, and, for want of troops were temporarily garrisoned by sailors. Three of the forts had been built to keep out any force that could be sent against them. They were wonderful specimens of engineering skill, and a credit to the Confederate engineers who planned and constructed them. Any one seeing them would suppose that the whole Southern

Confederacy had been at work throwing up

ni

The following is a list of the guns mounted in these works Reeves' Point, three 10-inch guns Smithville, four 10-inch guns above Smithville, two 10-inch guns Fort Caswell, ten 10-inch guns, two 9-inch guns, one Armstrong rifled gun, four rifled 32-pounders, two 32-pounder smooth-bores, :

;

;

;

three 8-inch guns, one Parrott 20-pounder, three rifled field-pieces and three 8-inch

guns—total

29 forts Campbell and Shaw, six 10- inch, six 32-pounder smooth-bore, one 32-pounder rifled, one 8-inch, six field-pieces and two mortars Smith's Island, three 10-inch guns, six 32-pounder smooth-bores, two 22-pounders rified, four field-pieces, 2 mortars and six other guns. Grand total, 83 guns. When General Grant went to Fort Fisher and General Schofield took command, a ;

;

was held on board the "Malvern," at which General Grant presided, and it was concluded to land an Army Corps under General Cox. at Smithville, on the west bank of Cape Fear River, march on Fort Anderson by a good road, while the gun-boats attacked it by water but this plan was changed after General Grant left, and General Schofield undertook an expedition by way of the beach, covered by some six or eight gun-boats; but it came on to blow and rain heavily and the troops had to return, when the first council-of-war

;

plan was finally adopted. On the 18th of February, the gun-boats having shifted their 100-pounder rifles for 11-inch guns, proceeded up the river towards Fort Anderson preparatory to an at-

The Army Corps under General Cox proceeded by the Smithville road to try and cut off the enemy if he attempted to escape from the works. The Monitor "Montauk," tack.

Lieutenant-Commander Edward E. Stone, was anchored eight hundred yards from the fort, which immediately opened fire upon her, but her thick sides and turrets resisted this fire until the other vessels could be brought into position. The river

channel was very narrow,

crooked and

shoal, and the vessels had great difficulty in securing a berth where they could use The following guntheir heaviest guns.

boats were engaged " Lenapee," Lieutenant-Commander John "Sassacus," Lieutenant-ComS. Barnes;

'"Mackinaw," mander John Lee Davis Commander J. C. Beaumont; "Maratanza," ;

Lieutenant

-

Commander

Geo.

W. Young

;

"

Nyack," Lieutenant-Commander L. H. Newman; "Chippewa," Lieutenant Com-

mander

E. E. Potter

;

" Shawmut," Lieu-

tenant - Commander John G. Walker " Seneca," Lieutenant - Commander M. "Malvern," Acting-Ensign Wm. Sicard Lieutenant-ComC. Wise; " Pontoosuc," "Unadilla." ma,nder Wm. G. Temnle ;

:

inn. iv.ir.ij^ niKH\ji\.x

7:^8

Lieutenant -Commander F. M. Ramsey; " Pawtucket, Commander J. H. Spotts "Huron," Lieutenant -Commander Thos. O. Selfridge " Maumee," Lieutenant-Commander Ralph Chandler " Pequot," Lieu;

;

tenant-Commander D. L. Braine. The "Montauk" bore the fire for some hours and returned it leisurely. The Confederates, finding they could make no iinpression on her, reserved their fire until they could find something more vulnerable, and kept in their bomb-proofs. On the 18th, the gun -boats moved to within a thousand yards and opened a rapid and welldirected fire, which was returned with great vigor for half an hour. The Confederate They left the fire then gradually ceased. fort and retreated toWilmington. The Army

ing on that place on both sides of the river, the gun-boats were pushing up as fast as they could find their way through the intricate channel. Before General Cox or General Terry had reached the vicinity of Wilmington, the gun-boats reached Forts Strong and Lee. Taking a position at thirteen hundred yards distant, they opened with their 11-inch guns

The forts were in an elevated and were armed with eight or ten heavy guns. Soon after the fleet opened fire the forts were evacuated, and the Union flag was hoisted over them by Lieutenanton the

forts.

position

Commander

K. R. Breese, Chief of Staff. to be dragged for torpedoes before the gun-boats could pass up, and night came leaving them huddled together in a mass through which a boat could hardly pass. A little before sunset, a faithful " contraband," who had escaped the vigilance of the Confederates, appeared alongside the flagship and informed the Admiral that the enemy intended sending down that night two hundred floating torpedoes with a hundred pounds of powder in each. Orders were immediately given by the Admiral for the gun - boats to get out their fishing seines of which each vessel in the Navy carried one and to unite and spread them across the river in two lines. Thus there were nine hundred and sixty yards of seine presented as an obstacle to the expected torpedoes, placed about five hundred yards above the vessels, while on either side of the river fish weirs extended through the shoal water to shore. This seemed to be a perfect obstruction to floating torpedoes, but about 9 o'clock at night a black object was seen from the The gun-boat flag-ship drifting past her. " Shawmut " was hailed and ordered to send a boat to examine it. The officer of the boat, Acting-Ensign W. B. Trufant, standing in the bow, saw that it was a barrel and fired his revolver at it at close

The channel had

—

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDEK JOHN

S.

BARNES,

CHIEF-OF-STAFF WITH REAR-ADMIRAL S. P. LEE. AND COMMANDING U.S. " LENAPEE," IN CAPE FEAR RIVER, AFTER THE ATTACK ON FORT FISHER.

S.

—

exploding it, by which he was dangerously wounded, two of the boat's crew killed, and one slightly wounded, while the boat was shattered. A short time after, another of the same kind exploded in the "Osceola's" wheel-house, blowing it to pieces and knocking down some bulkheads on board, but doing no damage to the hull. This was all the injury done by these ugly customers, two only escaping the nets out of the hundreds sent down. Next morning quarters,

came up

half an hour afterwards and found the fort in possession of the Navy. In this day's fight the loss was only two killed and six wounded on the "Chippewa" and

" Pequot."

About

fifty

boats were sent out

at once to drag the river for torpedoes, and, after picking up all that could be

found, pushed on and transported General Cox's division over the creeks, where the Confederates had burned the bridges, so that he was delayed but a short time and was enabled to move on to Wilmington. In the meantime. General Terry's division at or near Fort Fisher charged General Hoke's intrenchments, and the Confederates immediately retreated upon Wilmington so that, while the Army was mai'cli;

boats were sent up to the nets, when it was found that a great number of the infernal

machines had been caught and held. They were all disposed of by firing muskets into them at a safe distance and exploding them.

Such were the obstacles and apparatus

OF THE CIVIL WAR. that opposed a more rapid advance up the river but after it had been tlioroughly dragged in the morning, and all the torpedoes taken up, the gun-boats pushed on up, hoping to arrive at Wibnington before the army; but General Terry reached there before them, and the divisions of Cox and Terry shook hands in the streets of the captured city. This ended the capture of all the various works in and about Wil;

mington, and the Confederates

retreated

toward Richmond by the Wilmington railNothing more remained to be done. road.

A quick dispatch - vessel was sent to Hampton Roads immediately on the fall of Fort Fisher to notify the Navy Department result, and now the final victory was announced to the Secretary of the Navy in the same manner. The Admiral, after making a proper distribution of the gun-boats to co-operate with the army, proceeded in the steamer

by telegram of the

"Rhode Island"

to

Hampton Roads, while

the vessels not needed in Cape Fear River were dispatched to their stations, or sent to several other points which the enemy still occupied. On his arrival at Hampton Roads, the Admiral received the following letter from Secretary Welles, which, if not as ardent as some of his congratulations to other all

who had gained victories, it must remembered that he had written so

officers

be

many hearty

congratulations that he could not find words on this occasion to express his gratification

— The

Navy Department,

Jan.

17, 1865.

Department has just received your brief, but highly gratifying, dispatch announcing the fall, on the 15th instant, of Fort Fisher, under tlie combined assault of the Navy and Anny, and hastens to congratulate you and General Terry and the brave officers, soldiers and sailors of your respective commands on your glorious success. Accept my thanks for your good work. Very respectfully, Sib

Gideon 'WEijiyES, Secretary of the Navy. Rbar-Admiral David D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron, off

Wiimington.

The following telegram was sent immediately on the receipt of the news to the commandants of the Navy Yards

729

the 13th instant: At 4 A. m., in obedience to signal, got underway from our anchorage, near Wilmington, and steamed towards the forts in line of battle, the " Minnesota" ahead. At 8 A. m., anchored within easy range of the coast, in six and a half fathoms forts about five miles distance, bearing N. B. by E. to cover the landing of troops, and sent five boats to assist in landing them from the transports. Connnenced shelling the woods skirting the coast; at8:55 ceased firing, in obedience to your signal. At 11:10 the third line of gun-boats steamed along shore, shelling the woods, while the troops were being landed rapidly. At 3 P. M. recalled boats, in obedience to your signal. Ai 3:15 got underway, aU the troops having been successfully landed. At 3:45 proceeded to attack the forts, without regard to the " Minnesota," in accordance to your signal, followed by the rest of the *

',

,

At 4:40 opened fire upon the forts, with steam hawser fast to the "New Ironsides," and continued line.

the action briskly, in easy range, until 5:50 P. M., when, by your order, we ceased firing, and retired from action lit being then too dark to discern objects on shore). At 7 P. M., anchored in eight fathoms, Fort Fisher bearing VV. S. W., distance three miles. My casualties were, one killed (Robert Little,

seaman, one severely wounded, one wounded. Hulled six times by the forts one 150-pound solid shot through berth-deck one 150-pound solid shot through gun-deck, cutting through side one 150pound solid shot through port side, above waterline, and lodging in a beam end, where it remained; two 150-pound solid shots, striking sheet-chain and cutting it through. The enemy's shell exploded ;

;

;

over the hull of this ship, but without serious inI forward herewith reports of Surgeon Jas. McLelland and of the warrant officers. I am much gratified to have it in my power to report that the officers and crew of this ship behaved with their usual gallantry. I have to commend to your notice, especially. Lieutenant M. L. Johnson, who, in the midst of a heavy fire from the enemy, with a boat's crew of volunteers, carried a hawser from this ship to the "New Ironsides," in order to enable us to bring all the guns to bear from the port battery, and was, for more than half an hour, a target for the forts, which they availed themselves of, but fortunately without success. I cannot omit the opportunity to speak in the highest terms of Acting-Ensign W. G. Perry, who, when the action commenced, had just returned to the ship, after having been absent all day with the boats in landing troops, and, although drenched to the skin and worn out with fatigue, went immediately to the second division, which he commanded, and fought his guns splendidly through the action. In addition to this, Mr. Perry is, in all respects, worthy of jury.

an additional grade. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. K. Thatcher, Comtnodore. Rear- Admiral David D. Porter.

Commanding

N. A. Station.

:

" Fire a national salute in honor of the capture, on the 15th instant, of the rebel works on Federal Point, near Wilmington, by a combined attack of the Army and Navy. "Gideon Welles.''

To complete the narrative of the events described in this chapter, the following reports are added :

thatcher. report of commodore United States Steam-frigate "Colorado,") Off Wilmington, N. C, Jan. 14, 18G5. Admiral— I have the honor to report the followine as the result of the ooerations of this shin on h. k.

)

report of commodore WM. RADFORD. U.

S.

Ship

"New

Ironsides,"

At Anchor off Fort Fisher, January

—

15, 1865.

) )"

have the honor to report, that, in obediSir ence to your orders, the iron-clad division steamed m and took their position under the guns of the battery of Fort Fisher, this ship leading anchored at 8:29 A. M. on the 13th instant. The "MonadI

;

nock,"

Commander

E. G. Parrott

;

" Canonicus,"

Lieutenant-Commander G. E. Belknap; "Saugus," Commander G. R. Colhoun and "Mahopac," Lieutenant-Commander A. W. Weaver. The battery opened on this ship as we came in. I did not ;

reply until I obtained my desired position, openins then, deliberately, to get a correct range, as the

THE NA VAL Hl^lUKi

730

wooden vessels were engaged landing troops, etc. The iron-clad division received the fire nearly all day alone from Fort Fisher, without receiving any very material damage, and remained in position during

By orders from Admiral Porter, the iron-clad division commenced the action at 10;47 A. M. on the 14th instant, and continued firing until after dark. Some of the wooden gun-boats came up, and commenced firing at 2;30 P. M., hauling off at dark, the iron-clad division maintaining their position. On the morning of the lath we commenced the action at 7:16 A. m., and continued to fire during the day, concentrating it upon the guns of the battery which was doing the most effective work, which we invariably soon silenced or dis abled. As the troops were advancing, I observed two field-pieces in the rear of the fort firing on them, which we soon silenced with some welldirected shells from this ship. "When the enemy came out of their bomb-proofs to defend the fort against the storming party, I used my battery with great success against them, every shell bursting, At 5:20 p. m. we apparently, in the right place. the night.

ceased firing by orders from the flag-ship, nearly every gun on the fort facing us having been disabled in the first two days' action. I cannot close my report without speaking in the highest terms of the battery of this ship, and the manner in which it was served, for three consecutive days, my officers and men fighting all day and taking in amnmnition during the night. I know of nothing surpassing it on record. 1 would now speak of the Monitors, and the handsome manner in which they were handled and fought during the time; and the different attacks on Fort Fisher has not only proved that they could ride out heavy gales at sea, but fight their guns in moderately smooth weather, which has been doubted by many intelligent officers. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

William Radfokd, Commodore, Commanding Iron-clad Division. Rbar-Admiral D. D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron, Flag-ship

REPOHT

''ilalvern,'" off

Fort Fisher, N.

C.

LIEUTENANT - COMMAiSDBR JAMES PARKER. United States Steam-frigate "Minnesota," Off Fort Fisher, N. C, January 16, 1865. Admiral— I have the honor to submit the following in regard to the assault made upon Fort Fisher, on the 15th instant, by the officers, sailors and marines of the fleet under your command, who OF

\

The men who had been detailed for intrenching duty had, as soon as landed, been sent forward under

command

of Lieutenant S.

W.

Preston, and,

under a brisk fire of grape and musketry from the fort, were engaged in digging rifle-pits.

By the time this last formation was had, the enemy had opened upon us with grape and shell, and from this time out we were constantly under After forming, the force was inarched to the by the right flank of companies, untU near enough for the enemy to open upon us with rifles, when the divisions were again marched by the left fire.

front

flank along the beach until about half a mile from the fort, where the men were ordered to lie down under cover of the crest of the beach to await the assault of the army. The force thus rested for about half an hour, all the time under a flre of musketry and occasionally grape from the fort, by which several were wounded, and, I believe, one or two killed. At the same time, the fleet was firing over us at the fort, and many shells bursting prematurely scattered their fragments in alarming proximity. I append a plan showing the line of march from the time of landing.

At about 3 o'clock the army was observed moving to the assault, and the order was given for the This they gal sailors and marines to advance. lantly did, cheering as they went "on the run" tby and In a short time the flank) along the beach, reached the point "A" marked upon the plan, at which the palisades of the fort .join the beach. As soon as the fleet observed that the assault had begun, the steam-whistles were sounded, and the firing on the fort completely ceased. Observing this, the enemy opened a heavy fire upon us of musketry and grape, which soon became very hot. A few of the officers and men passed beyond the palisades, but the advance along the beach was there checked and turned along the palisades towards the fort. In the hurry of the advance, the different divisions had somewhat intermingled, and a large number of officers and sailors and a few marines had congregated at "A," and almost every shot from the enemy carried its message of wound or death to some one of our number. Lieutenants Preston and Porter and Acting-Ensign Wiley, of the " Montgomery," had fallen dead. Lieutenants Lamson and Bache, and many other officers, both regulars and volunteers, had been killed and wounded.

were detailed for the performance of that duty. signal for landing was made at about 10 o'clock A. M. By nocn all were landed and formed on the

Seeing the advance had been checked, the rear also at once halted, and sought the cover of the crest of the beach. Quite a large space was left between that part of the force congregated at "A" and the rest of it. The marines, with a few exceptions, were quite far down the beach. I desire to name Captain George Butler and Lieutenant William Wallace as being at the front. At this time

beach.

Lieutenant-Commander Breese, who had been

found Lieutenant - Commander K. E,. Breese representing you in command. Although I am his senior, still, as you had assigned him to the command, I at once decided to act as his subordinate. The sailors were formed in three divisions, according to the divisions of the fleet. To LieutenantCommander C. H. Cushman was assigned the com-

the time in front of the advance, endeavored to bring the rear forward, but without avail. The officers and men at the point " A" withstood for a long time the hot flre of the enemy, now not more than sixty or seventy yards off from us, without being able to return it. I had been fortunate enough to reach unhurt the point "B," marked upon the plan, and at this time observing some rebels upon the parapet of the fort who were seemingly unarmed, waving their hats to us, and beckoning us forward gave the order " forward," and advanced followed by many officers, both regular and volunteer, and iuen, including a few marines. As I did so, I turned to see if the rest of the men were following, and. to my intense surprise and mortification, saw that a panic had seized the force, and that they were ingloriously flying along the beach away from the fort. Some of the officers (prominent among whom I observed Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge) tried to

\

The I

mand

of the first division. second division fell to me

sion

to

;

The command of the that of the third divi-

Lieutenant-Commander Thomas

O.

Sel-

fridge.

The marines formed a fourth division, under com-

mand

of

Captain

L.

Jj,

Dawson,

of the " Colorado."

After assembling the several divisions on the beach, they were all marched by the flank to a point about a mile from Fort Fisher, and were there formed in parallel hues perpendicular to the beach, and to the fire of the fort the marine division in the front, and the others in the order of their num;

bers.

—

—

all

OF THE CIVIL WAR. them, and their fellow-men who were near for their shameful conduct but in vain all but about sixty fled. The enemy began to cheer, and at once concentrated their whole fire upon the small band who had not fled. In an instant four officers, LieutenantCommander Oushman, Acting-Ensign Frederick A. O'Conner, Acting-Master's Mate Josepli M. Simms, and A. F. Aldrich (of the "Tuscarora"), were wounded and fell at my side. I saw that any further attempt at advance would, with our small number, be folly, and so ordered all who were left to seek the protection of the angle " B " of the palisades. This we did, and remained there until dark, all the while exposed to the enemy, who never failed to fire at any one who showed himself. After dark we all came safely away, bringing our wounded, our colors, and our arms. Five gallant fellows, viz., Acting-Ensign George T. Davis, of the " Wabash "; Acting-Master s Mate Aldrich, of the "Tuscarora"; Louis C. Sheppard, sailor of the "Wabash"; one man (name unknown to me a petty officer from the "Tacony," and a private of marines, Henry Thompson, of the " Minnesota," got a few paces beyond "B." Mr. Aldrich was severely wounded, and the petty officer was killed. I am utterly at a loss to explain the panic which, after they had so gallantly charged up to the enemy's works, and the prospect of success was so good, seized upon the force. It was certainly not want of courage, for during the long time the column had been under fire not a man had wavered, and the advance to the assault was as splendid as could have been made by veterans. Lieutenant-Commander K. R. Breese, who commanded the assaulting party, added to his already well-earned and established reputation for bravery and cool .judgment in battle. He led the advance to the palisades, and when he saw the rear deliying, endeavored, sword in hand, to bring them forward to our support. Failing to accomplish this, he returned, under a shower of bullets directed at him alone, to the sand-hills at "C," and when it seemed no longer useful to remain there, coolly followed the retreating mass. How he escaped death is a marvel to me. Lieutenant - Commander Charles H. Cushman (wounded) and Montgomery Sicard Lieutenants N. H. Farquhar, R. H. Lamson, Smith W. Nichols, and John R. Bartlett Acting-Master W. H. Maies, of the " Seneca"; Acting Ensigns George T. Davis, " Wabash" James Birtwistle and F. A. O'Connor, "Minnesota " Dayton, of the '' Nereus,'' and an acting-ensign from the "Gettysburg" (whose name Acting-Master's Lieutenant Lamson will supply Mate Joseph M. Simms, "Minnesota," and A. F. Aldrich, "Tuscarora," both wounded, all behaved very gallantly, and did not retreat until I ordered them, alter dark, to do so. I have named them because they are all known to me. There were others there equally brave and worthy, whose names, unfortunately, are not in my possession. I have called the attention of my commanding officer (Commodore Lanman) to Acting Ensigns Birtwistle and O'Connor. Both these gentlemen hold their present appointments as a reward of gallant conduct under flre. They are both competent, inteUigent, and perfectly correct young men, and they well deserve another step upwards. I earrally

me reproached them

—

,

;

command

731

of the party

my division.

from bis

Although

vessel, and was of fitter for the sick-bed of a

hospital than for the field, he pereisted in going to the assault. He started with us, marched until his strength gave out, and his weak body was unable to carry his brave heart forward, when, by my orders, he went into the trench thrown up by Lieutenant Preston's party. It was no fault of his that he was not found in the front of the advance when the order to charge came. Of those gallant dead the country may well be proud. They can be illy spared, but their names will be treasured as an inspiration for the future. Preston and Porter were killed at the front, and Assistant - Surgeon William Longshaw, Jr., after adding to the reputation for bravery which he gained under flre of the batteries at Charleston while serving on board the iron-clad "Lehigh," was shot by the enemy as he was binding up the wounds of a dying man. Their dead bodies were found laying side by side the next morning. It is painful to write such a record, but I feel compelled to state that I often saw the rebels deliberately fire in squads at the wounded who were endeavoring to crawl away. I cannot close this report, Admiral, without saying that, although our naval assault did not meet with the i-uccess you hoped for, still it was of vast service to the country. I have conversed, since the fort was taken, with many rebel officers and men (prisoners and all are unanimous in saying that a large part of their force was kept at the "sea-face " to resist our attack. I know that a large force was there to resist us. It is no detraction from the eminent skill and bravery displayed by our brethren of the army to claim this much credit for our ,

sailors. I had

to send yoa a complete list of all those not affected by the panic and remained One was taken, but I am not able now to at " B.' learn who has it. It will doubtless Vje found, and I shall forward it whenever it is found. I congratulate you, sir, upon the great victory which the fleet under your command has, in conjunction with the army, so gloriously won, and am, Very respectfully, j'our obedient servant,

hoped

who were

James Parker, Lieutenant-Commander. Rear- Admiral David D. Porter, Com'dg North Atlantic Squadron.

;

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT

;

;

nestly press them upon your notice. Acting-Master's Mate Joseph M. Simms and A. F. Aldrich, "Tuscarora," are fine young men. Simms Of I personally know to be eminently worthy. Aldrich, Commander Frailey, of the "Tuscarora," speaks in high terms. Both were severely wounded while in the extreme front both richly merit their ;

promotion. I desire to say a few words in respect to Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant-Commander Joseph D. J

i-:ii

L. E.

FAGAN,

U.

S.

MARINE

CORPS.

;

United States Steam-frigate "Wabash,"

At

f

Sea, January 17, 1865. Captain In obedience to your order, I have the honor to make the following report concerning the part taken by the marine guard of this ship in the operations against the rebel Fort Fisher, commanding the entrance to New Inlet, N. C, on the 15th day of January, 1865. My couunand consisted of three sergeants, three corporals, and thirty- eight privates; and to prevent confusion in landing, the company was dividedinto four sections, each commanded by a non-commis)

—

sioned officer. On the morning of the 15th

instant,

at

10:30

my men

were landed and formed on the beach, about two miles to the northward of Fort I then received and formed into other Fisher. companies the marines of the diff'erent vessels, until the arrival of Captain Butler, United States Marine o'clock,

Corps,

when I turned the command over to that

of-

ficer.

At 11 A. mander K.

M., I

was ordered by Lieutenant-Com-

R. Breese, fleet-captain, through Captain Butler, to take my guard and advance to the support of the sailors at the front, who were throwing up intrenchments near Fort Fisher, under the Hli-pption of Lieutenant Preston, United States

THE NAVAL HISTORY

732

company up the beach by I marched llanlc until within a mile of the rebel fort, when, as skirfinding the fire severe, I deployed Navy.

the

my

my men

mishers across the plain, and continued to advance. Arriving at the intrenchments, I ordered my men to cover themselves from the enemy's shot, and this they partially did by throwing up heaps of sand After the sailors with their bayonets and hands. had completed their breastworks, 1 was ordered by Lieutenant-Commander Breese to advance my command to the extreme parallel of intrenchments; which I did, my men marching to the front, across a plain swept by fire, with alacrity and spirit. In this advance I frequently ordered my men to lie down; and as soon as the shower of grape had passed, the march was resumed at the double-quick. After a toilsome march through the sand, we reached a line of intrenchments about forty yards from the fort, which I found occupied by the skirmish line of the 147th New York Volunteers. During the advance two of my men were badly wounded, and they were at once" sent to the rear. I now ordered a few of my men (good shots) to open fire on the rebel gunners, and it was owing to their skill that a field-piece inside the palisade was forced to be abandoned by the rebel artillerists. I now awaited further orders; but finding the beach filling up with soldiers, and supposing the attaclc about to be made, I collected and marched my men by the flank across the plain towards the beach, where I saw the column of sailors and marines advancing to the front. Seeing no officer to report to, I formed my men with the rest of the marines, who were in the centre of the column, the advance being composed entirely of sailors. In this manner we marched, under a severe fire of musketry from the fort, towards the northeast angle of the work, until the column halted, when I ordered my men to lie down and pick oflf the rebels on the parapet of Fort Fisher until the order was given to charge. My men had opened fire when I gave tlie word to cease firing and prepare for the assault. I now perceived a movement in front of our position, and soon after a body of men rushed past. I endeavored, by every means in my power, to prevent the retreat which I now plainly saw was initiated, but my appeals and threats were of no avail, and I then prepared myself for the worst, knowing that a retreat would be disastrous and more deadly than a charge against the fort. My command maintained its position until I saw Lieutenant-Commander F. B. Blake, United States Navy, who informed me that the assault had been for the present abandoned. I then collected my men and marched down to the beach. Having seen that the retreat was universal on the part of the naval forces, I gave several of my men permission to advance again to the front and annoy the rebels as much as possible with sharp-shooting. Shortly after, hearing that an attempt was about to be made to rally the men, I halted and allowed my men to seek cover, while, in company with Acting Lieutenant - Commander Danels, of the " Vanderbilt," I collected straggling sailors and marines, and formed the men under some sand-hills on the beach, about six hundred yards from Fisher. We had collected quite a number of men, when I received orders from Lieutenant-Commander F. B. Blake to take my men, and as many more as I could find, and report to General Terry, United States Army, the object being to occupy, "with sailors and marines, a line of intrenchments in the rear, then threatened by the enemy I collected about two hundred marines, and marched to General Terry's headquarters, where I reported, and was at orice assigned to a position on the northeast line, which position the marines occupied with vigilance and attention until the morning, when we were relieved, and I embarked my command for the "Wabash." It only remains for me to add that one sergeant and six privates, who became detached from my

guard while in the army intrenchments at the front, accompanied the army in the storming of the fort, and, as I afterwards heard from an army officer, behaved with gallantry and coolness during In concluthe hand-to-hand conflict that ensued. sion, captain, I would say, that during the time the marine guard of this ship was on shore, they behaved with bravery and subordination on all occasions.

It pleased the fleet-captain (Lieutenant-

Breese) to compliment the handsome manner in which my men advanced in skirmish line

Commander

to the advanced line of intrenchments under a, heavy fire, and I feel that his words of praise were not undeserved. All my men behaved well, but I would present especially to your attention the conduct of Corporal Tomlin, of the guard, who, under a heavy fire from the enemy's sharp-shooters, advanced into an open plain close to the fort and assisted a wounded comrade to a place of safety. I respectfully ask that his conduct may be made known to the honorable Secretary of the Navy, so that he may receive a medal of honor. The marine guard is at present accounted for, and on board the ship in good condition. Enclosed please find a list of wounded. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Louis E. Fagan, Lieut. TJ. S. Marines. Comd'g &uard. Frigate "Wabash.'''' Captain Melancton Smith, U. S. N., Commanding U. 8. Steam-frigate "Wabash.'"

REPORT OF captain CHARLES STEEDMA^f. States Steamer " Ticonderoga," Off WiLMlJfGTOJV, N. C, January 17, 1865. UiSTiTED

> (

— I have the honor to

lay before you the following report of the part this ship took in the reon Federal Point, which cent attacks upon the forts has terminated so gloriously and successfully to the two branches of the service engaged. On the afternoon of the 13th instant, after the return of the boats employed in landing troops, in obedience to signal, I took position in line of battle, and at 5:15 p. M. anchored ahead of the line, as directed in General Order No. 78. From this point a well-directed fire was kept up on the batteries to the left of Fort Fisher, in accordance with the chartplan furnished me. Upon hearing the signal- whistle, at 5:55 p. M., I had the battery trained upon the Mound and on the guns in its neighborhood. A continuous fire was then kept up until I received orders to withdraw from action, at 6:20 p. M. I am happy to say that no casualties occurred on board, although several of the enemy's shots fell over and around the vessel. The only loss sustained was that of the stern Ivedge-anchor, caused by a rifle shot cutting its hawser. On the 15th instant, in obedience to signal, I got underway and took position at the end of the second line. At 10:35 A. M. a storming party of sailors in three (3) boats, in charge of Ensign George W. Coffin, and the marine guard, under command of FirstLieutenant Charles F. Williams, were sent from this vessel to report to the flag-ship for orders. At the same time I received your verbal message not to move until further orders. At 11:45 p. m., incompliance with signal, I steamed up and took position ahead of the second line, about a cable's length ahead of the "Shenandoah." From tliis point a well-directed fire was kept up with the starboard guns on the liatteries well to the left of Fort Fisher,

Sir

keeping with your programme. Before opening the enemy threw several heavy rifle shots over and near me, but after a couple of rounds from this in

fire

ship his fire was silenced. your verbal orders to shift

At

1:05 p. m. I received

my berth nearer in

;

this

was done with some little d'elay and considerable trouble, owing to the strength of the ebb-tide and want of a sufficient head of steam. By spreading

OF THE fires, I

CIVIL WAR.

was enabled to get the necessary speed to give

of the ship and to take a position nearer to the enemy's battery. Prom that time my flre was kept up in the same direction as heretofore, until the signal was made to cease firing. I then asked permission to open upon

me control

the " Mound," which had turned its guns upon our assaulting columns this being granted, a deliberate fire was directed upon that fort up to 6:30 p. M., ;

discontinued firing and secured tlie battery For one hour and a half previous to receiving your message (by tug) to cease firing, I had not fired a single shot. It gives me great pleasure to express my entire satisfaction at the thorough and efficient manner the officers and crew performed their duty during the time we were engaged in bombarding the enemy's works. I am indebted to Lieutenant George B. White, the executive officer of this

when

I

for the night.

vessel, for his energetic assistance.

communication

transmit copies of the With this reports of First-Lieutenant C. F. Williams, of tlie marine guard, marked " A," and Ensign G. W. Coffin, who had command of the assaulting party of also the sailors sent from this vessel, marked " B " gunner s report of expenditure of ammunition. The surgeon's report of casualties has already been forwarded. In conclusion, allow me to congratulate you. Admiral, upon this brilliant and decided success, which has resulted in planting our flag on one of the strongest fortifications possessed by the I

;

rebels.

very respectfully, your obedient servant, Charles Steedman, Captain. Bear- Admiral D. D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantio Squadron., Flag-ship ''Malvern." I

am,

sir,

eeport of captain^

l. l.

dawson, uxitbd states

marine corps. Marine Barracks,

New York,

February

15, 1805.

/ \

Admiral —I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the marines under my command in the recent assault upon Fort Fisher

Upon landing, on the morning of the 15th of January, I found all the men that were to constitute the assaulting column on shore. There were about three hundred and sixty-five 365 men in line, exclusive of Lieutenant Fagan, who had been ordered by Captain Breese to occupy a rifle-pit off to the right, near the army advance, before I had reached the shore. I hastily divided the line into four (4) companies, under command of Captain Butler, First-Lieutenant AVallace, First -Lieutenant Corrie and FirstLieutenant Parker, giving First-Lieutenant Williams charge of some twenty -five (35) skirmishers, and First-Lieutenant Meeker acting as adjutant. I received two or three orders from Captain Breese to "bring up the marines at once; that it would be late " so that I had to move off without time to equalize the companies to number them to select sergeants to off for pacing and marching replace officers, or post the guides of a single company or platoon. I took the marines up, and filed across the peninsula in front of the sailors, with Captain Breese pointed skirmishers thrown out. out some light intrenchments towards the main bastion of Fort Fisher, which were dug and being comHe pleted under cover of the flre of the fleet. ordered me to advance " to those that were finished, and as soon as those nearest the fort were completed, to occupy them and when the assault was made, that I should keep up a full tire, when the sailors would rush by me, and, when well past. the. marines follow them into the fort." Thus, in the event of a repulse, we would have had cover to 1

:

;

;

;

!3

I had advanced to the second line of cover, and was waiting for the nearer intrenchments to be finished, when I received an order from Captain Breese "to take the marines down on the beach, about one hundred and fifty (150 yards to the left, and that he woiild bring up the sailors;" "that thei-e was splendid cover on the beach, and that Captain Breese was going that way." 1 was surprised at this order, and asked the gentleman who delivered it if he was not mistaken but he replied, "No." I immediately obeyed the order, and in a few minutes the sailors were brought up. My men were formed by the right flank when the sailors came up, the first division passed the marines, and the whole command lying down by ;

the right flank

:

marines abreast of the second divi-

on the upper side of the beach. While point I received no orders. I had read the

sion, sailors

at this

Admiral's order to Captain Breese respecting the and was watching the army, knowing that agreeably to that order the "army were to be seen going in over the northwest parapet of the fort before we were to move to assault the sea -face." AVhen 1 heard the oi'der, " Charge, charge " everyone rose up and dashed forward, yelling and cheering so loudly that no order could either be heard or passed. I tried to prevent the noise, but assault,

!

with no success. 1 maintained the same position

I had started in, abreast of the second division of sailors; and as the sand was much heavier on the upper side of the beach, I could gain nothing on the flrst division until they got under the heavy flre of the fort, when the first company of marines got abreast with the centre of the first division of sailors. I had just reached the head of my men, after a hard run, when I saw the head of the line of sailors, who had reached the end of the stockade, begin to falter and turn back, and was myself about forty or fifty yards from the end of the stockade, on the beach. I saw some six or eight men go around the end of the stockade, but immediately return and it was at this instant that the whole line com;

menced doubling up and flying, everybody for themselves, except some thirty officers and men at the head of the line, who took cover under an angle in the stockade. The efforts of the officers to rally the men wei-e wholly unsuccessful, the order to retreat being passed along generally. At the moment when the head of the line gave way, the marines were not near enough to open flre effectually, and were on the double-quick, and quite exhausted nor was there the slightest cover this side of the stockade, except a few sand-hills very near the stockade. I saw that the men were hopelessly repulsed. I looked to the rear of the line, which was breaking, as well as the front, and that a good many marines were joining in the retreat, so that I at once oi-dered the marines to " lie down and fire at the parapet," with a view of decreasing the rebel fire, and to prevent the confusion and exposure incident to such a crowd retreating on an open beach. Nearly all the marines of the flrst and second companies obeyed this order; the two rear comisanies 1 could not see, but, as few were to be seen after the retreat was effected, I take -t for granted that they went ;

also.

as the panic Avas over, I ordered those firing, to retreat in squads, as I supposed the fleet would soon open bastion of the fort. I did on that not retreat my-

As soon

men who had lain down, and were

but stayed on the beach about flfty yards from the end of the stockade until sunset, watching the progress of the army. When I went to the rear, a staff officer informed me that (i-eneral Terry desired all the marines and sailors who had arms to occupy the right of General Paine's line that the rebels were demonstrating self,

;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

734

getting about one hundred and eighty (180) marines behind the breastworks, near General Terry's headquarters, where they remained until morning. The rebels, from the manner in which they met the assault, evidently regarded it as the main attack, as it was the first. With the result oi our attack no one was more disappointed than myself. I obeyed all the orders I received from Captain Breese promptly, and exerted myself all I could to make the assault successful and, though a portion of jthe marines retreated with the sailors, it is but just to the rest to say that they remained and performed the duty of good soldiers until I passed the order to retreat. I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ;

L. L.

Dawson,

Captain United States Marine Corps.

Rear-Admiral David D. Portbr, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. REPORT OF LIBUTKNANT-COMMAN'DBR GEORGE

E.

BELKNAP.

We expended during the three days two hundred and ninety-seven (297) 15-inch shells. I have to thank the officers and crew for the zeal and gallant spirit manifested throughout the fight, and for the cheerful manner in which they worked at night, taking on board ammunition after the arduous and exhausting work of the day. I again desire to bring to your notice and that of the department, the services of the executive officer, Lieutenant R. S. McCook, to whom I am indebted for the efficiency and readiness which enabled me at all times to be prompt In all movements required of the ship. Equally fortunate in the services of Chief Engineer D. B. Macomb, I beg leave to recommend him to your favorable consideration.

The powder division was ably commanded by Acting-Master D. 8. Murphy, assisted by ActingEnsigns Seekins and Center. Acting-Ensign M. W. Weld showed great aptitude in handling the guns under the supervision of the executive officer. Assistant Paymaster R. P. Lisle, acting as aide, merits my thanks for the intelligent manner in which he attended to the duties of signal ofBcer.

United States Steamer " Canonicus," Off fort Fisher, N. C, January 17, 1865

—

Sir I have the honor to report that during the actions of the 13th, 14th and 15th instant, which resulted in the captui-e of Fort Fisher, this ship engaged that work at a distance of seven hundred 700) yards, perhaps a little closer on the 15th, as the smoothness of the sea enabled me to go into shoaler water than on the preceding days, having at one time only a foot and a half of water to spare 1

under our

keel.

On

the first day of the attack, the 13th, the enemy replied vigorously to our fire until late in the afternoon, when the heavierships, coming into line, soon diove them into their bomb-proofs. Soon after we had taken position, it became evident that, since the previous attack, a reinforcement of experienced artillerists had been received in the fort, as its fire was much more accurate and spirited than before. They soon obtained our range and struck the ship frequently, while many shots fell close alongside. Upon one occasion, two shots out of three, fired simultaneously, struck the side-armor abreast the turret.

We count thirty -six (36) hits this day, and everything about the deck not shot-proof was badly cut up. Two men were knocked down and stunned at the guns by the impact of a 10- inch gun-shot upon the turret. The flag was shot away twice and gallantly replaced by Quartermaster Daniel D. Stevens. Not content with solid shot, the enemy fired shells occasionally, to burst over the turret, and now and then the bullet of a sharp-shooter whistled over us. On the second and third days the fire of the enemy was comparatively feeble, and principally directed at the gun-boats, and when the larger ships came into action ceased altogether. An occasional musket-shot fell near us, and when the naval-assaulting column was driven back, many of the bullets and grape-shot fired at our gallant fellows passed over us, some few striking the ship. Second-Assistant Engineer John W. Saville received a severe wound in the left thigh from a grape-shot. At this time we also received a 10-inch shot on the side-armor, fired from the water battery on the right of the sea-face of the fort. Our fire was slow and deliberate, and every effort was made to dismount the enemy's guns, and though almost hidden by traverses, I am happy to say we succeeded in dismounting two of them. ActingEnsign M. W. Weld knocked over a six-inch rifle on the second day, and the executive officer. Lieutenant R. S. McCook, disposed of a 10-inch columbiad on the third day of the action. I also saw a shell from the "Monadnock " dismount a gun, and a shot from the "Mahopac'' knoclied the muzzle oil an" other

lieutenant (AFTERWARDS COMMANDER) RODERICK

S.

McCOOK, ESECUTR'E OFFICER OF THE " CANONICUS."

Acting-Master and Pilot Edward A. Decker performed his duties with his accustomed coolness and discretion. I inclose the execiitive officer's report of damages received, and have already forwarded the surgeon's report of casualties. I beg leave to congratulate you. Admiral, upon the brilliant victory which has crowned your elTorts at this point, and which is the

more

gratifj'ing, as it proves conclusively that on a former memorable occasion the possession "would have been found an easier conquest than was supposed," had the attempt been made to occupy it. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

George E. Belknap, Lieit,tenant-Cominander, Commanding. Rear- Admiral D. D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron, Flagship " Malvern,^'' off Fort Fisher, N.

C

report of LIEUTENA2CT - COMMANDER THOMAS

O.

SELFRIDGE.

United States Steamer " Huron." Off Fort Fisher, January 17, 1835.

Sir— I have

)

)

the honor to report that having

OF THE

landed with the men of this vessel to join in the land attack on Fort Fisher, I was detailed by Lieutenant-Commander Breese to command the third

column of attack, composed of detachments from the ships of the third and a portion of the fourth divisions, numbering about four hundred and fifty Lieutenant G. M. Bache commanded the men. right wing,

the I

left

Lieutenant-Commander W. N. Allen

wing.

formed them in column and moved forward by

the head of companies, until near our first rifle-pits, when the whole assaulting column was formed in flank alongside the beach, awaiting the signal of assault from the Army. When this was given, I moved my column forward on the double-quick,followed close on to the second, and for about half a mile under an extremely heavy and withering fire of musketry and grape.

When we finally

reached the palisades,

I

found

the columns which had proceeded me halted and lying down. Going to the front, an effort was made at this time to getthe men to charge; but the fire was so heavy that the few who passed through the stockade were compelled to fall quickly back. At this moment an unexplained panic took place in the rear, which so quickly communicated itself to the whole that it was impossible to rally the men. I remained near the fort till night, when I left, with a few, under cover of the darkness. My colunm moved up with great gallantry, as by the time I got up the rebels had concentrated their whole fire upon us; and until we came to a halt all seemed to be moving well. To Lieutenant -Commander W. N. Allen and Lieutenant G. M. Bache, both woimded, I am indebted for assistance in forming and maintaining the organization of the division. I regret extremely that my entire unacquaintance with any of the officers or crews of my division renders it impossible for me to particularize the deserving, but until the panic all deserved praise, for

none faltered. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Thomas O. SBiiFRiDGE, Lieutenant-Commander. ' '

Malvern. "

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT W. B. GUSHING. United States Steamer " Monticello," Off Wilmington, January, 17, 1865. Sir — I have the honor to report the part taken by this vessel in the actions of the 13th, 14th and 15th I

,

j

instant, resulting in the capture of the harbor defences of Wilmington, the loss of foreign supplies to the rebels, and the ruin of those holding the

Anglo-rebel loan. On the 13th and 14th the "Monticello" assisted in guarding the troops in landing and advancing. On the 15th instant, by your order, I took position close in by the fort and shelled the rebel privateer " Chickamauga " and three transport steamers from their position in the river, thus preventing the landing of reinforcements for the garrison. The ship's guns were then turned on the fort, and used with effect throughout the day. At noon I landed with forty men from this vessel to take part in the naval assault on Fort Fisher. My men, and those of Lieutenant Porter of the "Malvern," led the advance of the storming party. The marines did not clear the parapet of the fort, as anticipated; hence the assault failed. Our sailors were close under the walls, subjected to a heavy Are, since the main body of the enemy had been drawn to that point to resist what they supposed to be the weight of the attack. were forced to fall back with the loss of many of our best officers

We

735

and our diversion in its favor, had effected a lodgment that secured subsequent success. Then, finding myself apparently senior oflBcer, I rallied as many sailors and marines as possible, and at night placed them in the trenches, as requested by General Terry, thus relieving some regiments that went to the front. In this I was greatly assisted by your son. Secretary Porter, and by Lieutenant Woodward, of the " Minnesota." Acting-Ensign Daniel W. Lalsin, of this vessel, behaved gallantly and rendered material aid. My loss during the day consisted of four killed and four wounded. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. B. CUSHING,

gallantry

Lieutenant,

Commanding.

Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron,

etc.

report of acting-master h. w. grinnell. Headquarters Sherman s Army,

(

Fayetteville, N. C, March 12, 1865. Sir — I have the honor to report that I have this day succeeded in handing to Ma.ior-General Sherman the cypher dispatch intrusted to me by MajorGeneral Sohofleld at Wilmington, North Carolina, on the 4th instant. I left the " Nyack " on the evening of the 4th in a )

small dug-out, with a party consisting of ActingEnsign H. B. Oolby, Thomas Gillespie, seaman, and Joseph Williams, ship's painter, armed with Sharpe's rifles and revolvers, and taking two days' rations. After proceeding up the river about twelve miles I met the enemy's advance picket-post, which I succeeded in passing without discovery but at a point near Livingston's Creek I found the picket so strongly posted that I deemed it the more prudent course to abandon my boat, and to attempt to communicate with General Sherman's forces near the Pedee River. I left my boat on the morning of the 5th instant, and struck for the Wilmington and WhitehaU road. On my way I passed through the village of Summerville, where I destroyed some arms which I found in the possession of the citizens here I got information that a party of cavalry were endeavoring to cut me off at Livingston's Bridge, and I was reluctantly compelled to secrete myself and party in a negro hut near by ; here I remained two days, when I received information that the enemy, tired of waiting, had recrossed the river, thus leaving me free to advance. At dark on the 7th instant, having secured the services of a negro guide, I started in the direction of Whitesville, advancing with caution, and moving only by night. After much tedious and difficult marching through theswamps, I reachedapoint near Whitesville on the morningof the9thinstant. The town washeldby the enemy in strong force, and, finding traveling on foot consumed too much time, I determined to impress horses, and by a bold dash break through the pickets on the Lumbertown road. With this purpose in view, I left my bivouac in the swamps, and succeeded in passing unobserved until I reached the cross-road to Whitehall, which I found picketed. After satisfying myself that the picket had no re;

;

Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron, Flag ship

WAR.

CIVIL

we made a quick dash and captured two men without alarm, and before they became aware of our purpose I disarmed them, and after compelling them to follow me for about five miles I paroled them, leaving them apparently much satisfied at their release. They were members of Company A, serve,

51st North Carolina Infantry, and represented their regiment as being much demoralized. After hard riding night and day, I reached Drowning Creek at a point near the town of Lumbertown on the afternoon of the 11th here I first learned definitely of the whereabouts of General Sherman's forces. I mot a small scouting party near the creek, but they fled to the woods at our approach. On the ;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

736

of meeting the rear scouts of General Sherittan's forces on the Lumber Bridge road, about twenty The several roads being miles from this place.

blocked up by wagons, artillery, etc., and our horses being quite -worn out by hard riding, I did not reach these headquarters until 1 P. M. this afternoon. General Sherman received the dispatch, and expressed himself much surprised at receiving it through the Navv, and by such a route. In parts of Robeson County"! found a very large number of deserters from the rebel army, and quite a strong

Union

Wilmington. In conclusion, allow me to thank you for giving permission to undertake this rather novel naval

me

scout.

am,

sir,

your obedient servant,

H. Walton Grinnbll, Acting-Master U. S- Navy, Commanding Expedition.

Lieutenant-Commander George W. Young, Senior

Officer, off

Wilmington, N.

C.

While the fleet was off Wilmington, and Admiral Porter engaged in taking that place, General Grant came very near being put to great inconvenience, if not disaster, owing to a circumstance which at the time seemed rather discreditable to the Navy. Before the fleet left Hampton Roads, every care was taken that the James River, below Hewlett's Battery, should be kept so perfectly guarded by a naval force that there could be no possible chance left for the Confederate iron-clads to make an attack on the vessels below the obstructions sunk in the river, which consisted of several large schooners loaded with stones sunk in tlie middle of the stream, and heavy booms and chains extending from the sunken vessels to either shore and secured to anchors planted in the bank. These obstructions were immediately under the fire of the •' Onondago," a doubleturreted Monitor, carrying four 15 - inch guns, several double - enders. carrying 11inch and 9-inch guns, a torpedo-boat of excellent construction, and also a battery on shore belonging to the Army. A pontoon bridge was in place below tlie vessels guarding the obstructions, to enable the Army of the James to retreat across the river under cover of the gun-boats, in case Every it was attacked by a superior force. arrangement had been made to prevent a disaster of any kind, and to punish tlie enemy in case he sliould attempt to make an attack. There could be no possibility of the enemy's fleet getting past the obstructions while the Federal naval force maintained its position; but, in case it should be driven away, then the Confederates could have blown up tlie obstruction, passed

Army

on the left bank supports, and threatening Citv Point, where all the stores were gathered "for the use of the Army before

thus cutting off che of the

James from

its

Richmond. The Confederate naval force at that time in the James River, under the command of J. K. Mitchell, consisted of the " Virginia " ( 4 Brooke rifles). iron - clad "RichDunnington

Commodore iron-clad

feeling.

I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of Acting-Ensign Colby, also of the two men, Thomas Gillespie and Jos. Williams, who were ever ready to encounter any danger or hardship that came in their way. General Sherman wishing me to connnunicate with you as soon as possible, I leave to-night by the army tug, hoping to meet you on my way to

I

through and broken up the pontoon bridge,

Captain

mond

" (4

;

Brooke

rifles).

Captain Johnson;

iron-clad "Fredericksburg" (-i Brooke rifles). Captain Wilson; " Nansemond," wooden (2 guns), Captain Butt; "Roanoke," wooden gun ), Captain Wyatt, and " Torpedo," ( 1 wooden (1 gun), commanding officer unknown. This fleet, with its iron-clads and rifle-guns, was no match for the "Onondaga " and the gun-boats, assisted by the

but the Confederate commander, either on his own volition or by an order from his Government, determined to make an attempt to pass the obstructions At the and break up the pontoon bridge. same time General Lee was to attack the army on the left bank of the river, and, while the Confederate fleet was occupied in driving away the Union gun-boats and the "Onondaga," push on to City Point, set fire to all the wharves and store-houses, and create a scene of destruction unparalleled torpedo - boat

;

in the annals of the war.

This might have been done under a bold and dashing commander who knew what he w'as about, and was willing to risk the loss of his whole fleet to gain The Confedan important advantage. erate fleet in James River was not a particle of use in the defence of that stream, which was so filled with obstructions and torpedoes, backed by four heavy forts, that no man having common sense or judgment would have attempted to ascend the river, especially as there was no particular object in doing so. The forts on the river were within supporting distance of each other, and under the command of a very able naval officer, John R. Tucker, who also had charge of the torpedo corps. The bed of the river was full of torpedoes, and a dozen

no matter what their size or would have been sunk before they could have reached the first obstruction above Drury"s Bluff. As long as the "Onondaga" floated, the Confederate vessels could not get down with safety, any more than the Federal ships could get up, and the only way to meet with any success was for the Confederates to risk a dozen lives and send down a dozen torpedo-boats, vessels,

strength,

and

destroy the double-turreted This may have been the intenit was never carried out.

try to

Monitor. tion, but

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

A

night was appointed for Mitchell's fleet attack on the Federal forces. At daylight, next morning, two of the ironclads appeared around the point near Howlett's Battery and approached the obstacles, where they stopped. Commander William A. Parker, the commanding officer of the Federal naval force, had been instructed in written orders from Admiral Porter that, in case the Confederate fleet should show itself below Howlett's Battery, to get underway and proceed up close to the obstructions, to hold on there and keep up his fire as long as a Confederate iron-clad remained in sight. Strange to say, Commander Parker turned

to

make an

the head of his vessel down stream and seemed for a moment about to destroy the pontoon bridge; but, suddenly reflecting, he attempted to turn his ship in that narrow river, got aground, and knocked off the wings of one of his propellers. His given reason for pursuing this erratic course was "that he wanted to get down stream some distance so that he might go at the enemy

with all speed." This was ridiculous, as the Confederates were on the other side of the obstructions, and could not be reached ex-

by shot or shell. Parker proved afterwards to be of unsound mind, though it

cept

was not suspected at the time, and previous to this fiasco stood high in the naval service both as a brave man and an excellent officer. It would therefore be ungenerous to criticise his conduct, except to regret that the Admiral's original intention to leave Commander A. C. Rhind in command was not carried out, as Rhind would have destroyed the two iron-clads that appeared below Howlett's Battery. The commanders of the two Confederate iron-clads behaved in quite as erratic a manner as the captain of the " Onondaga." They both came to anchor at a place called the Crow's Nest, a tall frame-work look-out, built by General Butler to observe the movements of the Confederate gun-boats and to communicate by signal with General Grant. The officers of the Confederate iron-clads landed in their boats and seemed to examine this structure with a great deal of curiosity. At first they determined to burn it, but finally retired satisfied with cutting their names on the timbers, and returned to their vessels.

So far

it

does not appear as

if

there

was

any concert of action between the two ironclads, nor does the motive of their coming below Howlett's Battery appear. They laid at anchor all night at the look-out and seemed uncertain what to do. Tliat night the torpedo-boat could have blown them both up, but no attempt was made from any quarter to disturb them, and, no doubt, they wondered what had become of the

737

up the river, very much shorn of her speed by the loss of one of her propellers. On seeing her, the two Confederate iron-clads got underway and proceeded up toward Howlett's Battery, evidently returning in search of their commander-in-chief. They did not, however, get off without some damage. When the " Onondaga " reached the obstructions. Commander Parker opened fire on the retreating vessels with all his 15-inch guns. One of the Confederate iron-clads had just turned the point, but the rear one received a solid shot which pierced her side, inflicting some injuries to her hull, and killing and wounding several of lier men. A 15-inch shell from the "Onondaga" struck the same vessel on the knuckle and entered three or four feet, but failed to explode. Another solid shot struck the iron-clad on her casemate, shattering it

very much, and knocking down a number of her men. By this time she had passed the point and danger.

was shut out from further

Thus ended this remarkable affair, which might have caused serious trouble if it had been conducted with any determined dash, though the fact that the "Onondaga's" shot had inflicted so much damage in so short a time is rather a proof that, if both these vessels could have passed, they would have been knocked to pieces. After this, the obstructions were further strengthened by sinking another large schooner loaded with stone, and that was the last attempt

made to reach City Point with their naval force. But the commander of the Federal vessels lost an opportunity to gather some laurels, an opportunity that never occurred again, while the Federal Navy lost a page in history which might have been chronicled as one of the brightest events of the war. After the destruction of the " Albemarle" and the recapture of Plymouth, the operations in the Sounds of North Carolina were comparatively unimportant, for the occasional raids of energetic Confederate guerillas could hardly be considered of much consequence. The Confederates still held the Roanoke River above Plymouth, as there was not a sufficient naval force in the Sounds to A operate successfully in that quarter. large portion of the enemy's forces in North Carolina had been drawn off to fill up the ranks of General Joseph E. Johnston's army, which was charged with the duty of imthe Confederates ever

peding General Sherman in his march to the sea.

About this time Sherman had captured Savannah and General Grant had received the news of the utter rout of Hood's army in Tennessee by General Thomas, which 1 _

J!x

CW

.rt««U

4-1-.,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

738

the Carolinas without apprehensions of a

formidable enemy in his rear, and with sufficient addition to his forces from the troops of Schofield and Terry to enable him to hold his own until he reached Goldsborough, N. C. his objective point. The middle of January, L865, saw Sherman's army in motion for the Carolina campaign. His right wing, under General Howard, was conveyed by water to Beaufort, South Carolina, whence it started on its march up the Charleston railroad, while the left wing, under General Slocum, with Kilpatrick's cavalry, crossed the Savannah river and moved towards Augusta. These movements were made for the purpose of deceiving the Confederates as to the point aimed at by General Sherman. The Federal troops destroyed all the railroads in their ,

rear.

Sherman's object was to effect a junction with Grant, and by force of numbers bring the war to a close. He passed by Augusta and Charleston, since there was nothing to be gained by halting at either place. In his official report General Sherman says " Without wasting time or labor on Branch:

ville or Charleston,

which

could no longer hold,

I

knew the enemy

turned all the columns straight on Columbia." From Columbia, after making a feint on Charleston, Sherman advanced to Fayetteville and Goldsborough, while preparations were making by the Federal Generals on the sea-coast to effect a junction with his army one body of troops to advance from Wilmington, N. C, and the I

—

other from Newbern. All the troops that had occupied Charleston,

Savannah, Augusta, Wilmington and

other points along the coast, had united, and did all that was possible to impede Sherman's march; but, although the Confederate forces had swelled to a considerable army, they could not withstand the Federal advance, and from desertions and other causes they soon began to melt away. Still Sherman was not master of the situation until he had driven Johnston's army, from winch he had experienced the strongest resistance, back to Smithfield. The junction of Schofield with Sherman's army was made next day. the 33d of March, 1865, at

Goldsborough, and General Johnston and his forces were held as in a vise until the final surrender.

These movements had changed the whole North Carolina. The Confederate troops along the various rivers, including the Roanoke, had either joined General Johnston or had moved off to Richmond, and Admiral Porter, taking advantage of the situation, had directed Commander Macomb to advance up the Roanoke with a naval force, destroy or capstate of affairs in

ture all the enemy's depots of stores, and also an iron-floating battery said to be on the river. On the nth of December, 1864, Com-

mander Macomb,

in

connection

with

a.

military force, proceeded up the Roanoke in the double-ender " Wyalusing," accompanied by the "Otsego" and "Valley City " the tugs " Belle" and " Bazley," and Proceeding slowly a steam-packet boat. up the stream the vessels prepared to anchor for the night at a sharp bend in the river just below Jamesville, where the commanding officer of the Army forces had agreed to communicate with the naval commander. In obedience to signal, the " Otsego " had slowed her engines and was about to let go her anchor when a torpedo exploded under her bottom on the port side, and

immediately afterwards another exploded under her forward pivot-gun, which wascapsized on the deck by the concussion. In three minutes the vessel sunk, her spardeck being three feet below the water. She had anchored over a nest of torpedoes, against which the commanding officer of the expedition had been warned and directed to drag for in boats before proceeding up the river; but this officer satisfied himself by getting out spars and netsahead of his vessels to pick up any submarine obstructions. A short time after the sinking of the gun-boat, while the tug" " Bazley " was transferring her crew to the " Wyalusing," a torpedo exploded, and the

"Bazley" immediately went down alongMatters became at this

side the " Otsego."

moment

rather embarrassing, for the vesall anchored close together, audit was not safe to move in the dark for fear of being blown up, so a very anxious night was passed. The sinking of the gun -boat and tug put an end to an expedition which, if successful, would have been a handsome addition to the sinking of the " Albemarle " and the recapture of Plymouth by the Navy. The "Otsego" made the number of naval vessels blown up by the Confederate torpedo corps, since the commencement of the war, about twenty. For miles along the Roanoke torpedoes were thickly planted to prevent the advance of the Navy, and at one turn in the river there were no less than forty of these destructive weapons in one group. This was the last important naval movement undertaken in the Sounds of North Carolina. Sherman's arrival at Goldsborough, and the arrival of troops by sea at Newbern, warned the guerillas, called by the Confederates the " home forces," that they could no longer hope to hold their own in face of the overwhelming numbers which sels

were

at any moment might appear in this vicinity; so they quietly dispersed, and all that por-

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

tion of the Confederacy fell permanently into the hands of the Unionists. But for the unfortunate sinking of the "Otsego" and the "Bazley," all the operations of the

North Atlantic squadron from October, 1864, would have been crowned with success. Although the area of operations in and around Plymouth was not a large one, what thrilling incidents had occurred in that First: the capture and fortifismall space

to April, 1865,

!

cation of Plymouth by the Union forces then the appearance of the "Albemarle" and her sinking the " Southfield " ; the death ;

739

and the retreat the attack of the "Albemarle " on the Sound flotilla the sinking of the "Albemarle" by Gushing; the dash of Macomb upon Plymouth, recovering the place after as handsome an attack at the cannon's mouth as was ever seen anywhere; and, finally, the unfortunate sinking of the "Otsego" and " Bazley" near where the "Albemarle " lay at the bottom of the river. All these vessels were afterwards raised and lay side by side at the wharf, with the Union flag floating over them, as if they had never met in deadly strife. of the of the

gallant

Plusser,

"Miami";

;

NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, JANUARY

1st, 1865.

Reae- Admiral David D. Portek. Staff—LiEUTENANT-CoMMANDBR K. R. Brebsb, Fleet-Captain Lieutenant-Commander H. A. Adams, Jr., Ordnance Officer Lieutenant S. W. Preston (Flag) Lieutenant M. W. Sandebs, SiGNAii Officer Lieutenant S. W. Terry, Detailing Officer Flbet-Patmaster, ;

;

;

;

;

George Maulsby; Fleet-Engineer, Theo. Zbller; Admiral's

H. M. Heiskell; Fleet-Surgeok,

Secretary, Carlisle P. Porter Assistant-Paymaster, C. F. Guild (Special Duty) ActingMaster, James M. Alden Acting Ensigns, H. Woodruff, R. Bates, J. W. Grattan and F. W. Grafton Acting-Master's Mate, Aaron Vanderbilt, Aides. ;

;

;

;

Note.

—Those vessels marked with a * were engaged in the capture of Fort Fisher.

*" COLORADO "—FIBST-RATE. Commodore, Henry K. Thatcher Lieutenants, George Dewey, H. B. Robeson and M. L. Johnson; Surgeon, James McClelland Assistant-Surgeons, Robert Willard and B. H. Kidder Paymaster, Wm. A. Ingersoll Marines, Captain. L. L. Dawson; FirstiLleutenant, E. P. Meeker; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, F. P. Baury Acting-Masters, Edwin Cofiin and L. B. King Acting-Ensigns, J. L. Vennard and W. G. Perry Acting-Master's Mates, J. W. Wallace, A. B. Arey, E. A. Gould, M. V. Thomas and A. P. Tucker Engineers: Chief, B. F. Garvin First-Assistant, J. H. Bailey Second-Assistants, E. E. Roberts, H. M. Quig and C. S. Maurice Third - Assistant, M. A. Sutherland Acting-Third-Assistants, C. C. Fernald, J. P. Messer and W. B. Whitmore Boatswain, John K. Bartlett; Gunner, William Wilson; Carpenter, J, G. Myers Sailmaker, Nicholas Lynch. ;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

* " POWHATAN "—FIRST-BATE. Commodore, James F. Sehenck Lieutenants, Geo. M. Bache and Merrill Miller Surgeon, H. O. Mayo Assistant-Surgeon, W. H. Johnson Pay;

;

;

;

master, C. P. Wallaoh First-Lieutenant Marines, F. H. Corrie Acting-Master, C. R. Wilkins Ensigns, Ira Harris, Jr., and A. G. Kellogg ActingEnsigns R. D. Evans, Francis Morris and Edmund Acting - Master's Mates, Geo. P. Abbott, Parys Geo. S. Sands and John Clitz Engineers Chief, John A. Grier Acting - First - Assistant, W. H. ;

:

;

:

;

;

Second - Assistants, W. S. Smith, James Long, John Franklin and Michael Dundon Third-

Dobbs

;

;

Assistant, A. C. Bngard Acting-Third-Assistant, Acting-Boatswain, James Gurney ; H. F. Grier Gunner, G. W. Omensetter Carpenter, J. Macfarlane Sailmaker, B. B. Blydenburg. ;

;

;

:

;

;

;

;

*

"SUSQUEHANNA" — FIEST-EATE.

Lieutenant - ComCommodore, S. W. Godon mander, F. B. Blake; Lieutenants, J. R. Bartlett and Geo. M. Brown Surgeon, J. O'C. Barclay Assistant-Surgeon, C. H. Perry; Paymaster, A. J. Clark; ;

'

MINNESOTA

-FEKST-KATB.

'

Commodore, Joseph Laiiman Xiieutenant-Com;

mander, James Parker

Lieutenants, M. S. Stuyvesant and E. T. Woodward Passed - Assistant Surgeon, J. P. Quinn Assistant - Surgeons, Wm. ;

;

;

Longshaw and W.

ham

S.

Port

;

Paymaster, C. C. Up-

SecondCaptain, Geo. Butler Lieutenant, G. M. Welles Acting - Master, Theo. Werholf Acting-Ensigns, W. C. Wise, J. W. Willard, James Bertwisle, P. A. O'Connor and W. H. Jennings; Acting -Master's Mates, J. M. Simms, Fallas Eager and J. Amos Merrill Engineers Acting-Chief, A. R. Bddowes Acting-First- Assistant, J. E. Cooper Second- Assistants, Guy Samson, J. C. Cross and H. A. Delius Third - Assistants, J. D. Lee and J. C. Kafer Acting - Third Assistant, W. H. Mott; Pilot, F. C. Fowler; Boatswain, Wm. Bunker Gunner, R. H. Cross Carpenter, ;

Marines

:

;

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

Chaplain, J. D. Beugless; First-Lieutenant of Marines, Wm. Wallace; Acting-Master, H. O. Porter; Ensign, E. E. Preble; Acting-Ensigns, T. F. Lacock, W. W. Rhoadesand O. C. K. Benham; Acting- Master's Mates, Chas. Gainsford, W. H. Sprague, M. S. Cooper and S. T. Paine; JEngineers: Chief, John Johnson; First- Assistant, I. S. Finney; Second-Assistants,

James Renshaw,

H. A. Smith

J.

H. Hutchinson and

Third-Assistants,

;

Thomas Crummey

and C. F. Marsland Acting - Third - Assistant, Berna Cook; Boatswain, Z. Whitmarsh, Jr. Gunner, ;

;

E. J. J. A.

Waugh

;

Carpenter,

J. E. Miller;

Sailmaker,

Hoi brook.

*"NEW ironsides" — FIRST-EATE. Commodore,

Wm.

Radford

;

Lieutenant - Com-

THE NATAL HISTORY

740

Thomas Connor Boatswain. J. Roe Carpenter, John

Bumsey and H. J. Blake; Surgeon, Edward Shippen; Assistant-Surgeon, G. A. Bright; Nair, H. B.

First-Lieutenant of Marines, R. S. Colloni; Acting-Masters, H. P. Conner and Jolin Dorey; Acting-Ensigns, Walter Pearce, W. A. Duerand J. \V. King; Acting-Master's Mates, C. C. Bamford, J. F Silva and W. E. Wilson EnChief, Alex. Greer Second - Assistants, gineers J. H. Hunt, W. S. Cherry, W. J. Reid, N. P. Towne and W. S. Wells; Third-Assistants, J. K. Stevenson and A. H. Henderson; Boatswain, Wm. E. Leeds; Gunner, Wm. Cope; Carpenter, J. E. Cox; Sailmaker, G. T. Lozier.

Paymaster, George Plunkett

;

" SANTIAGO DE-CTTBA"

*

;

quhar; Passed -Assistant Surgeon, A. ;

;

:

;

Gunner,

W.

J.

Irwin.

;

;

:

•

;

;

Thompson. *" SHENANDOAH "— SECONDEATE.

'

;

Assistant Surgeon, N. L. Campbell; Paymaster, Geo. Cochran; Chaplain, C. A. Davis; Second-Lieutenant of Marines, L. E. Fagan; Acting-Masters, W. U. Grozier and S. J. White; Acting-Ensigns, G. T. Davis, Whitman Chase, E. A. Small and J. F. Brown; Acting-Masters Mates, Wm. R. Lyons, D. E. Knox, J. J. Fuller, Jr., Wm. Read, Jr., E. P. Blague, H. C. Thorburn and J. B. Lukens; Engineers Chief, A. C. Stimei-s Second - Assistants, J. S. Green, P. R. Voorhees, W. C. Williamson, A. Michenerand N. W. Buckhout Acting-ThirdAssistants, J. W. ColMns, W. H. Peabody and J. T. Smith Boatswain, Charles Miller Gunner, Cornelius Dugan; Carpenter, Wm. Hyde; Sailmaker, :

;

;

;

;

W. Franklaud. *

"

VANDEEBILT "

Captain, Charles

W.

—SECOND-EATE.

Piclcering;

;

:

Germain, John O'JSIeil, William Wright and W. H. Garrison; Boatswain. Jasper Coghlan Gunner, George Sirian; Carpenter, T. H. Bishop; Captam's ;

Johns. Stodder.

—

*" JUNIATA " SECOND-BATE. Captain, William R. Taylor; Lieutenant- Commander, Thomas S. Phelps, (cominanded at Fort Fisher Lieutenant, F. V. McNair; Surgeon, A. C. Gorgas Paymaster, Caspar Schenck ActingMaster, C. H. Hamilton; Ensign, Charles McGregor; Acting Ensigns, W. D. Price and 8. S. Bissell; Acting-Master's Mates, Lewis Goeltze, W. F. Warnick and G. H. Prescott; Engineers Chief, J. Follansbee; Acting-First Assistant, J. E. Pox; Second-As;

;

;

:

sistants, J.

Van Hovenburv and John Everding;

Third- Assistants, Everett Battelle and F. C. BurActing-Third-Assistants, B. F. Lewis and

chard

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

George Edmonds. * " TICONDEEOGA "—SECOND-BATE. Captain, Charles Steedman; Lieutenant, Geo. B White; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,L. G. Vassallo; Surgeon, C. J. Cleborne; Paymaster, H. M. Dennis-

W. W. Maclay,

A. S. Crowningshield First-Lieutenant of Marines, C. F. Williams; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. Charleton, Jr., E. A. 8ibell,Wm. Cooper and L. Norton; Engineers: Chief, T.J.Jones; Second-Assistant, H. H. Barrett; Acting-Second-Assistants, R. I. Middleton

ton

Ensigns,

;

and Geo. W.

Coffin

;

and M.Smith; Acting-Third -Assistants, O. Bassett, H. M. Noyes, M. W. Thaxter and S. J. Hobbs; Boatswain, H. E. Barnes; Gunner, Joseph Smith; Acting-Carpenter, M. E. Curley; Sailmaker, J. C. Herbert. BEOOKIiTN -SECOND EATB. Captain, James Alden; Lieutenant, T. L. Swann; Surgeon, George Maulsby; Assistant Surgeon, H. S. Pitkin Paymaster, G. E. Thornton Captain of Marines, G. P. Houston; Acting- Master, Robt. Barstow; Ensigns, D. R. CasseU, O. H. Pendleton and C. D. Sigsbee; Acting-Ensign, C. H. Littlefleld; Acting- Master's Mates, Thos. Stanfield, J. W. DeCamp and R. H. Taylor; Engineers: Chief, Mortimer Kellogg; Second Assistants, W. H. G. West, Thos. Lynch, G. E. Tower and J. A. Bullard; Acting-Second- Assistant, R. D. Giberson Acting-ThirdAssistants, John Matthews, H. H. Arthur and Timothy Flanders; Boatswain, Rob't McDonald; Acting-Gunner, John Qiievedo; Carpenter, R. G. Thomas; Sailmaker, D. C. Bray ton. OBDNANCE-SHIP " ST. LAWEENCE." Commander, D. Lynch Acting-Master, G. W. Caswell Acting-Ensigns, F. Hopkins, Wm. Chandler, Thomas Welsh and Aug. Dame Acting- Assistant Surgeon, M. C. Drennan Assistant Paymaster, W. Goldsborough Acting-jNlaster's Mates, G. E. '

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant-Commander, J. D. Danels; Surgeon, Joseph Wilson; Assistant-Surgeon, L. M. Lyon; Acting Assistant Paymaster, J. E. Tolfree; Captain of Marines, William H. Parker Acting - Masters, A. M. Keith and L. F. Timmerman; Acting-Ensigns, A. P. Sampson and E. >;. Snow; Acting-Master's Mates, F. B. Atkinson, Edw. Thompson, J. B. iStrout, E. P. Pojie and Edw. Kearns; Engineers Acting-Chief, John Germain; Acting-First-Assistant, W. H. Golden; Asting - Second - Assistants, WiUiam Welles and A. WiUiauis; Acting-Third- Assistants, John Hyslop, Martin Glennon, George

Clerk,

Captain, Daniel B. Ridgely Lieutenant, Smith W. Nichols Surgeon. James McMaster ActingAssistant-Paymaster, C. M. Guild Acting- Masters, EnJ. S. Watson, W. H. Brice and J. A. BuUard Acting-Ensigns, Yates Sterling and J. H. Sands signs, L. H. White and T. H. Wheeler; ActingActingMaster's Mate, T. D. Wendell Engineers Second - Assistant, E. A. Chief, Nelson Winans Actlng-Seeond-Assistant, J. S. Kelleper Magee Third-Assistants, D. M. Fulmer, F. W. Towner and William Bond; Boatswain, J. H. Polley; Gunner, ;

WABASH" PIKST-BATE. Captain, Melancton Smith; Lieutenant -Commander, C. H. Cushman liieutenants, E. C. V. Blake and H. C. Tallman; Surgeon, H. F. McSherry; Passed-Assistant-Surgeon, J. H. Tinkham; Acting'

H.

FOBT JACKSON "—SECOND-RATE.

Lieutenant-Commander, Captain, B. F. Sands Rush R. Wallace Lieutenant, S. H. Hunt; Surgeon, Philip S. Wales ; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Paymaster, Clifton Hellen E. J. O'Callaghan Acting-Masters, J. S. Coney and H. F. Moffatt; Acting-Ensigns, S. K. Hopkins and J. J. Reagan Acting-Master's Mates, H. St. C. Eytinge, J. D. Moore, G. W. Smoot, F. A. Powers and Charles Moran ActingEngineers; Acting-Chief, Rodney Smith First-Assistants, Jared Day and J. A. Hill ActingSecond-Assistants, John Herron and G. T. Gibbs Acting -Third -Assistants, C. H. Wakefield and William M. Prentiss; Boatswain, P. A. Chason; Carpenter, E. Acting - Gunner, Thomas Reese

;

;

Gun-

;

Mills.

;

—SECOND-KATE.

Lieutenant, N. H. FarS. Oberly; Assistant Surgeon, J. D. Murphy Acting-Masters, J. A. Hannum and F. H. VVilks Acting-Ensigns, T. Delano, E. C. Bowers and C. H. Pierce ActingMaster's Mates, Richard Lyons, S. W. Kempton, E. C. Finney and B. S. Shephard Engineers Acting-Chief, Solon Farrer Acting-Second-Assistants, C.R. Weaver and F. W. H.Whittaker; Acting-ThirdAssistants, Geo. A. Barnard, R. E. Hurley, C. R. Merrill, Jos. Jordan and G. A. Barnard; ActingCaptain, O. S. Glisson

;

*•'

;

;

:

A. Selmer

;

ner, D. A.

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

Chipman and

Seavey Gunner, John Webber. *" TUSCAEOKA"— THIED-EATE. Commander, James M. Frailev Lieutenant-Commander, Weld N. Allen Surgeon, John Y. Taylor Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. J. Painter ActingMaster, Alex. Tillinghast Acting-Ensigns, S. L. Griffin, C. H. Carey, Oliver Swain and S. E. Willetta Acting-Master's Mates. J. A. H. Wilmuth and T. B.

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

OF THE CIVIL WAR. A. P. Aldrich, Jr.; Engineers Chief, A. J. Kiersted; Acting-First Assistant, Jos. A. McKnight ActingSecond-Assistants, W. A. Andress and A. N. Gilmore Acting - Third - Assistants, Alex. Dempster, :

;

;

W. B. Bnow and J. H. Chesney Acting- Gunner, Thomas Grail. *" MONADNOCK "—THIRD-BATE. Commander, E. G. Parrott; Lieutenant - Com;

N. Miller; Acting-Masters, B. F. Milliken and S. H. Mead; Acting-Ensigns, W. B. Mix, T. W. Swift, Jr., and P. Davison Acting- Assistant Surgeon, James Wilton Assistant Paymaster, J. S. Woolson Engineers Acting-Chief, J. Q. A. ZeigActing -First -Assistants, S. A. Randall and ler W. A. Phillips Acting-Second-Assistants, B. C. Du Plaine and B. Smith Acting - Third - Assistants, R. Aldridge, W. P. Whittemore, John Brice and

mander,

J.

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

T. J.

Wilde

;

Gunner, P. Barrett.

ONONDAGA"— THIBD-BATE. Commander, Wm. A. Parker; Lieutenant-Com"

J. M. Pritehett; Passed Assistant Surgeon, Hudson; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, S. T. Browne; Acting-Masters, W. L. Hayes and Henry Stevens; Acting- Ensigns, J. De Kay, S C. Norton, Jr., M. E. Wandell and J. Brennan; Acting-Mas-

mander, A.

ters Mate, B. Heath, Jr. Engineers Chief, Alex. Henderson; First- Assistants, J. C. Hull; Second-Assistants, W. Fort, W. L. NicoU and E. M. Lewis; Acting-Second- Assistant, C. Stanton; Third- Assistant, T. Cooke; Acting Thkd Assistant, Julius HiD;

man.

:

— THIED-EATE.

Commander, W. H. Macomb; Lieutenant, R. K. Duer; Acting -Assistant Surgeon, P. H. Barton; Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, Louis Sands; ActingMaster, P. J. Hargous; Acting-Ensigns, G. T. Ford, J. W. Lewis, W. W. Meeter and R. B. Brown; Acting-Master's Mate, W. D. Burlingame Engineers Second-Assistants, W. H. Harrison, H. P. Gregory and P. H "White; Acting-Third-Assistants, O. C. :

;

Chamberlain and W. F. Blakemore; Acting-Gun-

W.

Peterkin.

*"EHODE island" SECOND BATE. Commander, Stephen D. Trenchard; Lieutenant, Assistant-Surgeon, E. B. Bingham F. R. Smith ;

;

Assistant Paymaster,

W.

L. Darling

;

Acting-Mas-

Tanner; Acting-Ensigns, Nichols Pratt, K. O. Lanfare and Lemuel Pope

ters, C. O'Neill

and

Z. L.

Acting-Master's Mates, J. P. Fisher, E. E. Bradbury, H. Gardiner, G. H. Appleton and R. W. Acting - Chief, J. F. McWallace Engineers Cutchen Acting- Second- Assistants, J. W. Smith :

;

;

W. Radell Acting Third -Assistants, 0. W. Rugg, W. J. Patterson, W. H. McCoy, J. A. Hughes and W. B. Bayley Gunner, Henry Hamilton Capand

Second

- Assistant, ActingPhilip Eckenworth Second- Assistants, R. F. Roswald and J. A. Patterson Third-Assistants, T. Tilton, H. J. Allen and R. R. Throckmorton; Acting Gunner, J. McCaffrey. * " MOHICAN "— THIED BATE. Commander, Daniel Ammen Lieutenant, J. D. Marvin Surgeon, Charles Martin Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. C. Canning Acting - Master, Wm. Burditt Acting - Ensigns, B. F. Blair and H. T. Page Acting - blaster's Mates, J. A. Shaffer, J. G. Paine and C. P. Cope; Engineers: First- Assistant, H. S. Davids; Second -Assistant, J. K. Smedley; Acting - Second - Assistants, Enocn George and Charles Buckelew Acting-Third- Assistants, James Acting - BoatO. Herron and W. W. Chadwick swain, J. B. Aiken Acting-Gunner, T. S. Cassldy. "KEYSTONE STATS " THIBD-E.iTE. Commander, Henry Roland Lieutenant, J. f. Robertson Acting-Masters, L E. Degn and Wm. T. Buck; Acting-Ensigns, C. M. Bird, J. C. Murphy, Acting- Assistant F. E. Ford and J. S. Ridgeway Surgeon, A. E. Emery Acting - Assistant Paymaster. J. W. Fairfield Acting - Master's Mates, D. G. Conger and W. H. Howard; Engineers: ActingActing-Second-AssistFirst-Assistant, P. L. Fry ;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

—

;

;

;

;

;

;

Kinney Acting-Third-Assistants, Wm. Brown, Joseph Smith, J. B. Wilbur and C. A. Blake Acting-Gumier, D. L. Briggs. " MENDOTA " THIED-BATB. Commander, Edward T. Nichols Acting-Masters, Lathrop Wight, Maurice Digard and Thomas Smith Acting-Ensigns, W. B. Barnes, R. B. Pray, Acting-Master's Isaac Thayer and R. E. Peck ant, A. B.

;

;

—

;

" SHAMEOCK "

ner,

741

C.

;

:

tain's Clerk, L. S. J. Bennett.

;

Wm.

Rogers Paymaster's Clerk, ;

" CHICKOPEB "—THIED-EATE.

,

;

Mates, E. S. McDonaldandP. A. Cleary; Engineers: First-Assistant, A. V. Frazer; Second-Assistants, B. Bunce and D. Jones; Acting-Third-Assistants, D. R. McElroy, H. S. Ross and L. L. Poole; Acting-

Gunner, James Como. *" IOSCO "

Lieutenant, C. L. Franklin; Acting-Ensigns, William Jameson, Ulric Feilberg, Henry Baker and Paul Ware, Jr. ActingAssistant Surgeon, K. H. Bancroft; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, L. L. Scovel; Acting-Master's Mates, T. A. Comstoek, Halsted Hemans and Charles A. First-Assistant, Z. Talbot; Peacock; Engineers Second-Assistant, Elijah Laws Acting-Third-Assistants, Harvey Clapp, Jaines McNabb and C. M. Acting-Gunner, T. M. Benton. S. Gerry OSCEOLA -THIED-EATE. Commander, J. M. B. Clitz; Lieutenant, J. Weidman; Assistant Surgeon, G. F. Winslow; Assistant Paymaster, Edw. Bellows; Acting-Masters, E. B. Hussey and Willett Mott; Acting-Ensigns, S. L. La Dein, J. F. Merry and F. C. Warner; Acting- Master's Mates, Thomas Rogers, H. G Robinson and Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, C. 8. Hardy Thomas McCauslarid; Acting - Second - Assistant, Richard Doran; Acting-Third-Assistants, Robert Berryman, C. J. Cooper and E. J. Swords; ActingGunner. J. C. Breslyn. *" PAWTUOKET "—THIED-EATE.

;

;

Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Mulford, Jr. Acting-Master, J. D. Wells Acting-Ensigns, J. A. Grossman and A. D. Henderson Acting- Master's Mates, C. C. Johnson, G. H. Good man son and J. A. Belcher; Engineers: First-Assistant, F. J. Lovering; Third-AssistSecond-Assistant, William Pollard ants, D. B. Egbert, A. G. BonsallandJ. B. Upham, Jr.; Acting-Gunner, W. Black. ;

;

;

:

;

;

:

;

Commander, A. D. Harrell Lieutenant, E. A. Walker Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. L. Simpson;

—THIED-EATE.

Commander, John Guest

;

;

*

"nEBEUS " — THIED-EATE.

J. C. Howell; Lieutenant, H. E. Mullan Acting-Master, E. L. Haines; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J. K. Walsh; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, B. F. Munroe Acting - Ensigns, B. G. Dayton, G. M. Smith and George Anderson Acting-Master's Mates. W. C. Cushman, Wm. Rushinore, W. B. EnSpencer, H. E. Giraud and Wm. Groniack

Commander, ;

;

;

;

Commander, James H. Spotts; Lieutenant,

Alleiv,

V. Reed; Acting-Ensigns, A. F. West, J. A. Slamnv, J. O. Winchester and P. J. Markoe; Acting- AssistActing- Assistant ant Surgeon, Henry Johnson Paymaster, G. A. Emerson; Acting-Master's Mates, D. H. Bellows, F. Hesslewood ami L. F. Papanti; Engineers: Second- Assistants, A. H. Able, M. N. ;

Knowlton and

J.

G. Cooper

;

Acting-Third-Assist-

ant, N. G. Vandegiift; Gunner, J. D. Fletcher.

*" MACKINAW "— THIKD-EATE. Commander, J. C. Beaumont Acting

- Master, A. J. Louch; Acting-Ensigns, W. H. Penfield, J. F. Blanchard and Joseph Estes; Acting - Assistant ;

THE NA VAL HISTORY

743

W.

T. Whittemore; Acting-Master's Mates, J. A. Thomas, Solomon Barstow and E. K. Green; Engi-

neers First- Assistant, Jefferson Younar; Second- Assistant, D. A. Sawyer; Tliird- Assistants, R. W. Milligan and Sylvanus Melntire; Acting-Tfaird-Assist:

ants, I'atriok Hagan ner, Thomas Keer.

*"B.

B.

and

J.

W. Reed; Acting-Gun-

OiryLEB "— THIBD-BATE.

Commander,

C. H. B. Caldwell; Lieutenant, J. J. Reed; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, C. D. White; Act-

Paymaster, A. Wright; Acting Babson; Acting-Ensigns, B. P. Clough,

ing-Assistant

Master, B. H. Mentz, W. L. Hatch and A. T. Hamblen; Acting - Master's Mate, J. F. Jeffries Engineers Acting-Chief, J. D. William.son; Acting-Pirst-Assistant, D. L. King; Acting-Second- Assistants, J. Pollard and F. V. Holt; Acting-Third-Assistants, A. C. Crocker, I. H. Fuhr, G. VV. Young, D. Gilliland and E. J. Cram; Acting-Gunner, B. P. Palmer. " MATTABBSSETT " — THIBD-BATE.

W.

:

;

Commander, John C. Febiger- Lieutenant, A. N. Mitchell; Acting-Masters, J. L. Plunkett and John Fountain; Acting-Ensigns, John Greenhalgh, F. H. Brown and A. F. Dill; Acting-Assistant Surgeon. S. P. Boyer; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, H. C. Meade; Acting-Master's Mates, A. M. Beck and C. F. Fisher; Engineers Second-Assistants, J. T. Hawkins, A. Saokett and C. J. McConnell; ThirdAssistants, W. A. Mintzer, A. B. Bates and Isaiah :

Paxson; Acting-Gunner,

Wm.

H. Herring.

Wauklin and

Jos. R. Peterson, J. D.

B. E. Porter;

Acting-Gunner, Joseph Furlong. *" PONTOOSUC "—THIBD-BATE. Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. G. Temple; ActingMasters, B. S. Weeks and C. H. Frisbie; ActingEnsigns, A. D. Campbell, J. J. Kane and L. R. Chester; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Pierson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. A. Lyon; ActingMaster's Mates, E. H. Richardson, P. C. Bailey, Thos, Brown and D. Lewis; Engineers First- AsSecond-Assistants, M. T. sistant, Geo. J. Barry Sumstron and E. J. Whittaker; Third- Assistant, •J. H. Thomas; Acting-Third-Assistant, G. C. Brown; Acting-Gunner, C. Moran. EUTAW " —THIBD-BATE. Lieutenant - Commander, H. C. Blake; ActingVolunteer-Lieutenant, J. W. Simmons; .AssistantSurgeon, C. H. Page; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Thos. Carstairs; Acting- Masters, C. P. Keith, S. B. Davis and T. O. Scranton; Acting-Ensigns, C. E. Rich, W. C. King and Thos. Morgan; Acting-Master's Mates, E. A. Galindo, B. C. Devine and H. Gardiner; Engineers Second-Assistant, J. C. Stevens; Acting-Second-Assistants, J. E. Hillard and W. H. Crawford; Third- Assistant, H. C. Christopher; Acting-Third- Assistants, C. A. Satterlee and J. C. Hillman; Acting-Gunner, C. A. Sampson. " WYALUSINQ " THIBD-BATE. Lieutenant - Commander, Earl English; Acting:

;

'

'

:

—

Masters, W. R. Hathaway and J. G. (ireen Acting-Ensigns, J. P. Perkins, H. G. C. Kruse and L. H. Fossett Acting-Assistant Surgeon, S. Holman; Assistant Paymaster, A. J. Pritchard ActingMaster's Mates, J. C. Green, W. H. Brown and ;

"MAS3AS0IT

"

—THIBD BATE.

Commander, R. T. Renshaw; Lieutenant, Geo. W. Sumner; Acting-Masters, H. Reany, C. F. Taylor and W. C. Williams; Acting-Ensigns, R. Rabadan and Chas. Wilson; Acting-Master's Mate, G.

.A.

Burt; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. R. Latson; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Stevenson; Engineers First-Assistant, L. R. Green; Acting Second Assistants, J. H. Dinsmore and R. K. Monson; Acting-Third- Assistants, T. R. Jefferson and Wm. Shee han; Acting Gunner, Wm. B. Jarvis. :

"—POtlETH-RATE. Commander, Edmund R. Colhoun; Lieutenant, Benj. P. Day; Acting Master, B. W. Leary; Acting*

" SAtTGUS

Ensigns, C. A. Henrickson, Ira Barsley and J. P. Arnett; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Westcott; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. H. Andrews; Engineers: Acting-Chief, John L. Peake; Acting-PirstAssistants, Andrew Inglis and John Carren; Second-Assistant, O. C. Lewis; Acting-Second-Assistant, A. F. Rockefeller; Acting - Third - Assistant, W. J. Bradley. " AGAWAM

"

—THIED-BATB.

P.

Babcock; Assistant Pay-

master, H. M. Hanna; Acting-Master's Mates, Rob't Anderson, T. P. Jones and Paul Boyden; Engineei-s Acting-First-Assistant, J. F. P. Rust; Second-Assistants, A. T. E. MuUan and T. M. Jones; Third-Assistants, G. C. Nelson and H. Spear; Acting-Gunner, H. P. Dunnels. :

" QUAKBE CITY " — SECOND-BATE. Commander, W. P. Spicer; Lieutenant,

Henry Watson

Engineers: Chief, H. H. Stewart Acting-Pirst-Assistant, J. McCourt Acting-ThirdAssistants, E. P. Hedden, J. J. Donohoe, E. T. Peake and S. G. Cottrell Acting-Gunner, T. Carpenter. ;

;

;

;

* "a. D. VANCE "—EOUETH-BATB. Lieutenant - Commander, J. H. Upshur ActingMasters, G. Cottrell and C. M. Lane Acting-Ensigns, W. W. Smith, C. P. Ware, C. E. Clark and W. J. Eldredge Acting-Assistant Surgeons, D. W. Jones and B. F. Howell Engineers Acting-FirstAssistant, D. C. Chester: Acting-Second- Assistants, C. G. Stevens, C. S. Servoss and George Devine Acting -Third -Assistants, Wm. Madden, G. H. ;

;

;

;

:

;

Whittemore and

C. B. j^ichols.

* "yantic"--foueth-eatb. Lieutenant-Commander, T. C. Harris

ActingMabter, L. C. Mclntyre; Acting-Ensigns. J. C. Lord, S. T. Dederer, Edwd. Winnemore, J. P. Churchill and B. B. Sodenberg Acting-Assistant Surgeon, ;

H. K. Wheeler Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, S. B. Huey Engineers: Second -Assistants. W. H. Messenger, J. J. Noble and H. C. Beckwith TliirdAssistant, H. F. Loveaire Acting-Third-Assistant, George Holton Captain's Clerk, C. M. B. Harris. ;

;

;

;

;

"SASSACUS" — THIBD-BATE. Lieutenant-Commander, John L. Davis ActingVolunteer -Lieutenant, A. W. Muldaur ActingEnsigns, William H. Mayer, Jr., August Adler, H. W. O'Harra and David Stephen Acting - Assistant Surgeon, G. B. McPherson Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. W. Garthwaite Acting Master's Mates, T. D. Marble and J. S. O'Brien; Engineers: SecondAssistants. J. H. Huxley, R. N. Ellis and O. W. Allisson Acting Third-Assistants, Wm. Raynor, H. S. Mack and A. Bigelow Acting-Gunner, Neil Mar> *

;

;

;

;

Silas

Casey, Jr.; Acting-Master, 8. A. Winnerton; Acting-Ensigns, C. J. Hill, Rich. Wilkinson and P. D. Jacobson; Aeting-Assistant-Surgeons, I. C. Whitehead and G. W. Gale, Jr.; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, L. A. Prailey; Acting-Master's Mates, O. W. Clapp, G. B. Sanborne, W. H. Alger and J. B. Tew; Engineers: Acting-Chief, G. W. Farrar; SecondAssistant, George J. Burnap; Acting-Second- Assistants, W. J. Howard, J. K. Hickey, Mason and J. H. Mathews; Acting-Third-Assistants, E. Prest,

Wm.

;

;

Commander, A. C. Rhind; Acting-Master, Thos. Symmes; Acting-Ensigns, Clinton Wiley, C. M. Anthony, C. L. Willcomb and P. H. Lathrop; Assistant Surgeon, H.

;

;

;

tin.

"TALLAPOOSA "—THIBD-BATE. Lieutenant-Commander, J. E. DeHaven ActingMaster, J. H. Piatt; Acting-Ensigns, Jonathan Jenney, W. A. Rich, A. E. Dunham and J. D. Babcock Acting - Assistant Surgeon, J. E. Warner ;

;

;

OF THE CIVIL WAR. Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Daniel Whalen Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Lovejoy, S. T. Ayres and C. M. Tessimond Engineers First- Assistant, David Smith Second-Assistants, J. P. Kelly and W. S. Neal Acting-Third- Assistant W. E. Renny and G. W. Wakefield Acting-Gunner, J. W. Whi-

—

" NTACK POUETH-EATB. Lieutenant-Commander, L. H. Newman; Acting-

;

;

:

;

;

;

ting.

" TAOONY "— THIKD-BATE.

*

;

;

;

-

;

;

Wood. NAVAL STATION, BBAUPOET. Lieutenant-Commander, W. C. West Acting-Assistant Paymaster, S. S. Wood, Jr. Gunner, S. D.

ant, A. D.

;

;

"

MEROBDITA"

;

;

*" CANONICUS "—THIED-RATB. Lieutenant - Commander, George E. Belknap Lieutenant, R. S. McCook; Acting- Masters, D. S. Murphy, E. S. Goodwin and E. A. Decker ActingEnsigns, C. AV. Seekins, M. W. Weld and F. P. Center; Assistant Surgeon, H. N. Beaumont; Assistant Paymaster, R. P. Lisle; Engineers Chief, D. B. Macomb Acting-First-Assistant, C. G. Conklin Second- Assistants, F. F. McKean and J. M. Saville; Acting-Third-Assistants, William S. Brown, Wm. Keenan and J. A. Chandler. ;

;

:

;

;

" VICKSBUEQ

— THIED-RATB. ;

;

;

;

;

:

;

;

Addison.

*" KANSAS ''— EOtTBTH-BATE. Lieutenant-Commander, P. G. Watmough; Act-

Samuel Hall, E.

ing-Masters,

8.

Goodwin and W.

S.

Acting Ensigns, G. C. Williams, C. D. C. B. Staples Assistant Surgeon, Isaac Poole; Assistant Paymaster, T. Merritt Engineers Acting Second-Assistant, Hugh Rafferty -

;

Thompson and

;

;

:

;

Aeting-Third-Assistants, J. W. Stott, G. L. ^nd George B. Stone. * MARATANZA " THIRD-EATB. '

'

King

;

;

;

:

Lieutenant Commander, Ralph Chandler; Acting-Master Richard Burk; Acting Ensigns, E. R Powers, W. J. Shackford, C. P. Gilford and C. B. Nichols; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, D. P. Goodhue; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Smoot; Engineers Second-Assistant, T. J. MoK. Daniels Acting Second - Assistant, William Veitch Third-Assistants, J. M. Clark, C. R. Mosher and G. A. Pfeltz. ;

;

*" PBQUOT "— rOURTH-KATB.

;

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

and G. W. Yoe. CHIPPBWA -POTJETH-EATB. Lieutenant-Commander, A. W. Weaver (Lieutenant-Commander E. E. Potter commanded at Fort Fisher) Acting- Master J. W. Saunders Acting-Ensigns, G. H. Wood, Edw. Tilghman, W. H. DeGrosse and W. A. Taylor Acting- Assistant Surants, Levi Coit

'

;

;

;

geon, J. E. Gregory; Acting-Assistant Paymaster,

M. Flood Engineers Second Assistant, Jos. Watters; Acting-Second-Assistant, A. A. Winship Acting-Third-Assistants, R. W. Wilton and Henry

J.

:

;

;

" SACO " FOUBTH-EATE. Lieutenant-Commander, John G. Walker

;

Act-

ing-Master, W. F. Hunt Acting-Ensigns, O. F. Wixon, T. J. Rollins, W. H. Potter and A. H. Ostrander; Passed- Assistant-Surgeon, A. Matthewson; Acting Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Hill Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, A.W. Harris; ActingSecond-Assistants, J. P. Cloyd and J. A. Crouthers; Acting Third- Assistants, W. J. Barron and W. H. ;

-

;

Woodward.

—

* "uNADILIiA'' POUETH-BATB. Lieutenant - Commander, Francis M. Ramsey; Acting - Master, J. M. Skillings Acting - Ensigns, John CuUaton, Wm. Field, Charles Weidenbein and AVm. Hanson Acting - Assistant Surgeon, D. C. Burleigh Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 1. G. Hobbs Acting - Master's Mates, C. H. Smith and E. M. Reed Engineers Acting - First - Assistant, B. F. Bee Acting-Second -Assistant, L. M. Ryf enburg Acting - Third - Assistants, Wm. D. Kay, ;

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

James Curran and J. S. MAHOPAC '

Larliins.

-POTJBTH-EATE.

'

Commander E. E. Potter (Lieutenant-Commander A. W. Weaver commanded at Fort Lieutenant

Lieutenant-Commander, D. L. Braine; ActingMasters, L. H. Beattie and W. F. Chace ActingEnsigns, George Lamb, H. W. Loring and A. Smalley; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, H. R. Watts; Acting -Assistant Paymaster, C. G. Hutchinson; Engineers Second-Assistants, A. H. Fisher and G;

:

Cook Third- Assistants, James Wylie and

J.

Acting -Third- Assistants, George Rymes; Captain's Clerks, J. W. Jones and O'Brian f" Kevstone State").

Oardner;

;

;

—

Lieutenant Commander, G. W. Young; ActingMasters, D. E. Taylor and J. B. Wood, Jr. ActingEnsigns, J. W. Crowell, H. H. Collamore and E. Lawson; Acting- Master's Mates, W. H. Alger, A. F. Williartson, George E. Chipman and C H. Grossman; Acting Assistant-Surgeon, J. W. Hamilton Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Noyes Engineers Second-Assistants, W. H Kilpatriek and R. L. Webb; Third-Assistants, L. R. Harvey and R. D. Taylor; Aeting-Third-Assistants, E. J. Gillespie And J, L. Starkey; Acting Gunner, W. W. Bradley. *" MAUMBB" — POURTH-KATB.

;

— THIBD-BATB.

-

Romaine.

—

:

"

Connuander, F. H. Baker ActingMaster, F. G. Osborn Acting-Ensigns, W. H. Otis, R. B. Elder and D. P. Coolv Acting - Assistant Surgeon, T. W. Bennett Acting-Assistant Paymaster, T. E. Smith Acting- Master's Mate, G. V. Demorest Engineers Second - Assistant, J. L. Bright Acting - Second - Assistant, H. Harbenson Third-Assistant, A. F. Nagle Acting-Third-AssistLieutenant

Lieutenant-Commander, Milton Haxton ActingMaster, J. A. French; Acting-Ensigns, H. G. Macy, Wm. Young and E. D. Pettengill Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. K. Walsh Acting-Assistant Paymaster, O. F. Browning Acting - Master's Mate, R. M. Cornell Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, 3. F. Beckett Acting-Third- Assistants, Wm. Lannan, D. T. Lannahan, Wm. McComb, J. H. Hopkins and William Ellis Acting-Gunner, James

•C.

;

Carpenter, J. P. Carter.

;

Folson

Master, H. W. Grinnell Acting-Ensigns, H. B. Colby, Charles Nelson, J. W. Hopkins, G. H. Barrows and James Jordan; Acting Assistant Surgeon, B. F. Bigelow Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. S. Halliday; Engineers: First-Assistant, B. C. Bampton Second-Assistant, John Fornance; Third Assistant, W- A. Windsor Acting-Third-Assistants, W. M. Bartram and J. C. Veatch. ;

Lieutenant-Commander, W. T. Truxtun ActingMasters, N. S. Morgan, R. Suuuners and S. Blunt Acting - Ensigns, J. B. Taney, Thomas Golding, E. L. Bovu-neand F. H. Fisher; Acting- AssistantSurgeon, George Hopliins Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. S. Hosford Acting - Master's Mates, J. A. Oreuttand F. W. Worstell; Engineers: FirstAssistant, T. M. Dukehart Second Assistants, C. E. Lee and H. Parker, Jr. Acting-Third- Assist-

Hines

743

W. W.

Acting- Masters, C. R. Harris and D. K. Kennison; Acting Ensigns, J. E. .Tones, W. E. Jones and S. C. Holm; Assistant Surgeon, F. B A. Lewis; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Addison Pool; Engineers: Acting-Chief, M. T. Chevers Acting -First -Assistant, Charles Dougherty Acting-Second -Assistant, Wesley Randall; Acting- Third- Assistants, J. G. Brown, C. A. Enggren, C. O. Putnam and J. W. Buell.

Fisher

;

;

;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

744 "I-IUBON"— POUBTH-BATE.

•

Lieutenant-Commander, Thos. O. Selfridge ActActing - Ensigns, ing - Master, Benj. Whitmore Robert Shepperd, S H. Munder, W. H. H. Curtis and Andrew McCleary Acting - Master's Mate, Eugene Coleman; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, James McMillan Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. D. ColActing-First - Assistant, James Engineers lom Blenkinsop Acting-Second-Assistants, H. F. Hayden and M. Harloe Acting-Third- Assistants, T. F. Burket and E. G. Ingalls. ;

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

*

•'

Lieutenant

-

SENECA "—I'OUETH-EATB.

Commander, Montgomery Sicard

Wm

;

H. Males; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. Acting-Master, Schutz, Thomas Mason, W. B. Pierce and L. C. Owen Acting - Assistant Surgeon, R. H. Greene Acting - Assistant Paymaster, M. B. Gushing Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, J. P. Sweet Acting - Second - Assistant, Alfred Catchpole ActingThird - Assistants, S. A. Slater, A. J. Doty and ;

;

;

:

;

;

T.

J.

Reaney.

—

"HUNCHBACK " FOTJETH BATE. Lieutenant, Joseph P. Fyffe; Acting-Master, E. K. Valentine Acting - Ensigns, J. W. Thompson and Acting - Master's Mates, J. F. Sias, C. W. Jones J. L. Robins, T. W. Rack and F. W. Colton Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. Cushing Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, A. Barnum ActingSecond- Assistant, B. Wilson Aoting-Third-Assistants, 8. Hart, G. V. Payton, J. E. Edwards and J. W. Smith. * " MONTICEIiLO " FO0ETH-BATE. Acting- VolunteerLieutenant, W. B. Cushing Lieutenant, D. A. Campbell Acting- Masters, C. A. Acting Ensigns, W. H. Pettit and E. A. Elliott Gibson, D. W. Lakin, T. B. Huntington, J. H. Puokett and J. B. Edwards Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. F. BiUard Acting - Assistant Paymaster, John Furey Acting-Master's Mates, Charles Cro ton and J. S. Clark Engineers Second- Assistant, H.Missiner; Acting-Second- Assistants, C.A.Mar;

;

;

;

;

—

;

:

;

;

;

;

:

;

and F. McKinley Acting - Third - Assistants, R. Call, and J. McCallum. *' aETTTSBUEO'— POTJBTH BATE. Lieutenant, R. H. Lamson; Acting-Master, C. B. Dahlgren; Acting-Ensigns, A. S. Leigh ton, F. P. B. Sands, F. A. Gross, M. C. Keith and Charles Miller; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, G. S. Eddy ActingActingAssistant Paymaster, R. H. GUlette Master's Mate, H. J. Derbyshire and T. H. P. Acting-First- Assistants, G. S. Gross; Engineers Perkins, J. M. Case, E. C. Maloy and A. J. Pixley; Acting-Third-Assistants, E. B. Carter and J. W. tin

;

W.

;

;

:

Homans.

ing-Seeond-Assistants, J. G. Rossman, J. C. Lewis and Greenville Lewis; Acting -Third- Assistants, Ezra Gray and Geo. Cowie, Jr. * "mONTGOMBEY" — THIKD-EATB.

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, T C. Dunn Acting-Masters, W. N. Wells and A. F. Davis Acting G. Whiting and Robt. Ensigns, E T. Mauter, Wiley Acting Assistant Surgeon, John Blackmer; Acting Assistant Paymaster, J. Watson; ActingMaster s Mates, T. J Walker and C. A. Neill Engineers Acting First- Assistant, G. H. Wade; Acting Second-Assistants, John McEwen, J. Williamsand J. Allen; Acting- Third-Assistants, G. H. Brown and A. Tester. ;

;

C

;

;

:

"POET DONELSON " —THIED BATE.

*

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Thomas Pickering; 'Acting-Master, G. W- Frost, commanded at Fort Fisher Acting-Ensigns, J. W. Bennett, E. A. ButActing Master's ler. H. C. Leslie and J. G. Lloyd Mates, Geo. Woodland and A. F. G. Blanfuhr ActG- Raefle Acting Assisting-Assistant Surgeon, ant Paymaster J. F. Dunham Engineers ActingFirst-Assistant, John Mijler Acting-Second-Assis ;

;

;

M

;

:

;

;

H. L. M. Hodges; Acting- Third -Assistants, L. De Arville, W. A. Fuller. J. H. Sleanman and P. M. Kafer. " MIAMI "~THIED-EATE. ant,

G.

W. Rymes,

Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, Geo. W. Graves ; Acting-Masters, M. Rodgers and John Lear ActingActing-Assistant Surgeon, Ensign, J. R. Peacock G. H. Marvin Acting- Assistant Paymaster, R. P. Goodman; Engineers: Acting -Second -Assistants, C. C. Davis and David Newell Acting-Third- Assistants, H. D. Heiser, A. Stewart and A. Moore. ;

;

;

;

*

"GOVEENOE BUCKINGHAM "—THIED-EATE.

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, John Macdearraid ; Acting Ensigns, C. H. Sawyer, L. W. Smith, D. M. Gaskins and L. P. Cassan Acting- Assistant-Surgeon, W. S. Parker Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. B. Tripp Acting-Master's Mates, J. W. GardEngineers: ner, F. H. Poole and W. W. Hunter Acting-First-Assistant, F. E. Porter; Acting-Second Assistant, Eugene Mack Acting-Third- Assistants, Thos. Foley, Owen Kaney, James Fitzpatrick and. Chas. Ward. ;

;

;

;

;

• '

—THIED-EATE.

'ABIES "

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, F. S. Wells Acting Ensigns, G. F. Morse, J. A. Brennan and Seth Hand Acting - Assistant Surgeon, A. C. Fowler Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. A. Downes; ActingMaster's Mates, D. McCool and F. A. Haskell Engineers Acting-Second-Assistant, Simeon Smith ; ActLng-Third-Assistants, R. H. Cornthwait, T. E. Wilson and J. F. Eraser. ;

;

;

:

—

*"MA1jVEEN " POTJETH-EATE (PLAG-SHIP) Lieutenant, B. H. Porter; Acting-Masters, J. A. Hamilton and John Price Acting-Ensigns, Geo. Leonard, John Hill and G. E. Kidder; Acting Master's Mates, W. F. Horton, Henry Gardiner, A. M. Lyon and W. D. Cobb, Jr. Assistant Surgeon, J. S. Ramsey Acting-Assistant Paymaster, A. B Poor; Engineers: Acting - First- Assistant, W. E. Moore Acting-Second-Assistants, J. J. Ash-

' '

CAMBEIDGE " —THIED-EATE.

;

;

;

;

Third - Assistant, Owen Jones; Acting-Third-Assistants, Edwin Bond, A. H. Perry and William Finn; Sub- Assistant J. S. Bradford,' U. S. Coast Survey. * "ALABAMA"— THIBD-E ATE.

men and

F,

J.

Hadley

;

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, A. R. Langthorn Acting- Master, Wm. Bates; Acting-Ensigns, Albert Taylor, Thos. Williams and S. F Graves Acting Assistant Surgeon, D. T. T. Nestell Acting- Assist

;

;

;

ant Paymaster, E. K. Gibson Acting - Master s Mates, C. F. Ellmore, C S. Wilcox and D. H Hall; Engineers First- Assistant, Edward Farmer Act;

:

;

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. F. Nickels Acting-Master, S. K. Luce Acting-Ensigns, I. S. Bradbury and A. J. Iverson Acting - Assistant -Surgeon, John Spare; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, Acting-Master's Mate, F. U. Northup ; J. J. Pratt Engineers Acting First - Assistant, G. B. Orswell Acting - Second - Assistants, W. W. Tunis and John Whittaker; Acting-Third-Assistant, S. D. Edwards; ;

;

;

;

:

Acting-Gunner, "

Wm.

Scott.

CHEBOKEE"— POUETH-EATE.

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. E. Dennison ; Acting - Ensigns, T. F. DeLuce, John Parry, A. F. Parsons and C. B. Dickman Acting-Assistant Surgeon, E. T. T. March Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, J. C Ooterloh A. W. Reynolds Acting -Second- Assistants; F. H. Thurber and J. H. Potts Acting-Third- Assistants John Gilmore and A. I. Sanborn. ;

;

:

;

;

;

OF THE CIVIL WAR. "

HOWQUAH " — POUETH-EATE.

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. W. Balcli Acting-Ensigns, G. P. St. Jolin and Jolin Sayres Acting-Assistant Paymaster, E. W. Brooks ActingMaster's Mates, R. B. Smitii and F. P. Hasltell; Engineers Acting - Second - Assistants, W. G. MoLean, U. R. Wylie and J. L. DeMott Acting-TliirdAssistants, P. W. Moores, Jr., and Artliur O'Brien. ;

;

;

:

;

" EMl^A

;

;

;

;

C. H. Hammatt Engineers Acting-SecondAssistant, E. Barry; Acting-Third -Assistants, A. S Churchill, J. C. Smith, R. H. Ryan, J. W. Grant, and J. C. Wells. :

;

"BIGNONIA"

—FOURTH RATE.

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. D. Roath Acting-Ensigns, T. H. Marks and H. D. Trott Acting-Master's Mates, G. C. Short and W. H.

;

Howland Engineers Acting - Second Assistant, John Moir Acting-Third- Assistants, W. 8. Dobson, T. MeCreary and James Boyd. "COMMODORE BARNEY " -POUBTH-RATE -

:

;

;

:

Donegan. OEUSADEE "— POUETH-KATE.

"

Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, J. M. Williams Aotuig-Ensigns, C. Zimmerman, D. 8. Beete, I. S. Sampson, C. A. Stewart and I. C. Fuller ActingMaster's Mate, R. P. Herrick Acting- Assistant Surgeon, George Doig Acting- Assistant Paymaster,

Underhill, Joseph H. Clark, T. B. Tucker, Jr., and Lloyd; Acting- Master's Mate, J. P. Sturgeon; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Charles Sturdevant; ActEngi' ing - Assistant Paymaster, Herman Dorr neers Acting-Second- Assistants, J. C. Mockabee, H. W. Moore and David Morris; Acting-Third- Assistants, Henry Greatorex, T. J. Foster and A. T.

J. G.

— POURTH-EATE.

"

743

;

ActActing- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Peter Hays ing-Master, C Hallett; Acting-Ensigns, H. TayJor, W. W. Leonard and Geo. Kendall; Acting Assistant Surgeon, R. H. Whedon; Engineers: Acting-FirstAssistant, Cornelius Carr; Acting-Second- Assistant, ;

F. Andrews Acting Third - Assistants, C. C. Howe, W. Barnet and J. H. Wilson. MOUNT VERNON " - POUETH-RATE. Acting -Volunteer- Lieutenant, James Trathen; Acting-Masters, E. W- White and F. M. Paine; Acting-Ensigns, C. G. Walstrom, H. F. Cleverly and Jason Ryon; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Berrett; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, H. B. Brown; Engineers Acting-Master's Mate, Henry Rogers Acting-Second-Assistants, J. H. Horsford and H. 8. Short Acting-Third-Assistants, Geo. Ducker and

W.

•

'

;

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

SHOKOKON -FOURTH HATE. Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, W. B. Sheldon; Acting - Ensigns, P. C. Asserson, A. O. Kruge and D. W. Lalcin Acting-Master's Mates. R. 8. Proudflt and P. Bradley; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, C. J. Todd; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, W. D. Forbes Acting-Third Assistant, James Wilson. '

;

;

" DONBARTON "— POTJETH-RATE. Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant. Henry Brown; Acting-Master, Hamilton Bingham Acting-Ensigns, O. A. Thompson, C. T. Somes, Daniel Merrill and J. A.Williams; Acting-Master's Mate, H. M.Guilford; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. W. Holmes; Engineers Acting-Second Assistant, Charles Bremon Acting-Third Assistants, J. W. Mead, G. L. Shoe;

:

;

Wm.

H. Smith.

ATLANTA — FOURTH-RATE. '

'

'

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, T. J. Woodward; Acting-Masters, Curtis Redmond and D. V. N. Wrights Acting- Ensigns, Paul Armandt, A. C. Southworth and H. Wakefield; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Thomas Owens Acting- Assistant Paymaster, D. 8. Bostwick; Acting-Master's Mate, A. Loisons; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, W. S. Thompson; Acting-Second- Assistants, Wm. Collier, Wm. Gumphert and J. W. Harnett; Acting ThirdAssistants, F. O. Brown, D. A. McDermott and T. B. Speakman. ;

;

*

BRITANNIA. "—POURTH-EATE.

'

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenants, Samuel Huse, and W. A. Sheldon (commanded at Fort Fisher); ActingMasters, J. S. Coney and S. J. White; Acting-Ensigns, A. J. Lowell and W. H. Bryant; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, F. Niclierson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. B. Culver; Acting-Master's Mates, R. L. M. Jones and W. W. Reed; Engineers: Acting-

Second Assistants,

Fernald and

J.

J.

M. Barron;

Acting-Third-Assistants, W. D. Butts, Samuel Dale, Jr.,

and F.

8.

Andrews.

"BANSHEE

'

— FOURTH RATE.

;

maker, Clark Thurston and " CLEMATIS

J. T.

Boyd.

"— POUETH-RATB.

Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, E. D. Bruner Acting Ensigns, C. T. Beth, Isaac Miller and Geo. H. Gooding; Acting- Master's Mates, M. P. Butts and O. C. Currier; Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistant, Wm. Deacon Acting-Tliird-Assistants, G. Mc ;

;

AUister,

:

;

'

Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant, Geo. B. Livingston Acting- Master, J. B. Stover Acting-Ensigns. Joseph Avant, Albert Buhner, John Aspinwall, Jr., and James Auld Acting-Master's Mate, W. H. Richmond Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Geo. C. Webber- Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Thomas Jernegan Engineers Acting-First- Assistants, Hiram Warner Acting - Second - Assistants, C. B. Culver and D. 8. Leffler Actmg-Third-Assistants, F. G. Shannon and David Reed.

-

;

W.

S.

Kenworthy and Wm. Snedeker.

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, W. H. Garfield; Acting-Ensigns, G. W. Prindle, W. C. Gibson, Paul Greene and J. 8. Young; Acting Assistant Surgeon, J. M. Garner; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, D. P. Shuler; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, C. Cranston; Acting-Second- Assistants, Geo. F. Case and

Thomas Lowe,

J.

McNeills; Acting-Third-Assistants,

H. Radclifle, '

POURTH-RATE 'TEISTAM SHANDT. Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, F. M. Green Actting-Ensign, Benj. Wood, J. H. Wash, T. M. Smith, S. T. Dederer and John Owens; Acting- Master's Mates, Robert Clifford, Maurice Wagg and F. T. Baldwin; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. R. Stow; Engineers: Acting- First-Assistant, W. W. Whiting; Acting-Second Assistants, W. S. Pratt and H. W. Miller; Acting- Third-Assistants, Richard Wareham, ;

Thomas Pentony, William Gladden and Thomas Holten. *" LILLIAN "—FOURTH-BATE.

Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, Thomas A. Harris; Actinff-Master, J. S. Gilett; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. C.

J.

W.

Little

J.

L.

and Charles

Green.

MYSTIC

-FOURTH-RATE.

Acting-Masters, Wm. Wright and S. B. Meaders; Acting-Ensigns, A. T. Hamblen, H. L. Pierce and Geo. W. Conner; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Alex. Mackenzie; Assistant Paymaster, Augustus Parrot; Engineers; Acting- First- Assistant, J. B. Lowell; Acting-Third-Assistants, Isaac Buck and T. W. De Klyne. " DAWN "—FOURTH RATE. Acting- Master. J. A. Jackaway; Acting-Ensigns, W. B. Avery, E. T. Sears and P. W. Morgan; Acting-Master's Mate, 8. W. Crossley; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, A. 8. Lanbaeh; Acting- Assistant Pay master, R. C. Peirce; Engineers: Acting-Second-

THE NA VAL HISTORY

740 Assistant, Sam'l Tomlinson ants, T. K. Payson, C. W.

Acting-Third-AssistWilliains and J. D.

;

Averill. "

WESTERN 'WOBLD "— FOUBTH-BATE.

W. Kimball

;

;

;

Acting- Master, Edward Herrick; Acting-Ensigns, A. J. L. Barlter, Chas. Hall, R. D. Sparrow and E. H. McDonald; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, R. F. Brooks, Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Amos D. Allen; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, F. R. Shoemaker; Acting-Third Assistants, A. Anderson, H. L. Per-

Thumbert and Edw. (j. Schwartz. " COMMODOEE HULL "—FOURTH-BATE. Acting Masters, F. Josselyn and J. O. Johnson;

rine, J. E.

Acting - Ensign, F.

J. Runnells; Acting- Master's Mate, Henry Fleet Acting - Assistant Paymaster, J. Ciiapman Engineers Acting-Third-Assistants. O. L. Smith, W. C. Remick and S. T. Hand. ;

•

Acting - Assistant Surgeon, R. C. Acting Assistant Paymaster, G. L. Ely. " CEEES "—FOUETH-EATE. Acting - Master. H. H. Foster Acting - Ensigns, Acting-Master's T. S. Russell and Saml. Weskett Mate, J. B. Hopkins; Engineers: Aeting-Third-Assistants, J. A. Frank, W. H. Touchton and Rich. Fowler. * "LITTLE ADA" POTTETH-EATE Acting - Ensign, Acting - Master, S. P. Crafts Acting- Master's Mates, W. H. Joseph I. F. Atkins and G. W. Lane Engineers Aeting-Second-Assistant, W. H. Johnson -Acting -Third -Assistants, B. Converse and J. R. Peterson. " FAHKEE FOUETH-EATE. F.

Tuttle

:

"KACHABL SEAMAN "—FOrrBTH-KATE.

;

—

;

;

:

;

''

—

Acting-Masters, F. R. Webb and D W. Carrall Acting - Ensigns, E. W. Pelton, Peter Williams, J. W. Luscomb, H. A. Winslow and A. W. Harvey, Acting Assistant Paymaster, A. B. Thornton Engineers Acting - First - Assistant, G. W. Foster Acting - Second - Assistants, E. F. Lewis and J. H. Hurton ActingThird-Assistant, J. B. Edson.

;

;

Acting-Master, Samuel Curtis; Acting - Ensigns, F. T. Strong and D. Organ; Acting-Master's Mates, H. B. Arbecam and W. H. Wording Acting- Assist;

:

;

ant Paymaster, T. Thompson.

*"

"WHITEHEAD " — FOTJETH-BATE.

WILDEENESS

"

— rOUBTH-EATE.

Acting-Ensigns, B. O. Acting- Master, H. Arey Low, C. P. Hull, C. E. P. Noyes and E. McKeever; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, H. M. Rogers; ActingEngineers ActingMaster's Mate, Wm. Phyflfe Second -Assistant, Richard Anderson; Acting-Third Assistants, E. A. Robinson, Walter Taylor and ;

Acting- Master, Greo. W- Barrett Acting-Ensign, Jarvis Wilson; Acting-Master's Mates, T. E. Quayle, T. M. Nelson and W. S. Baldwin; Engineers: Acting-Third-Assistants, G. B. McDermott and G. S. Snaith. " DBLAWABE "— FOUETH-EATE. ;

:

;

David Bodden. * NANSEMOND " —FOUBTH EATE. Acting-Master, James H. Porter; Acting-Ensigns, J. B. Henderson, Wm. Hunter and Henry Waring Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Geo. Hudson, Jr.; Acting-Master's Mate, A. K. Brown; Engineers: ActingSecond -Assistant, Edward Aspald Acting -ThirdAssistants, C. M. Goodwin, J. T. Earl and E. A. '

Acting-Masters, J. H. Eldredge and H. Vanderveer Acting-Ensigns, Robert Price and H. Livermore Acting - Master's Mates, George Mackay, B. Heath, Jr., and Thos. Topliff Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J. F. Henry; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. W. Woodhull; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, Chas. Bennett; Acting-Third-Assistants, C. H, Keener and Thos. F. Hannigan. ;

;

;

'DAYLIGHT

'

;

ReiUy.

MOUNT WASHINGTON " — FOUETH-EATE. Acting -Master, H. H. Haynie Acting- Ensign, John Nason; Acting-Master's Mates, Theo. Morse; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Sydney Smith; '

'

-POUETH-BATE.

Acting - Master. H. A. Phelan Acting - Ensigns, F. L. Harris, B. F. Macintire. C. F. Russell, C. Linderman and F. Bradley; Acting-Master's Mates, J. E. Merriman Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J. R. May Acting Assistant Paymaster, F.C. Imlay; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, D. B. Overton Acting-Second-Assistant, R. Pallet Aoting-Third-Assistants, J. B. Rice, H. R. Allen, A. P. Smith and Jas. Hill. ;

;

;

Acting-Tiiird- Assistant, F. A. Whitfield.

;

;

:

"COMMODOBB MOEBIS

"

—FOUBTH-BATE.

;

;

;

;

•

"EOLUa"— FOUBTH-BATE.

Acting - Master E. S. Keyser Acting -Ensigns, Thos. Stothard, C. A. Stewart, S. M. Lane and H. N. Crockett; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. Jenkins; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant. A. Rockerfeller Acting -Third -Assistants, G. L. Rockwell, J. M. Hennesy and M. L. Ruth. ;

;

;

"SAMUEL BOTAN" — FOUETH-EATE.

W. G. Nutting; Acting-Ensigns, T. W. Spencer and W. A. Dailey Acting-Master's Mates, J. J. Keller, W. P. Brownell and F. H. Acting- Master,

;

Forbes.

RELEASE' -FOUETH-EATE.

Acting- Master, Jonathan Baker; Aoting-Ensitrns C. H. Beckshaflft, L. Turlow, H. C. Bowen, J m' Taylor and F. B. Owens Acting - Master's Mate, ;

—

" BEN MOEOAN FOUBTH-BATE. Acting Master, A. B. Mulford. PHLOX " — FOUETH-EATE. '

'

Acting-Ensign, D. F. O'Brien; Acting-Blaster, T. A. Wyatt (Pilot) Acting- Master's Mate, Samuel Gordon Engineers: Acting -Third - Assistants, W. C. Wright, G. Morrison and J. H. Coombs. " EPSILON "—FOUETH-EATE. ;

;

Acting-Ensign, F. M. Muitzer; Engineers Polen and Chas. Gould. " CHAKLES PHELPS "— FOUETH-EATE.

:

G. B.

Wm. Ottiwell and C. B. Parry. "EOMAN "-FOUETH-EATE.

Acting-Ensigns,

;

"

ZOUAVE "— FOUETH-BATE

'

Acting Master, R, G. Lee Acting-Ensigns, J. D. Gossick, A.J. Kane and Jos. Ware; Acting- Master's Mate, L. Dempsey; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, R.W. Clark Acting - Assistant Paymaster, T. Higgins Engineers Acting - Second Assistants, V. Cronk and J. H. AVatkins Acting-Third-Assistants, L. L. Copeland, J. Callahan and D. A. Bandell. ;

"

Acting-Master, Jacob L. Haves Acting-Master's Mate, Chas. Attmore Second' Assistant Engineer, Samuel H. Magee

Acting-Ensign, H. Merchant.

—

" GAMMA TUG. Acting-Ensign, Henry F. Curtis; Acting-ThirdAssistant Engineer, Thomas Lee. "

MOCCASIN —FOUETH-EATE. '

Acting-Ensign, James Brown Acting-Master's Mates, Joseph Fuller, John Johnson and J. S. Sinclair; Engineers: Acting- Second- Assistant, T. T. Archer, Acting - Third Assistants, C. H. Wilson, W. H. Garrecht and W. B. Boyd. ;

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

" IjIIiAO "— FOTTBTH-EATB. Acting-Ensign, J. A. Chadwick; Acting-Master's Mate, D. 8. IngersoU; Engineers: Acting-Tliird- Assistants,

W. T. Graff, J. C. Garner and J. B. "WIIililAM BADGEB" — FOUBTH-BATE.

Games.

Acting-Ensign, S. G. Swain; Acting- Master's Mate, J. B. Soines.

—

" POPPY rOtlBTH-EATE. Acting-Ensign, Wm. Clark; Acting-Master's Mate, T. P. Jones; Acting- Second- Assistant Engineer, '

C.

W.

O'Neill. '

anemone" — POUETH-EATB.

Acting-Ensign, W. C. Borden Acting-Master's Mates, G. W. Briggs and Theo. Stone Engineers Acting- Second- Assistant, Wra. Higman; ActingThird- Assistants, J. L. Wright and H. Litchfield, ;

;

—

:

" ALEET " rOUETH BATE. Acting- Ensign, John Bishop Acting-Master and Pilot, D. M. Abbott; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Wm. Mahan Acting-Third-Assistants, Eli Tympenny and J. W. Briggs. HEIilOTEOPE ''- -POTJETH-BATE. Acting-Ensign, G. B. Griffin; Acting-Master's Mate, Samuel Davis; Engineers: Acting Second -Assistant, S. G. Flynn; Acting-Third- Assistants, John McKen;

;

'

'

ney and Edward

J. Cahill.

747

EPSILON " -POUBTH-EATE. Acting-Ensign, Eli M. Boggs; Engineers: ActingThird-Assistants, F. M. Wagner and Prank Blocki. COHASSETT "—POUBTH-EATE. Acting-Master's Mate, M. K. Henderson; Engineers: Acting- Second Assistant, J. H. Finn; ActingThird-Assistants, H. Haney and R. F. Baker. "DELTA" POtTETH-EATE Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. P. Gragg; Engineers Acting-Third Assistants, Geo Schultz and J. N. Schenck. " ALBEMAEIjE "— fotjeth-bate. Acting- Assistant Paymasters, E. Mellackand J. G. Orme Acting- First- Assistant Engineer, Newton Eggleston Gunner, E. A. McDonald Carpenter, M. W. Paul. '

'

'

:

;

;

;

"picket launch." Acting-Gunner, Herman Peters; Acting- SecondAssistant Engineer, Marceline Villazon. "spuyten duyvil." Engineers: First- Assistant, J. L. Lay; Second- Assistant, C. H. Stone Acting- Second -Assistants, Aeting-Third-AsI. R. Smith and J. E. Chadwick sistant, Byron S- Heath. ;

;

*

Acting-Ensign,

J.

"BEPUBIilC."

W.

Bennett.

C

H A PTER

LI.

EFFECTS OF THE FALL OF FORT FISHER, AND CRITICISMS ON GENERAL BADEAU'S MILITARY HISTORY OF GENERAL GRANT. General Butler's Influence. — Condition of General Lee's Army. — Movements of Armies under Generals Grant and Sherman. — Honor to whom Honor is Due. — Extracts from General Grant's Memoirs, showing the Origin of Fort Fisher Expedition. — Letters of Instruction from General Grant to Generals Butler AND Terry. — Why General Butler abandoned the Attempt to Capture Fort Fisher after First Attack. — Why Second Attack on Fort Fisher was Success.

—

— Letters of Secretary op the Navy to the President. Criticisms on General Badeau's Military History of General Grant.— Incidents of Final Assault ON Fort Fisher. Effects of Fall of Fort Fisher, etc. ful.

—

was a THERE and

great deal of acrimony recrimination growing out of the first attack on Fort Fisher. The " Committee on the Conduct of the War" took the matter up, and it proved a feast for the politicians. General Butler, with strong political influence, had, of course, a host of supporters, and these flew to his assistance as soon as he returned from Fort Fisher, in the hope of finding some flaw in the armor of General Grant or Admiral Porter through which they could thrust their lances. Just as the committee were accumulating testimony in support of General Butler, the sound of the one hundred guns fired at the Washington Navy Yard, in honor of the capture of Fort Fisher, thundered through the Capitol, and the baseless fabric of evidence melted into thin air. Fort Fisher was won, and nobody cared to hear about the failure of the first attack. Having given a detailed account of the naval operations before Fort Fisher, it now becomes in order to show the effect of the capture of that stronghold, and its influence in hastening the close of the civil war. The capture of the defences of Wilmington closed the last door through which the Southern Confederacy received their supplies

of clothing,

arms and ammunition

therefore, when Fort Fisher fell, it was only a matter of a short time when the rebellion would collapse. No matter how brave an enemy may be, or how well commanded, he must have provisions and military stores ; and at this time General Lee had not enough material of war to last him three

months. General Grant confronted the Confedererates at Petersburg and Richmond with a greatly superior force, and the James River was blockaded by the Navy yet Lee held his own with his diminished army, and General Grant had to wait until necessity should bring the enemy to terms. Despite Grant's great numerical superiority, Lee had secured the approaches to ;

Richmond so well that all attacks on his lines were unsuccessful. Sherman, with 50,000 men, was advancing from the South, but his forces were in such position that it would have been somewhat difficult to concentrate them in case of being confronted by a large army. He had occupied Savannah after considerable resistance from Hardee, who, when he evacuated the place, marched northward to make a junction with the 40,000 men under General J. E. Johnston. Sherman always supposed that Fort Fisher and the other defences of Wilmington would flnally have surrendered to him, (74R1

THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE had it not fallen when it did but because Savannah and Charleston fell on the approach of the Federal troops, it was no reason that the defences of Cape Fear River The forts about should do the same. Charleston and Savannah were far less calculated to stand a siege than those at Wilmington, and it was shown, by the heavy ;

naval bombardment of the latter, how difficult it was to injure the works sufficiently to enable an assaulting party to capture them. Even after all the guns were rendered useless, a powerful resistance was offered to the assailants, covered as were the latter by the heavy batteries of the fleet, which swept the enemy from the parapets as the troops advanced over the bombproofs.

Sherman, with

all

his soldiers,

could never have reduced the forts on Cape Fear River, except after a long siege, if the enemy had shown any military intelligence. Previous to the capture of Savannah, General Sherman had informed Grant that he had initiated measures towards joining him with 50,000 infantry, and, inci-

No doubt dentally, to capture Savannah. the General reflected that the troops from Savannah and Charleston, combined with those at Wilmington and Johnston's army of 40,000, with 20,000 from the vicinity of Richmond, would have given the enemy at least 80,000 of the best troops to meet him before he could

make a junction with Grant.

enemy held the Wilmington and Weldon railroad all the way to Richmond,

The

the points along the Sounds only were held by the Federal Navy. General Johnston was in advance of Sherman all the time ; and, having assembled his army at a convenient point, it is hardly to be supposed that so skillful a commander, with a force of 80,000 men, would allow Sherman to join Grant without a struggle, which might have proved disastrous to the Union forces. The capture of Fort Fisher by the Army and Navv put an end to any doubts on the " The Northern public was in such subject. a state of excitement that it would have borne with bad grace a reverse of any kind; and, although it was impossible to prolong the rebellion owing to the exhaustion of the South, yet it would have been a great satisfaction to the latter to have dealt a final blow to their conquerors, not only to injure the prestige of the North, but to enable the South to demand better terms than

they could otherwise have hoped for. When the Federal troops entered Wilmington, all of Cape Fear River and the

Wilmington and Weldon railroad were placed in possession of the Federal authorities ; and, as the Navy held the principal points on the sounds of North Carolina, the TTni+crl Qfctoa rtrnrf>rnmp.nt coulfi thrOW anV

CIVIL WAR.

749

number

of troops into the enemy's rear by of the Weldon railroad, Newborn and Plymouth, and furnish them with provisions by the same routes; so that Sherman

way

could advance through Georgia and South Carolina without fear of opposition from General Johnston, who after the fall of Fort Fisher evidently gave up the idea of successful resistance, though he did attempt to prevent Sherman reaching Goldsborough a forlorn hope. Mr. Lincoln appreciated the difficulty with which the Federals had to contend as long as General Johnston with a powerful army kept the field. A check to General Sherman in his progress through the Southern swamps might have prolonged the war for six months, but this could not happen after Fort Fisher had fallen and the Wilmington road was in Federal hands.

—

Many inaccuracies have been stated in regard to the capture of Fort Fisher and the original proposers of the expedition, and no one has done more in this direction than the " military historian." We will not pretend to criticise " General " Badeau when he treats of purely military movements in his " history " of General Grant, although our connection with the several commands of the latter have made us familiar with them but we claim a right to express views fully in cases where the Navy was concerned, and to expose the mistakes of a writer when he undertakes to reflect upon officers of the Navy without any valid reason for so doing. Some of

the military historian's state-

ments assign the origin of the Fort Fisher expedition other than where it belongs, it originated in the Navy Department. General Grant in his Memoirs ingenuously

for

disposes of these statements, and gives an impartial account of the matter, which is inserted in this history. Some of the assertions of the military historian are also disposed of by this account from General Grant's Memoirs :

" Wilmington, North Carolina, was the most imleft to the enemy througrh which to get supplies from abroad, and send cotton and other products out by blockade-runners, besides being a place of great strategic value. The Navy had been making strenuous exertions to seal the harbor of Wilmington, but with only partial The nature of the outlet of Cape Fear River effect. was such that it required watching for so great a distance that, without possession of the land north of New Inlet, or Fort Fisher, it was impossible for the Navy to entirely close the harbor against the entrance of blockade-runners. "To secure the possession of this land required the co-operation of a land force, which I agreed to furnish. Immediately commenced the assemblage in Hampton Roads, under Admiral D. D. Porter, of one of the most formidable armada ever collected for concentration upon one given point.

portant sea-coast port

THE NAVAL HISTORY

750

''This necessarily attracted the attention of the

enemy, as -well as that of the loyal North and through the imprudence of the public press, and, very likely, of officers in both branches of the ser;

the exact object of the expedition became a subject of common discussion in the newspapers both North and South. " The enemy, thus warned, prepared to meet it. This caused a postponement of the expedition until the later part of November, wlien, being again called upon by Hon. G. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1 agreed to furnish the men required at once, and went myself, in company with MajorGeneral Butler, to Hampton Roads, where we had a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force required and the time of starting. vice,

"A force of 6,500 men was regarded as sufficient. The time of starting was not definitely arranged, but it was thought all would be ready by the 6th December, if not before. Learning, on the 30th November, that Bragg had gone to Georgia, taking with him most of the forces about Wilmington, I deemed it of the utmost importance that the exof of

its destination before the return of Bragg, and directed General Butler to make all arrangements for the departure of MajorGeneral Weitzel, who had been designated to command the land forces, so that the Navy might not be detained one moment. "On the 6th of December the following instructions were given City Point, Virginia,

pedition should reach

:

'

\

•December

'General— The

6,

1864.

first

'

'

sealed.

'Should Fort Pisher, and the point of land on which it is built, fall into the hands of our troops immediately on landing, then it will be worth the attempt to capture Wilmington by a forced march and surprise. If time is consumed in gaining the first object of the expedition, the second will become a matter of after consideration. '

The

and the

details for execution are intrusted to officer immediately in command of

you the

troops.

Should the troops under General Weitzel to effect a landing at or near Fort Pisher, they '

fail

will

be returned to the armies operating against Richmond without delay. U. S. Grant, Lientenant-General. '

'

Majob-Genbral

me

that he never received the foregomg

in-

structions, nor was he aware of their existence until he read General Butlers published official reindorseport of the Fort Fisher failure, with

my

ment and papers accompanying it. I had no idea of General Butler's accompanying the expedition until the evening before it got off from Bermuda Hundred, and then did not dream but that General Weitzel had received all the instructions and would be in command. "I rather formed the idea that General Butler was actuated by a desire to witness the effect of the explosion of the powder-boat. The expedition was detained several days at Hampton Roads, awaiting the loading of the powder-boat. "The importance of getting the Wilmington expedition off without any delay, with or without the powder-boat, had been urged upon General Butler, and he advised to so notify Admiral Porter. The expedition finally got off on the 13th of December, and arrived at the place of rendezvous, off New Inlet, near Fort Fisher, on the evening of the 15th. Admiral Porter arrived on the evening of the 18th, having put in at Beaufort to get ammunition for the Monitors. " The sea becoming rough, making it difficult to land troops, and the supply of water and coal being about exhausted, the transport fleet put back to Beaufort to replenish; this, with the state of the weather, delayed the return to the place of rendezvous until the24th. The powder-boat was exploded on the morning of the 24th, before the return of but it would seem, General Butler from Beaufort from the notice taken of it in the Southern newspapers, that the enemy were never enlightened as to the object of the explosion until they were informed by the Northern press. " On the 25th a landing was effected without opposition, and a reconnoissance under Brevet-Brigadier-General Curtis pushed up towards the fort. But, before receiving a full report of the result of ;

j

object of the expedition under General Weitzel is to close to the enemy the If successful in this, the port of Wilmington. second will be to capture Wilmington itself. There are reasonable grounds to hope for sucadvantage can be taken of the abcess, if sence of the greater part of the enemy's forces, now looking after Sherman in Georgia. The directions you have given for thenumljers and equipment of the expedition are all right, except in the unimportant matter of where they embark and the amount of intrenching tools to be taken. The object of the expedition will be gained by effecting a landing on the main land, between Cape Pear River and the Atlantic, north of the north entrance of the river. Should such landing be effected while the enemy still holds Port Pisher and the batteries guarding the entrance to the river, then the troops should intrench themselves, and, by cooperating with the Navy, effect the reduction and capture of those places. These in our hands, the Navy could enter the harbor, and the port of Wil-

mington would be

formed

B. p. Butler.'

"General Butler commanded the Army from which the troops were taken for this enterprise, and the territory within which they were to operate— military courtesy required that all orders and instructions should go through him. They were so sent; but General Weitzel has since officially in-

this reconnoissance, Genei-al Butler, in direct violation of the instructions given, ordered the re-embarkment of the troops and the return of the expedition. The re-embarkment was accomplished by the morning of the 27th. " On the return of the expedition, officers and

men—among them

Brevet-Major-General (then Brevet-Brigadier-General) N. M. Curtis, First-Lieutenant G. W. Ross, 117th New York Volunteers; First-Lieutenant William H. WalUng and SecondLieutenant George Simpson, 142d New York Volunteers—voluntarily reported to me that when recalled they were nearly into the fort, and, in thenopinion, it could have been taken without much loss. "Soon after the return of the expedition, I received a dispatch from the Secretary of the Navy, and a letter from Admiral Porter, informing me that the fleet was still off Port Fisher, and expressing the conviction that under a proper leader the place could be taken. The natural supposition with me was, that when the troops abandoned the expedition the Navy would do so also. Finding it had not, however, I answered on the 30th of December, advising Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I

would send a force and make another attempt to take the place. " This time I selected Brevet- Major-General (now Major-General) A. H. Terry to command the expedition. The troops composing it consisted of the same that composed the former, with the addition of a small brigade numbering about one thousand five hundred, and a small siege-train. The latter it was never found necessary to land. " I communicated direct to the commander of the expedition the following instructions :

'

City Point, Virginia, January

General — The command has been '

3,

1865.

expedition intrusted to your out to renew the attempt

fitted

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

to capture Fort Fisher, N. C, and Wilmington ultimately, if the fort falls. You will then proceed with as little delay as possible to the naval fleet lying off Cape Fear River, and report the arrival of yourself and command to Admiral D. D. Porter,

commanding the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. It plete

is exceedingly desirable that the most comunderstanding should exist between yourself and the naval commander. I suggest, therefore, that you consult with Admiral Porter freely, and get from him the part to be performed by each branch of the public service, so that there may be '

unity of action. It would be well to have the whole programme 1 have served with Admiral laid down in writing. Porter, and know that you can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he proposes. 1 would, therefore, defer to him as much as is con'

sistent

with your

own

responsibilities.

is to get a firm position on the spit of land on which Port Fisher is built, from which you can operate against that fort. You want to look to the practicability of receiving your supplies, and to defending yourself against superior forces sent against you by any of the avenues left open to the enemy. If such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort Fisher wDl not be abandoned until the reduction is accomplished, or another plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters. , My own views are, that, if you effect a landing, the Navy ought to run a portion of their fleet into Cape Fear River, while the balance of it operates on the outside. 'Land forces cannot invest Fort Fisher, or cut it off from supplies or reinforcements while the siege train river is in possession of the enemy. will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort Monroe, All in readiness to be sent to you if required. others supplies can be drawn from Beaufort as you

'The

first

object to be attained

'

751

into a defensive line

against any attempt that

might be made from the

fort.

"The

reconnaissance disclosed the fact that the front of the work had been seriously injured by the Navy Are. In the afternoon of the 15th the fort was assaulted, and after most deperate fighting was captured with its entire garrison and armament. Thus was secured, by the combined efforts of the Navy and Army, one of the most important successes of the war. Our loss was, killed, 110 wounded, 536. On the 16th and 17th, the enemy abandoned and blew up Port Caswell and the works on Smith's Island, which were immediately occupied by us. This gave us entire control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River."

In

vol.

3.

page

224, of his

work, the mili-

tary historian states as follows

:

" While thus zealously watching the varied interests and changing circumstances in Georgia and Tennessee, as well as at Richmond and in the val-

Grant had also planned [!] to take advantage of Sherman's march by a new movement on the At lantic coast. Wilmington, near the mouth of Cape Fear River, in North Carolina, was the only im-

ley.

portant seaport open to the enemy. " It was originally intended that the expedition should set out in October, but through the imprudence of officers both of the Army and the Navy, and afterwards of the public press, the exact object of the enterprise became known, and the enemy thus warned prepared to resist it."

'

A

need them. 'Keep the

fleet of vessels with you until your When you find they can be position is assured. spared, order them back, or such of them that you can spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for orders. In case of failure to effect a landing, bring your command back to Beaufort, and report to these headquarters for further instructions. You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed. 'General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops to Baltimore, and place them on sea-going vessels. These trooi^s will be brought to Fort Monroe, and kept there on the vessels until Should you require them, you are heard from. '

they will be sent to you. U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. Bbbvet-Major-Gbneral A. H. Tbbbt.' '

'

"Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp (now Brevet-Brigadier-General), who accompanied the former expedition, was assigned, in orders, as It will be seen that these chief-engineer of this. instructions did not differ materially from those given for the first expedition, and that in neither instance was there an order to assault Fort Fisher. This was a matter left entirely to the discretion The expedition sailed of the commanding officer. from Fort Monroe on the morning of the 6th, arriving at the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th, where, owing to the difficulties of the weather, it lay until the morning of the 13th, when it got

underway and reached its destination that evening. Under cover of the fleet, the disembarkation of the troops commenced on the morning of the 13th, and by 3 o'clock P. M. was completed without loss. " On the 14th a reconnaissance was pushed to within five hundred yards of Fort Fisher, and a email aAtrannCk

wrr^vlr ^-n IrPTl TinSSflSfiinn nf_ flTlfl t-lTPTlpd

For this reason, we suppose, the expedition

was postponed until the middle of winter, so that the enemy could make his own arrangements; for the military historian says: "This caused a postponement of the expedition, but towards the end of November the project was revived, and e,500 men were vro7nised [!] from the Army of the James." It would only require forty-eight hours to equip 8,000 troops and collect the transports, yet no move was made from October until the middle of December. General Grant had appointed General Weitzel to command the troops, but from the very beginning Butler made himself the prominent figure, and Weitzel had little more to say than if he had been the General's orderly. General Grant evidently supposed that Butler was acting only as the commander of a division of an army, and had a right to interfere in getting the troops ready to embark; but Butler, for some unaccountable reason, was delaying the expedition. General Butler, with a large body of troops, held an almost impregnable position north and east of the James. General Grant held Lee and his army tight in Richmond, while a bridge of boats connected the two armies, and a large force of naval vessels, including the heaviest iron-clad, occupied the river, which was also blocked with sunken vessels filled with stones. The Federal Army had therefore nothing to fear from Lee, and certainly 8,000 men could have been spared from Butler's army. Referring back to the military historian,

who says that the Fort Fisher expedition "had been delayed in November, owing: to

THE NAVAL HISTORY

752

the indiscretion of Army and Navy officers, by which the enemy were notified of the projected movement, and were fortifying the place strongly in consequence," and who further says: "On the 30th of November Grant notified Butler that Bragg, in command at Wilmington, had set out for Georgia, taking with him most of the forces"! Let us ask, then, why, with such information in his posses-

who had been

sion, did Butler delay the expedition

?

It

can only be accounted for by that indomitable will for which he was celebrated, and feeling himself master of the situation, from his great political prestige, he did as he pleased for the power of politics at that time overshadowed everything else, and even General Grant was careful not to

—

ignore it. "It is important," said Grant to Butler, "that Weitzel should get off during his (Bragg's) absence, and if successful in making a landing, he may, by a bold dash, succeed in capturing Wilmington." The Navy had been ready from the middle of October, and yet the military historian speaks of the delays of the Navy, and want of co-operation between Butler and the Admiral. To illustrate how little delay there was on the part of the Navy, we give the following letter from Mr. Secretary Welles to the President :

"Navy Departme^^t,

Oct. 28, 1864.

—Tou are

aware that, owing to shoal water at tlie ruouth of Cape Fear River, a purely naval attack cannot be undertaken against Wilmington. Had there been water enough for our broadside ships of the " Hartford " class, the naval attacks of New Orleans, Mobile and Port Royal would have been repeated there. I have, as you are aware, often pressed upon the War Department the importance of capturing Wilmington, and urged \ipon Sir

the military authorities the necessity of undertaking a joint operation against the defences of Cape Fear River, but until recently there never seems to have been a period when the department Av.is in a condition to entertain the subject. Two months ago it was arranged tliat an attack should be made on the 1st of October, but subsequentlj' postponed to the 15th, and the naval force has been ready since the 15th inst., in accordance with that agreement. One hundred and fifty vessels-of-war now form the North Atlantic squadron. The command, first offered to Rear- Admiral Farragut, but declined by him, has been given to RearAdmiral Porter. Every other squadron has been depleted, and vessels detached from other duty to strengthen this expedition. The vessels are concentrated at Hampton Roads and Beaufort, where they remain an immense force lying idle, awaiting the movements of the army. The detention of so many vessels from blockade and cruising duty is a most serious injury to the public service, and if the expedition cannot go forward for want of troops I desire to be notified, so that the ships may be relieved and dispersed for other service. The importance of closing Wilmington is so well understood by you that I refrain from presenting any new arguments. I am aware of the anxiety of

—

yourself and of the disposition of the War Department to render all the aid in its power. The cause of the delay is not from the want of a

proper coneejjtion of the importance of the subject, but the season for naval coast operations will soon be gone. General Bragg has been sent from Richmond to Wilmington to prepare for the attack; and the autumn weather, so favoraV)le for such an expedition, is fast passing away. The public expect this attack, and the country will be distressed if it be not made. To procrastinate much longer will be to peril its success. Of the obstacles which delay or prevent military co-operation at once, I cannot judge; but the delay is becoming exceedingly embarrassing to this Department, and the importance of having the military authorities impressed with the necessity of speedy action has prompted this

communication to you. I have the honor to

be, etc.,

Gideon Welles.

The President." According to the military historian, General Butler never received any detailed orders regarding the expedition until December 6th, at which date General Grant writes: " The first object of the expedition, under General Weitzel, is to close the port of Wilmington. There are reasonable grounds to hope for success, if advantage can betaken of the absence of the greater part of the enemj^'s forces now looking after Sherman in Georgia." This would indicate that General Grant did not intend that Butler should

accompany the expedition, but that the military part of it should be managed entirely by Weitzel. Yet, according to the military historian ''Butler, on the night when the troops embarked, proceeded to City Point, and informed General Grant that he was going himself, and this in violation of his command ing-generals orders who 'did not desire to intrust the command of the expedition to Butler for, as repeatedly shown, although Grant was entirely satisfied with that officers zeal and general ability, he was convinced that he lacked some qualities essential in a commander in the field. Grant did not pronounce, but he felt certain, that the peculiar talent of a successful general was not possessed by the Commander of the James. He therefore directed Butler to place Weitzel in command of the expedition, and had, in fact, comndtted to Butler movements in support of those of Meade, which he intended should de!

;'

tain

him

in

Bermuda Hundred. now

"Nevertheless, he did not

forbid Butler to

accompany Weitzel. It was difficult thus to affront a commander of such high rank unless it was intended to relieve him entirely from command, and this Grant was not prepared to do without consulting the Government, which he knew would dislike and perhaps forbid the step. He fancied, besides, that Butler's object might be to witness the explosion of the powder-boat— in which he took great

•****«. — rather

interest itself.

" It better

the

is if

than to direct the expedition

certain, however, that it

would have been Grant had frankly ordered Butler back to of the James, to superintend the move-

Army

ments there. "His dislike to wound the feelings of another should, doubtless, at this crisis have been sacrificed. "Those who have never been placed in situations of great delicacy

and

responsibility, or

who cannot

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

—

r53

realize the various considerations military, politwhich affect the decisions ot men ical and personal in power, will, doubtless, here find cause to censure

"Their written communications were few, and it was the chief -of-staff of the Admiral, and the ranking officer under Butler (Weitzel) [who was sup-

Orant."

posed to be in command of the Army forces], through whom the views or wishes of either were made known to each other. Porter thought that his advice was not taken at times when it should have been controlling, and Butler thought that Porter acted without duly considering or consult-

—

General Grant might well have exclaimed on reading this, "Save me from my friends " The military historian does not give his authority for the foregoing statements, but it is certain that, when General !

Butler reported his return from Wilmington to General Grant, the latter relieved

Mm from command.

On the 9th of December, 1864, General Grant telegraphed to Butler at Fortress Let General Weitzel get off as Monroe. ' •

soon as possible; we don't want the Navy Yet the Navy had to wait an hour." waited patiently from the 15th of October until the 6th of December, fifty-one days! It will be seen throughout this narrative that we have given General Grant on all occasions credit for the highest military ability, and in this instance we do not desire to take from him one iota of it. only refer to the revelations made by the military historian, in relation to which General Grant is not responsible. In volume 3, page 390, of his book, the author states that

We

" About the 18th of December, 1864, there was doubtless a lack of concert, and even of cordial co-operation, between the naval and military

Butler was not popular with the other branch of the service, and, after the expedition started from Hampton Roads, neither commander visited the other "

chiefs.

!

Now, here

a paragraph that ought to " historian " happy. Imagine a General and an Admiral calling upon each other on the salt-sea waves, amid tumbling "billows, in the dead of winter, and leaving cards The Admiral's reason for not communicating with Butler personally was, that he did not see the General from the time he left Fortress Monroe until the time when the General stated he was going to leave the Navy in the lurch at Fort Fisher, and Butler did not communicate with the Admiral, as he might easily have done, because he had been informed of all that was going to be done, what he had to do, and what means would be placed at his disposal. is

make our

!

There was no communication until just before landing,

necessary

when General

Weitzel went on board the flag-ship to see Admiral Porter, who agreed to all Butler's propositions, although some of them were needless. To refer to that portion of the military "history," which seems to have been written without consideration, in regard to a matter of which the author really knew nothing, or perhaps to let up General Butler, of he had spoken harshly, he

whom

ing him.''

That

[!]

is,

Porter

managed

his fleet to suit

himself, and left Butler to manage his forces until the time came for action:

own

" Bach was besides annoyed at delays which, though inopportune, were unavoidable, and neither

made

suflBcient

allowance for the

difficulties of

that

branch with which he was less familiar. They seemed, indeed, to be playing at cross purposes. When Butler was supplied with coal. Porter wanted ammunition, and when Porter had all the ammunition he wanted, Butler was out of coal Even the elements conspired against them, and when one could ride on the open sea, the other was obliged to !

stay inside."

[!

!]

This is the most crooked narrative ever written by one claiming to be a historian. The author affirms that there was no concert of action between General Butler and the Admiral, and yet he says (vol. 3, page 315) " On the morning of the 25th, Butler sent Weitzel to Porter to arrange the programme for the day. It was decided that the fleet should attack the fort again, while the troops were to land, and, if possible, assault under cover of the naval fire as soon as the Half- Moon and Flag- Pond Batteries were silenced. At 7 o'clock the fleet again took up a position within a mile of the fort [three-fourths of a mile], not a shot being fired by the enemy except at the last four naval vessels as they were moving into line. [This for the reason that nearly all the guns had been disabled by the ships' fire and by the sand that had been driven by shells into their bores.] " At 13 o'clock the batteries above the forts were reported silenced, and a detachment of about 2,300 :

men of General Ames' command was landed two and a half miles north of the fort [without a gun being fired on them]. The debarkation was effected under the cover of seventeen gun-boats, which raked the woods and could drive away any force that might have opposed the landing. " Five hundred men under General Curtis were the first to land. He pushed his skirmish - line within a few yards of Fort Fisher, causing on the way the surrender of the garrison of Flag-Pond Battery, already silenced by the naval fire. Weitzel accompanied Curtis and approached within 800 yards of the worlvs. He counted seventeen guns in position bearing up the beach, observed the traverses and stockades, the glacis, ditch, and counterscarp, and decided that the work had not been materially injured by the naval fire. [!] Weitzel, too, had been in many unsuccessful assaults, and never in a victorious one; he had a distinct and vivid recollection of tliis experience, and returned to Butler and reported that it would be butchery to assault.

"Curtis was

now

within

fifty

yards of the fort

and sent word to Ames that he could take the work, whereupon Aiues sent orders for an assault. Curtis at once moved forward, but by the time he reached his position night had come on, and the fleet had nearly ceased [and yet, Ames and Curtis, under Terry, to fire assaulted, and continued to assault, Fort Fisher [not a shot fired at him]

;

THE NA VAL HISTORY

754

' Some; of the rebel troops who had been driven their bomb-proofs returned to Their guns" [which they could not fire as the guns were disdisabled]. At this juncture the order to embark Curtis and the arrived (ind no assault was made. officers with him declared that the fort could That at the moment have been easily carried. when they were recalled they virtually had possession, having actually approached so close that the rebel flag (which the Navy fire had to

knocked down> had been snatched from the parapet, and a horse brought away from inside the stocliade. Three hundred prisoners had been capThat night, Butler informed tured outside, etc. the Admiral that he and Weitzel were of the opinion that the place could not be carried by assault, having been left substantially uninjured by the naval lire " Seventeen guns, he said, two of which only were injured [and yet none of them fired on the troops], were bearing up the beach, covering a strip of land, the only practicable route, not more than wide enough for 1,000 men in line of battle [the place where Curtis finally assaulted without !

losing a man].

"Hoke's reinforcements were approaching, and, as only the operations of a siege would reduce the I fort, he had caused the troops to re embark. shall, therefore," said he, 'sail for Hampton Roads as soon as the transpoi-t fleet can be got in order.' •

Now

what Badeau calls " a want of between General Butler Of course, Porter and Admiral Porter. this is

concert of action

""

could not join Butler in his retreat, as will be seen by Badeau's next paragraph: "The Admiral, however, was of a different mind, and replied, 'I have ordered the largest vessels to proceed off Beaufort and fill up with ammunition, to be ready for another attack in ease it is decided to proceed with this matter by making other arrangeWe ments [meaning sending another General]. have not commenced firing rapidly yet, and could their heads from showing keep any rebels inside until an assaulting column was within twenty yards of the work.s. 1 wish some more of your gallant fellows had followed the officer who took the flag from the jiarapet, and the brave fellow who

brought the hoi-so from the fort. I think they would have found it an easier conquest than is supposed.' " I5utler, nevertheless, remained unshaken in his determination, and on the night of theS.'Jth December he embarked all his troops except Curtis' command, when the surf became high and he sailed away, leaving these ashore." They were under cover of the guns of tlie fleet and they were all safely taken off. On the '37th Butler arrived at Fortress Monroe, and on the 2Sth had an interview with General Grant, after which the Generalin-chief telegraphed to the President :

" The Wilmington expedition has proved a gross and culpable failure. Manv of the troops are back here. Delays and free talk of the expedition enabled the enemy to move troops to AVilmington to defeat

it.

After the expedition started from Fort-

Monroe three days of fine wealher were squandered, during which the enemy was without a force ress

to protect himself.

Who

is

to blame, will, I hope,

be known"!

As one

if

the

blame could

who went

rest on anj- but the to Fort Fisher in command

and disobeyed orders by not intrenching himself under the protection of the troops,

of the

guns

of the fleet.

Grant had seen enough of the Navy on the Mississippi to know that it would not back out of such an adventure as the taking of Fort Fisher. The Navy had given him sufficient evidence in much more desperate undertakings to have satisfied him that it would stay before Fisher as long as a shot or pound of coal was left. "This dispatch was The historian says written before Grant had heard from Porter, or from Butler s own subordinates ; subsequently he was inclined (!) to attribute the :

Other causes than the Navy, we suppose; and here Badeau relates the difficulties with which the fleet and transports had to contend in getting to tlie scene of action, and makes the following sensible remark failure to other causes."

:

"But whatever the delay, and whatever the cause, these made no difference in the result. The troops and the fleet were at the rendezvous, the work was silenced, and the landing effected before any reinforcements reached the fort. " On the morning of the 25th only 1,600 men had arrived at Wilmington. This day General Lee telegraphed Sedden: 'Bragg reports the enemy made a landing three miles north of Fort Fisher about 3 P. M. to day, and were still landing at 5:30 p. m. General Kirkland's, the only troops arrived, except 400 of Haygoods, etc' " Whatever number arrived before the 27th, they made no attempt to molest Curtis' little band of 500 men, who remained on shore two days after Butler left, with no support except the guns of the fleet. On the 25th of December, therefore, there were only 3,500 men opposed to Butler's 6,500. The garrison was only about 1,600 men. It is true the latter occupied a strong work, but Butler had the most formidable fleet that was ever assembled to cover and protect his movements.''

We

will make one more quotation from this part of the military historian's book.

was, no doubt, reviewed by General Grant. The latter, after inquiring into all the circumstances, had sent Butler directly home to Lowell: "Butler, indeed, maintained that he had not efIt

fected a landing, that only a third of his troops were on shore, when the sea became so rough that he could land no more. But his subordinates did not confirm this statement, and, as he was able to get all his troops except Curtis' conuuand back to the transports, he coidd certainly have put them on shore if he had been at all anxious to do so."

The latter part of Baileau's remarks about Butler are not complimeutarj', but he tries to ease him up on the gi-ound that " He simi"i]y displayed on this occasion once more the unmilitai-y features of his character. But, above all, he had not appreciated the force of Grant's order in regard to remaining and intrenching ou the peninsula, or else he forgot them altogether at the crisis Weitzel had never seen the orders, and knew nothing of them, or he would doubtless have reminded Butler of their charac.

.

!

ter."

(!)

Let any one read this and consider the total lack of militarj' arrangement and the absence of obedience to the orders of the General - in - chief of the Federal armies,

OF THE CIVIL WAR. we

755

a disobedience that would have rendered General Butler liable to be shot if tried by

letter,

court-martial.

the desired effect.

The military historian comments on the lack of co-operation between Butler and the naval commander, not saying decidedly where the blame rested, but rather implying that it rested with the Navy. A truth only half told often does more harm than a falsehood, although we are not aware that it did the Navy any harm in this instance. The author says:

wrote to General Grant

"The lack of co-operation between Porter and Butler was at this juncture again apparent, and again most unfortunate. The Admiral was a man not only of brilliant talent but of extraordinary nerve and force of character, and though extravagant and inconsiderate in language, written as well as spoken, he understood his profession thoroughly, He was aggressive in his nature, and always favored an attack. He doubtless, in this instance, overrated the results accomplished by the fleet, but that very circumstance would have made his counsels more audacious, and audacity is sometimes a very desirable quality in a commander. If, instead of writing or sending to Porter and announcing his withdrawal, Butler, who was the senior in rank, had waived his prerogative and sought and obtained a personal interview, it is possible that he might have been convinced by the arguments or incited by the sf)irit of the sailor into remaining on shore. As it was, he sailed off, leaving Porter to pick up the troops he (Butler) had left and, in his dread of incurring disaster, he incurred what to a soldier is infinitely worse, the imputation of unnecessary failure."

We don't see

where the " lack of co-operIf ation " on the Admiral's part comes in. the author had confined the lack to Butler, he would have stated the actual fact. The historian comments freely on the of the naval forces, in regard he wrote to the Navy Department, and which finally came out in invesIn tigations on the conduct of the war.

commander to a letter

reference to the letter, the military historian says the Admiral could not be accused of The following concealing his sentiments. is the communication alluded to as part of the history of the war. There does not seem to be anything peculiar in it beyond its decided tone: " My dispatch of yesterday will give you an account of the operations, but -will scarcely give an idea of mv disappointment at the conduct of the Army authorities in not attempting to take possession of the fort. Had the Anuy made a show of surrounding it,it would have been ours; but nothing of the kind was done. The men landed, reconnoitred, and hearing that the enemy were massing troops MwewAere, the ordei-s were given to embark There never was a post that invited soldiers to walk in and take possession more plainly than FortFisher. ... It can be taken at any moment in one hour's time if the right man is sent with the troops. They should be sent to stay. I trust, sir, you will not think of stopping at this, nor relax your endeavors to obtain the right number of of taking the place."

Now, where the

men and the means

peculiarity of

which the

leave to others to determine.

Admiral wrote very decidedly, and

it

The had

Mr. Secretary Welles

"The ships can approach nearer to the enemy's works than was anticipated; their fire can keep the enemy away from their guns. "A landing can easily be effected upon the beach north of Fort Fisher, not only of troops, but all their supplies and artillery. This force can have its supplies protected by gun-boats. " Admiral Porter will remain off Fort Fither, continuing a moderate fire to prevent new works being erected.

"Under all these circumstances, I invite you to a military co-operation, as wiU insure the fall of Fort Fisher."

After receipt of this wrote to the Admiral

letter

General Grant

:

" Please hold on wherever

you are for a few days, endeavor to send the troops back again with an increased force and xuithout the former commanderand

I will

"Your dispatch to the Secretary of the Navy was only received to-day. I took immediate steps to have transports collected and am assured they will be ready with coal and water by noon of the 2d of January. There will be no delay in embarking and sending off the troops. If they ellect a lodgment, they can at least fortify and maintain themselves until reinforcements can be sent. Please answer by bearer, and designate where you will have the fleet of transports congregate."

The

letter of

which Badeau speaks had

the effect of drawing forth the above com-

munication and bringing about tlie capture of Fort Fisher. Yet the Navy never received any particular credit for this operwhich was the final stab that brought the enemy to his last throes. To those who take an interest in the naval operations of the war, some of the remarks of the military historian on Fort Fisher are interesting. In spite of many inaccuracies, he shows the pertinacity with which the Navy held on to what they had begun, and the difficulties tliey had encountered against the fierce gales that swept the coast during those months of December and January. Not a vessel left her post, and the Navy could have protected the ation,

landing of any number of troops. It was manifestly the object of the military historian to give the Army more credit than was due them, and make the Navy play a secondary part in the reduction of the defences in Wilmington. The Navy covered the attack of the troops and the sailors attacked the sea-face of Fort Fisher; the garrison, supposing this to be the main attack, rushed to the sea-face, and, as

Badeau

"away

says, swept the officers and sailors like chaff." The repulse of the

naval storming party might not have hap-

pened had the troops, who were to have attacked with the sailors and marines, come to time. It was only when the whole inrof. of thft ftnfimv w^as r^nnr-An trntf>rl q+

tbp

THE NAVAL HISTORY

756

sea-face that the order troops to advance, and

was given

for the

from tlie "Curtis' brigade at once sprung trenches and dashed forward in line, and in a few moments the Army occupied three or four ti-a verses which protected them from the fire of the enemy, and there Curtis held on until Ames and Pennypacker could obtain a secure footing in the fort with him. Bell's brigade was brought up and the fort was occupied by the troops.'' It

must be remembered that vp^hile this was going on behind traverses, the

assault

"New

Ironsides," with her 11-inch guns, firing througli the traverses in front of the Federal soldiers, as the enemy would assemble to meet their approaches, and the Confederates were swept away by the Navy shells.

and three Monitors, were

At this time General Terry requested the Admiral to reinforce the troops on the outer line by the seamen and marines who had been repulsed from the sea-face, which was done at once. This stopped the advance of General Hoke, who had com-

menced skirmishing with

Terry's northern apparently with a design of attacking in that quarter to make a diverHoke's withdrawal enabled Abbott's sion. brigade and a regiment of colored troops to be brought into action on the southern outposts,

front.

There never was harder fighting anysoldiers than on this memorable occasion; and while the Federal troops behaved like heroes, it is but justice to say of the enemy that they fought equally well, and it was only after seven hours of stout resistance that they surrendered.

where by

The

militarj' historian

relates

all

this

part of his story in a graphic manner; but, to show how essential was the fire of the Navy to the success of the assault, we mention the following incident :

" Terry, finding the advance so slow, directed Curtis to stop fighting and intrench, which so excited that officer that he exclaimed, 'Then we shall lose

what we have gained Fortunately, the firing from the Ironsides and the Monitors was so effective, that at ten o'clock p. M. every traverse was emptied and the enemy in full retreat towards the end of the sand-spit on which Fort Fisher was situated." '

'

45 missing, while the enemy over 700. The high praise bestowed on the officers of the Army by the military historian is well deserved; the assault on Fort Fisher was the most remarkable affair of the war: "The difficulties of the weather and the season on

wounded, and

lost

'

would be scarcely worth while for or Navy to claim on this occasion more tlian their share of honor. Each did in its own sphere what was required, and neither could have succeeded without the aid of the other. That the naval fire was perfect was evidenced by the fact that every gun in Fort Fisher was either destroyed or so injured that they were practically useless; so that, from the moment the army advanced to the assault, they had nothing to apprehend from the enemy's heavy batIt

Army

teries.

In all the last seven hours' fighting the Federal army lost but 110 killed, 536

one of the stormiest coasts, in the world were overcome, the disadvantages incident to all combined operations entirely disappeared, and the dispositions of the Admiral and the military chief at the time of the landing, and during the subsequent operations up to and including the assault, were a marvel of harmonious effect."

To all this we subscribe, only asserting that up to the time when Butler left Fort Fisher the naval co-operation with him was just as effective as with Terry. Butler had no obstacles to overcome, Terry had many. Badeau says "The importance of this victory was instantly recognized by the rebels and loyal people alike. The Lee knew its effect was felt at home and abroad. :

significance as well as Grant, and the rejoicing at the North was not more general or heartfelt than the despondency it occasioned inside the Confederacy. The gates through which the rebels obtained their largest and most indispensable supplies was forever sealed.

" In little more than a year before the capture, the ventures of British capitalists and speculators with Wilmington alone had amounted to $66,000,000, and $65,000,000 worth of cotton had been exported in return. In the same period 397 vessels had run the blockade all this was at an end. Europe perceived the inevitable consequences, and the British Government, which till now had held out hopes to the Confederate emissaries, after the fall of Fort Fisher sent a communication to Jefferson Davis, through Washington, rebuking the rebels for their stubbornness. There could be no surer evidence that the case was desperate." ;

We

will further add that a telegraphic dispatch was captured from General Lee to the commanding officer at Fort Fisher, which read as follows: "If Fort Fisher

have to evacuate Eichmond." The military historian remarks: "At this crisis the possession of Cape Fear River falls, I shall

opened another base for operations into the interior. It enabled the general-in-chief to look forward to supporting Sherman's future movements and presented an opportunity to complete the isolation of Lee." In fact, Lee, with Cape Fear River in his possession, might have prolonged the war greatly, in the hope of obtaining terms for the Confederacy, which might have been a triumph for them. After making the proper disposition of the vessels of the fleet, the Admiral hastened to City Point in a fast steamer to witness the end. It came two months later, when Lee, having eaten up all his provisions, and threatened by large armies whom he had no longer power to resist, surrendered, and thus ended the most extraordinary war of modern times.

OF THE While our armies in many instances immortalized themselves by acts of heroism, and submitted to hardships and privations for which the country can hardly ever repay them, the Navy performed its fair share of hard service, and without its aid the rebellion could not have been suppressed. As long as the Confederates could be fed, and supplied with munitions of war, it would have been extremely difficult to conquer them, for they would have prolonged the war and inflicted such injuries on the North as to finally have obtained whatever terms they might demand. In the enthusiasm of the Northern people to welcome home the soldiers, and in the honors paid to them on all sides, the Navy seemed to have been forgotten, and but for the published dispatches of the commanding officers of the Federal naval forces, the general public would hardly have known that such an organization as the Navy existed.

From the battle of Shiloh, where the gunboats covered the retreating troops, which rallied under their protecting fire and finally gained the day, to the fall of Fort Fisher, the Navy played a more active part than was perhaps ever before taken by naval forces, and though illy supplied with the

CIVIL WAR.

757

proper kind of vessels, they seldom experienced reverses. There were the fights of Hatteras, Port Royal, New Orleans, Mobile, Vicksburg, and all along the Mississippi and its tributaries. Red River, Arkansas, White, Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio Rivers, Grand Gulf, Port Hudson, Charleston, Galveston, and the whole coast of Texas brought under control. This was a large field of naval operations, seldom equalled in the history of war, and never exceeded, as far as naval

successes are concerned. In this account of the Fort Fisher affair

we have endeavored to do justice to all parties, but as General Butler was not partial to the Navy, and might perhaps think that a naval writer would not do him full justice, we have quoted liberally from the work of General Badeau, who had a favorable leaning toward General Butler, and who gave him credit for military qualities wherever he could possibly do so. We have reviewed the circumstances connected with Fort Fisher at some length, because we consider such review necessary for a proper understanding of this important victory, and also with a view to correct misrepresentations which have long since been made apparent.

CHAPTER

LII.

OPERATIONS ABOUT CHARLESTON, 1865.— FALL OF CHARLESTON, SAVANNAH, Etc.

—

Formation op the Naval Brigade. Operations of Generals Sherman and Foster in THE vicinity OP SaVANNAH. — EXPEDITION UP BrOAD RiVER AND BOYD'S CrEEK. — SAVANNAH Invested. — Evacuation op Savannah and its Defences by the Confederates. — The Naval Vessels again in Charleston Harbor. — Movements op Army AROUND Charleston. Naval Pickets Captured. — Landing of Naval Forces at Bull's Bay. — G-un-boats and Batteries open a Terrific Fire on Fort Moultrie and Works on Sullivan's Island. — Charleston Evacuated. Isolation of the Confederacy. — Naval Officers Commended. Confederate Vessels Captured. Ingenious Methods USED BY Confederates to prevent Union Vessels from penetrating the Inner Harbor. — Plans op Forts along the Rivers. Georgetown, S. C, Occupied. — The Flag-ship " Harvest Moon" Sunk by Torpedoes. Admiral Dahlgren Relieved. — Complimentary Letter from Secretary op the Navy, List op Vessels and Officers op South Atlantic Squadron, 1865.

—

—

—

—

—

the latter part of November, 1864, Rear- Admiral Dalilgren received information that General Sherman had reached Milledgeville and was about to march upon Savannah. He accordingly entered into an arrangement with General Foster to co-operate with Sherman in case the latter might require assistance. It was decided to form a naval brigade, to be furnished with two field-howitzer batteries of four guns each. All the forces that could be spared from the vessels on blockade were withdrawn, and the night of November 28th was appointed for proceeding up the Broad River and into Boyd's Creek, one of its branches, whence a short march only was necessary to reach the railroad connecting Savannah witli Charleston. The vessels of the Navy selected for this service were the "Pawnee," Commander Balch "Mingoe,"' Commander Creighton "Pontiac," Lieutenant-Commander Luce; " Winona," Lieutenant-Commander Dana; " Wissahickon," Lieutenant-Commanding

IN

;

;

"Sonoma," Lieutenant-ComMcGlensey mander Scott all carrying heavy guns. ;

;

There were four half-companies of welldriUfid .tieamen under T,i(iiit,(=nnnt .TarriAs

O'Kane

;

Lieutenant

-

—

Commander

—

E.

O.

Mathews commanded tlie Navy artillery, and the marines from the different vessels were under the command of First-Lieutenant George G. Stoddard. After a harassing progress of twenty miles through a thick fog, Admiral Dahlgren had the satisfaction of reaching the appointed landing with five of the six vessels with which he had started, for the "Wissahickon" had grounded near the entrance of the river and did not succeed in joining the other gun-boats. The troops were somewhat later in arriving, but finally the transports were seen coming up the river, and in half an hour afterwards two batteries of naval howitzers and nine companies of seamen and marines were landed

under Commander Preble, and advanced in skirmishing order, to cover the landing of the troops. Admiral Dahlgren returning to his duty afloat. After General Foster had landed all his soldiers, an advance was made towards the railroad above Grahamsville. The Confederates had assembled in considerable force, and did all they could to impede the march

THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE and

field-pieces, and at length the Federal came to a halt before a strong earth-

forces

work commanding the road, and flanked by a heavy growth of timber and other obstructions. The troops under General Hatch assaulted the works, but were repulsed with heavy loss, while the men from the fleet did their duty Avith boat - howitzers and musketry. Skirmishing and reconnaissances went on for several days, the Federals slowly advancing towards their objective point, tlie railroad. This was a new experience for the seamen and marines, but their spirited conduct won for them the applause of the soldiers.

On

Army and Navy

the 6th of December the forces proceeded up the

Tulfiny River, and at about S a. m. landed on an island. The Confederates sent troops to meet them, and for a time it looked as if the Federals would get the worst of the encounter; but the naval contingent coming rapidly on the fleld, and opening a heavy fire with howitzers and musketry, the enemy finally gave way, retreating in good order. This skirmishing lasted all day through a heavy rain, the seamen and marines behaving like veteran soldiers in an experience entirely new to the greater portion of their number. The object of the expedition was effected in spite of all opposition, and on the \t\A\ of December Rear-

Admiral Dahlgren opened communication with General Sherman, who was then near Savannah. The news of Sherman's arrival in the "vicinity of Savannah gave great satisfaction to the people of the North, who had hegun to feel uneasy in regard to him, owing to the exaggerated reports from Confederate sources. Prompt steps were taken to place vessels-of-war at every point on the coast where the General was likely to appear, and on the 18th of December Sherman person presented himself on board Admiral Dahlgren's flag-ship, and was warmly greeted by officers and men, who held this

m

gallant

commander

in the highest respect.

Arrangements were made by General Sherman with Admiral Dahlgren, that, while the former should invest Savannah on the land side, the latter should hold every avenue by water and when it was considered that the investment was complete, Sherman ;

summoned General Hardee, the Confederate commander,

to

surrender, which request

being declined Sherman prepared to attack the enemy's works. The Federal army was gradually drawing down to the Savannah River, and, in order to cut off the escape of the Confederates, it was concluded to reinforce the troops under General Foster on Broad River, and make a demonstration in the direction of the railroad, while

CIVIL WAR.

759

naval cannonade, which was begun and continued by Lieutenant- Commander Scott in the " Sonoma," assisted by the schooner " Griffith," Acting-Master James Ogilvie. In order to complete the arrangements for cutting off the escape of the enemy and to insure the co-operation of all the Federal forces in the vicinity, General Sherman visited Hilton Head in company with RearAdmiral Dahlgren, to communicate with General Foster, and make the latter acquainted with his plans but on his return he was overtaken by a tug, with the following telegram To General Sherman General Howard reports one of General Legget's ;

:

brigades near Savannah, and no enemy. Prisoners say the city is abandoned and enemy gone to Hardeesville. From Station, near Headquarters.

On

man

receipt of this dispatch General Sherhastened to his headquarters, and the

Admiral

to the division of vessels lying in of Beaulieu, when the facts of the

front case

became apparent. Lieutenant - Commander Scott, of the " Sonoma," was in possession of Forts Beaulieu and Rose Dew, and all the otlier fortifications had been evacuated, leaving Sherman master of Savannah and its defences. Although, no doubt, the Army would have captured Savannah unaided, j-et the Navy was of great assistance in blocking up the rivers and preventing the Confederates from sending reinforcements to General Hardee.

The Navy visited many points inaccessible to the Army, and secured a large quantity of guns, ammunition and stores which the Confederates had not time to destroy. General Hardee's boast, that he held two lines of intrenchments and was in communication with superior authority, did not prevent him from beating a speedy retreat as soon as Sherman's advance-guard hove in sight of his outposts. In all these affairs the brigade from the fleet, composed of seamen and marines, remained with General Foster's conamand, and men were transferred when Savannah and all the points around it were garrisoned by Sherman's troops.

and the

officers

to their respective vessels only

As

it

was General Slierman's

move northward

intention to

had secured Savannah against any attempts on the part as soOn as he

it, he requested such co-operation on the part of the Navy as could be extended; and while his army was apparently advancing on

of the Confederates to repossess

Ciiarleston, Rear -Admiral Dahlgren determined on making further attacks on the works within the harbor of that place, which with the assistance of the army he had some hope of reducing. Sherman, however.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

760

Charleston would necessarily

own

fall,

o\Ming to

movements. Admiral Dahlgren now collected all his vessels near Charleston, ready to co-operate with Sherman as he approached, and to keep the rivers clear of torpedoes and light his

interior

so that the Federal transports could reach certain points and supply the wants of the Union army. In order to deceive the Confederates with regard to the point for which he was aiming in his march to the northward, General Sherman requested that the Navy would make such demonstrations as would draw the attentions of the Confederates from his operations. The gun-boat "Dai Ching" and a tug were placed in the Ossabaw River, the " Sonoma" was sent out to the North Edisto and the "Pawnee" to the Ashepoo River, with orders to drive off the enemy's troops batteries,

and knock down

his batteries

wherever

thev could be reached. The " Tuscarora," "Mingoe," " State of Georgia "and "Nipsic" were stationed at Georgetown, S. C, to prevent the enemy from erecting batteries at that point, and the " Pontiac " was in the Savannah, advancing with General Sherman's extreme left. Nearly all the Monitors of the squadron were collected at Charleston. On the 24th of January, 1865, General Sherman marched on Pocotaligo and the Coosawatchee. and the next day made a demonstration on Salkahatchee, while the gun-boats went up the Edisto and Stono Rivers to ascertain whether the enemy intended to hold Charleston or retreat to Columbia. It would require General Slocum at least five days to get his troops clear of the swamps near Savannah, and in the meantime General Howard was, apparently, moving directly on Charleston, although with no intention of going beyond

Salkahatchee.

The enemy had still a considerable force near Savannah, and his cavalry, under General Wheeler, was exceedingly active in watching the movements of the Federal army and picking up stragglers. The "Pontiac," Lieutenant - Commander Luce, was left with Slocum's command, and on the 24th anchored off Merrill's Landing or the Three Sisters, forty miles above Savannah, to cover the crossing of the river by a portion of

the

20th Corps.

Lieutenant-

Commander Luce threw out pickets to see that the enemy did not bring guns to bear on the " Pontiac " from the high bluffs, which could not be reached by the ship's This party had been warned battery. against scouting too far from the ship, but in spite of this they were captured by a squad of Confederate cavalry. On the evening of the 27th the scouts of General Davis' column reached the point

where the " Pontiac " was lying at anchor; and, soon after, the remainder of the 14th Corps appeared, after a most arduous march over corduroy roads which had to be conHere structed in advance of the forces. the soldiers took some needed rest, with the knowledge that they were not likely to be disturbed while the " Pontiac " lay in their vicinity, although there were reported to be two Confederate gun-boats about eighty miles up the river. " Meanwhile the " Pawnee " and " Sonoma were making their way up the North Edisto, in company with transports conveyingtroops under the command of General Potter, which troops were landed at a place called White Point. Some few of the enemy were seen and shelled by the gun-boats, but the Confederates were not in force, and their guns had mostly disappeared from the river banks. Thus, while Sherman was advancing through the enemy's country, everythingwas done by the Navy that could disconcert the Confederates and prevent them from annoying the Union army. At this time, owing to heavy rains, the freshets had swept away most of the bridges along the line of Sherman's march, and the movements of the gun - boats were in every respect desirable to cover the advance of the army. Almost every stream where a gunboat could float was guarded by the Navytheir good services enabled General Sherman to reach midway on the South Carolina road by the 7th of February without molestation. The fate of Charleston was now sealed, and the only thing left the garrison to avoid capture was to evacuate the place. On the 11th of February a movement wasmade by the army contingent under General Potter, and a considerable naval force under Rear- Admiral Dahlgren, consisting^ of the "Shenandoah," "Juniata," "Canandaigua," "State of Georgia," "Pawnee." "Sonoma," "Ottawa," "Winona,"" "Wando," "Geranium" and "Iris," with launches in which to land troops at Bull'sBay. Great difficulty was experienced in finding a channel into the harbor, but a, landing was finally effected after which, the " Pawnee " and " Winona " was sent Xo South Edisto River to assist General Hatch, who was moving on Wellstown with his di;

vision.

On the 17th a movement was made from Stono River on the Confederates, while the iron-clads "Lehigh," the " Wissahickon and a mortar schooner were sent up the Stono to press the right flank of the enemy, while the gun-boat "McDonough" was sent with a mortar schooner up the Filly branch to bear on his left flank. General Schimmelfennig, in command of the troops before Charleston, moved on the enemy's

OF THE CIVIL WAR. from Cole's Island. Admiral Dahlgren also sent orders to Lieutenant Hayward, commanding the battery of 11-inch guns on Cummings' Point, to open on Sullivan's Island and fire continuously through the night. The contiguous batteries were also put in operation by General Schimmelfennig, and the advance Monitors were ordered to open fire on Fort Moultrie. The cannonading during the night was sharp and continuous; the Confederates replied with a few guns from Fort Moultrie, but as the night wore on their fire entirely ceased. In fact, the main body of the enemy's troops had evacuated Sullivan's Island at about 8 p. M., leaving about one hundred and fifty men to keep up a fire and delay

front

the knowledge of the evacuation. On the morning of the 18th the anticipations of the Union forces that the Confederates were retreating from Charleston were confirmed. Acting-Master Gifford entered the harbor in a tug, and at Mount Pleasant met the Mayor of the city, who tendered the submission of the civil authorities to the Federal Government, and requested protection for the citizens and their property. Rear- Admiral Dahlgren was up the Stono River when he received a message that there were indications that the Confederates were retreating from Charleston, _

and he immediately proceeded in his flagship to the city which for four years had resisted the continued attacks of the

Army

and Navy, for the reason that its strength had been underrated by the Federal Government and a sufficient force had not been sent against it. The place only fell because of the advance of General Sherman, and the fear of the garrison that they would be cut off and captured. The powerful defences on Sullivan's Island, the shapeless but still formidable ruins of Sumter, the numerous freat earth-works clustered around Fort ohnson. Castle Pinckney and the heavy water batteries that lined the wharves, looked grim and terrible, though deserted. They were a monument to the zeal, ability and gallantry of those who had to the last defied the power of the Federal forces. Charleston, the city that struck the keynote of the rebellion, now lay helpless in the power of the Federal Government ; its citizens, worn out and impoverished by the long war which they had themselves inaugurated, now seemed willing to return to the shelter of the flag, since it was evident that the secession cause could not prevail. The officers of the fleet walked through the streets of the city whose outworks had so long defied them. All the houses were closed, and few of the citizens appeared. But for the presence of the negroes, it might have passed for a city JiU *u^ »,, r,+;i

761

Notwithstanding the great outcry that of the Confederate officers against General Gillmore's barbarity in firing from the " Swamp Angel " into the town, the place gave little indication of having suffered from an enemy's guns. Here and there the ground was plowed up by a rifle-shell, or the front of a house was scarred by the fragments; but it is pleasant to be informed that the women and children received no injury.

had been made by some

The fall of Charleston was of course an important event at any time, since it was the Mecca of the Confederacy, on which the eyes of every Southern enthusiast were fixed. The courage and determination of garrison inspired those who were inwaver in their allegiance to the Confederacy, and, while Charleston held out the cause could not be considered altogether desperate. The heroic example set by the besieged was telegraphed daily all over the South, and the name "Charleston" was a watchword everywhere. Even the most radical and uncompromising Unionists could not help admiring the courage and devotion shown by the defenders of Charleston, and the city escaped any injury from the Union forces, except such as naturally follows the occupation by troops of a place lately in hostility, where vacant houses are taken possession of and their contents not too scrupulously respected. There was considerable disappointment expressed in the South because Charleston was so suddenly abandoned on the approach of General Sherman's army but the Confederates in the city did not know what Sherman's intentions might be, and they very naturally thought it best to evacuate the place before the Union General should envelope them and compel their surrender. But General Sherman was anxious to join General Grant before Richmond as soon as possible and get out of the lowlands of the coast, where his soldiers were worn out with building corduroy roads through swamps, bridging the countless streams, and living in a malarious country. The capture of Fort Fisher and other defences of Wilmington had doubtless a considerable effect on the fall of Charleston; for, now that the stronghold on Cape Fear River was taken, a small garrison could hold it, and the Union forces employed in the reduction of those works could, if necessary, march on Charleston. Whatever claims may have been advanced that the final result was brought about by the movements of the Navy in cooperation with the Army under General Foster, we can only say that the attempt to its

clined to

.

;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

762

Stono River was bravely undertaken, although it would liave probably experienced a severe repulse but for the position held by Sherman at Columbia. The fall of Charleston was in every aspect a great success for the Union cause. Although it had long been nearly impossible for a blockade-runner to land her cargo inside the harbor, yet, even with the close watch constantly maintained, cotton could be sent out. When the city was taken this tra,ffic was at an end, and the credit of the Confederate States in England sank to a low ebb. Henceforth the Confederate armies would be obliged to depend on the scanty supplies obtained at home, and their surrender was now considered only a matter of time. Owing to the fall of Charleston, the ITavy Department was enabled to greatly deplete the naval forces hitherto employed in that vicinity, and, although the saving thus ef-

fected was but a trifle compared with the large sums expended upon the army, yet it was a change in the right direction, as the

country was beginning to feel uneasy at the vast sums daily paid from the treasury to maintain the military and naval forces. The Confederacy was now isolated from the outer world by way of the sea, and there could no longer be a pretext for the interference of foreign powers, the trouble being Now, also, at this time purely domestic. was ended that fiction of belligerent rights which excluded United States vessels-ofwar from the customary hospitalities of foreign ports. What was left of our mercantile marine could pursue its avocations without fear of molestation by Confederate cruisers, which so lately roamed the ocean at their will. Much credit

is

due to the commanding

Bay for the management of their vessels, and the energy with which they responded to the Confederate batteries which were striving to prevent a landing of the troops. So effective was the

naval

fire of

officers at Bull's

the gun-boats that the Confederates

were soon driven away and the vessels suffered little damage. The officers particularly commended by Rear-Admiral Dahlgren were Captain D. :

B. Ridgely, Commander F. Stanly, Commander G. B. Balch, Lieutenant - Commander T. S. Fillebrown, Lieutenant-Commander A. A. Semmes, Lieutenant - Commander A. W. Johnson, Lieutenant -Commander S. B. Luce, Acting -Master W. H. Mallard and Acting-Master G. W. Parker, At the fall of Charleston the following

Confederate vessels

fell into

the hands of

the Navy: Iron -clad ram "Columbia," steamer-transport " Lady Davis," a cigar-

shaped steamer 160 feet long, two sidewheeled steamers and three torpedo-boats.

As everything relating to the defence of Charleston has a historic interest, we insert the report of Rear- Admiral Dahlgren in regard to the instructions issued by the Confederates to prevent the Union vessels from penetrating the inner harbor. At the present day these arrangements seem rather primitive, but they exhibit skill and ingenuity on the part of the Confederate engineers, and they completely answered their intended purpose, by preventing the Union vessels from proceeding to Charleston

**

:

« « * The only passage from the outer roads into the harbor of Charleston is less than a mile at its narrowest part, between Sullivan's Island and the Across this shoals on which Port Sumter is built. lay the first series of obstructions. When first resorted to, these were of different kinds of rope, or of heavy masses of timber, floating bars of railroad *

»

"

—

iron.

"It

is

difficult

to ascertain with exactness at

what time each of these were adopted. Common report was never precise, and in that respect was probably a

fair

exponent of the

common

informa-

tion at the time.

"The statements of the persons who knew anything of the matter, and were acceptable, differ as to which of these were used first. "According to Mr. Smith, who had been actually employed on this work, the rope obstructions were first put down in 1861, formed into one continuous line, and floated across the channel from Sumter to Battery Bee. But this was so frequently displaced by the current that it was cut into lengths, which, with the addition of others, were anchored at one end in two lines, and rode to the tide. '"It is probable that the casks seen on the 7th April were the turpentine barrels of this obstruction: and, moreover, a plan of the entrance, signed by Major Echols, engineer, shows the double Une of rope obstructions. "In the summer of 1863 the boom of railroadiron was placed, consisting of several timbers banded into a mass and floating the railroad bars. And this account is so far confirmed that in December, 1863, a quantity of boom answering to this description was washed away by the winter gales and came down the channel. Some of it was hauled up on the beach of Morris Island. I saw this work in progress one day, and was told that as many as thirty-three of the bars had been secured. " I have been at a loss to understand the exact manner in which these bars were connected to the timbers. The accounts given do not accord, and some separation had generally been effected before any of them were seen by us. "They may have been encased in the timbers, or suspended from them, as described by Mr. Smith; but in any case they would have been difficult to remove under the heavy fire of the rebel works. " It is probable, from the several statements, that whenever the use of the boom obstructions across the entrance between Sumter and Moultrie may have begun, the parts were not renewed as they disappeared, but were replaced from time to time

by those of rope, until at last the winter freshets of 1863 and 1864 carried away the whole structure. " The obstructions which were actually found in position between Sumter and Moultrie, after we

entered, were of rope only. " The entire line is reported to have been made up of a number of separate parts, each of which consisted of a stout shroud-laid rope, floated at intervals by buoys of pine logs, and anchored by a heavy grapnel. Prom this floating rope hung down at intervals six parts of a lighter rope. The exact

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

dimensions are variously given, as well as the numbers of floats

"

703

To me they appeared thus

:

and hangers.

"The pine buoys, -which were used as samples, were thirty-nine (39) inches long and fifteen (15) inches in diameter, with a stout iron staple near each end, through which passed the part of rope that was to be floated. " It was said to have been the design to place these parts or sections in two lines, about sixty (60) or one hundred (100- feet apart, with similar intervals. But it may be easily conceived that the intention could not be carried out with exactness in the first place, and that subsequently, in replacing sections that were lost ornotvisible, the plan would be still further confused, partly by the impossibility of knowing with certainty at night where the sections were missing, and partly because in doing so it seemed better to err in having too many than too few. "

Hence the directions of the lines were not maintained with exactness, and the allotted number of sections was in excess of that contemplated. Nor was the exact, po-ition and number of those which were found in place noted as well as they should have been, for the reasons already stated; and when my attention was drawn to the subject, it was too late to remedy the omission. Drawings were, therefore, necessarily made from the several parts, but it is believed they afford a fair representation of the entire whole. " As diilerent tugs different times, there

and boats were employed at was some discrepancy in the

returns sent me, which, as already stated, were made as they should have been. " Mr. Gray gives the whole number as 226, which, at intervals of one hundred (100) feet, would be too many to be included in the distance of one mile; but it may be explained by the continued renewal of what was supposed to be lost, and which were

not

not so really, though not distinctly visible. " The care and perseverance which the rebels gave to the maintenance of these rope obstructions is well shown by the report of Acting-Master Gifford (annexed) they watched them closely, and, whenever a section disappeared from sight, it was re;

placed. " Our boats were always observed, and driven off if possible, and it was necessary, besides, to work with great caution, as they were near powerful batteries, and liable at any moment to a destructive fire of grape. " The purpose of the boom obstructions was evidently to bar the passage of a vessel entirely, while that of the rope obstructions was to entangle the screw and prevent further progress, or even detain the vessel under fire of the batteries, for the grapnel which anchored the rope would also serve as a drag

D

n

u

When we landed

on Sullivan's Island (February, several telegrams came into my possession. One of them, dated Sumter, April 8, 1868, runs thus: Blue and red Coston lights indicate the enemy's boats trying to cut the net; the batteries will open '

'

1865), ' '

'

with grape' "Colonel Freemantle, ofthe Coldstream Guards, in the published account of his visit to Charleston, June, 1863, says: " There are excellent arrangements of '

and

other contrivances to foul the screw of a vessel be-

tween Sumter and Moultrie.' "As soon as the picket and scout boats of the fleet were able to approach the entrance, the presence of the obstructions was verified; but in the obscurity of the night it was difficult to ascertain precisely what they were, particularly as the rebels were then in strong force at the locality, and very little time was permitted for examination. " General Gillmore's impressions at the time may be gathered frona the following portion of his tele-

gram

to

me August

4:

"'My

scout has just reported that the line of floating buoys reaching from Sumter to Moultrie has disappeared since yesterday. These buoys are supposed to have torpedoes attached to them, etc' " This disappearance was probably a mistake, owing to the difficulty of discerning with certainty objects so small at such a distance, for no report was made by the Navy pickets, and soon after Ensign Porter, who was specially charged with the duty, reported that 'two steamers and three schooners were at anchor in the centre of the channel, apparently at work on the obstructions, or else sinking others,' etc. Ensign Porter, who was very active and daring, assured me that chains formed some part of the obstructions, as he had been close enough to the buoys to feel them. " The buoys themselves were visible to the eye

from the picket Monitors which were stationed

in

Their reports, being verbal at first, be quoted; but subsequently I directed

the advance.

cannot

them

now made

to be

"Captain

J.

in writing. L. Davis, commanding the

'Mon^

on the steamer, and it would be almost impossible to cut it loose when under fire. " That the rope obstructions were in use before I took command, and afterwards, is satisfactorily ascertained from other evidence than that of Mr. Gray. " A plan of the harbor of Charleston, signed by Major Echols,* and dated April, 1863, exhibits two

tauk,' reports 25th September " 'At low water to-day, a rip was discovered extending from Fort Sumter in a line to the western end of the buoys, stretching from near Moultrie in a westerly direction across the channel. At first I thought it was the meeting of the tides, but as it did not alter position I came to the conclusion some

lines of obstructions, designated as rope obstructions, the general direction being from Sumter to a

hidden obstructions might be there.' " September 26th, the Catskill' reports a steamer plying between Sumter and Moultrie on the pi-evious

point Bee.

midway between Port Moultrie and Battery The delineation shows a number of dotted

resembling the section of rope just described: the dots indicate only four buoys. They correspond closely with the description given by Commodore Rogers of what he saw from the Weehawken during the attack of 7th of April. We approached In his official report he says very close to the obstructions extending from Fort Sumter to Fort Moultrie as near, indeed, as I could get without running upon them. They were marked by rows of casks very near together. To the eye thev anneared almost to touch one another, and lines,

'

'

:

'

—

'

'

'

night, supported by two iron-clads. On the 27th, the Nahant reports that the obstruction buoys were counted by several officers, and the average '

'

The buoys do not (80 seem to be in a continuous line, but as if they were in groups of five or six. There seems to be another short line of larger buoys beyond the first, which I judge to be a separate obstruction across Hog Island Channel.' Which description is remarkably

number was about eighty

'

.

in accord with all the facts since ascertained. "In October (31st\ 1863, a part of the rope obstructions floated out of the harbor, and was discovered

THE NAVAL HISTORY

764

inside the bar. The floatingaway of these sections —owing to various causes, sometimes to their removal by our scouts explains the variations in the numbers of the buoys counted at different times from the Monitors; and their renewal by the rebels whenever they did disappear is fully estabUshed by the nightly experience of Acting-Master Gifford, who rarely failed to be at his post as a scout. His report, which is annexed, is of interest, as it exhibits the results of much arduous service and close observation. " The accounts of deserters and refugees confirmed in a general way the existence and locality of the obstructions but their opportunities for observation were seldom as good as our own, for none but those engaged in the work were allowed opportunities of knowing more than could be seen from a short distance, and the rebels were singularly fortunate in the precautions to keep their own counsel as to the nature of the submerged defences. " The general existenceof obstructions at an early date was set forth in a circular order of General Ripley (December 26, 1862\ regarding the defence to be made against our attack. " In speaking of these impediments it says The obstructions will also be designated, and under no permitted to recircumstances will the enemy be

—

;

'

:

connoitre them.' "Besides the obstructions at the entrance, the middle channel was closed by a double row of piles extending some distance across the harbor, which were distinctly visible when the first operations were initiated against Charleston. " In the Hog Island Channel was also a set of boom obstructions, found in April last by the Clover while engaged in clearing away the frame torpedoes placed there. " The massive and complicated character of these gave much trouble in their removal. They consisted of a stout chain (J-inch iron) that had been floated by blocks of timber secured to it at short in'

'

tervals.

were made of four-squared logs. long and one il) foot square, kept together by an iron band at each end. "Railroad iron linked together, and suspended from squared timber, was associated with the chainboom. This boom had been stretched across a neck in the Hog Island Channel when there was least water, and the passage so narrow that the shoals on each hand were bare at low water, and hardly five hundred (500) feet apart, besides being directly under fire from Battery Bee at 1,100 yards, and of Mount Pleasant battery at 1,000 yards. At this time they had been so much worm-eaten that they sank, but the depth at low tide would still have rendered them troublesome to all but light-draught " These blocks

fifteen (15) feet

vessels.* In this

it.

boats.

"After obtaining possession of the harbor, the examination which was made disclosed the use of three kinds of torpedoes. The floating torpedo was miade of a small barrel, capable of containing seventy (70) pounds of powder, generally mounting two fuzes on the bilge, anchored so as to come in contact with the bottom of vessels. By means of a small weight these fuzes were kept uppermost.

"These torpedoes were well known *

commanding officers. Woods and Thompson were employed

several

"

in the

department to 'build the torpedoes,' as they express it. " It appears that

no great number of these was

kept placed permanently in Charleston harbor, because they were dangerous to vessels moving about on the ordinary communications by water, and accidents had occurred. They could readily be put down in a very short time on the appearance of a move on our part. " In the middle of January, for instance, when this was suspected, an order was given to put down several lines of them. Woods and Thompson placed sixteen (16) of them in the vicinity of the rope obstructions, between Sumter and Moultrie, and seven (7) at the entrance of the Hog Island Channel. Others were directed to be laid down from Fort Johnson to Castle Pinckney, which seems to have been deferred until the attack began. "One of those near the obstructions was encountered by the Monitor Patapsco,' on the night of the 15th of January, when, in the expectation of co-operating with General Sherman, I had ordered a vigorous effort to be made to remove the rope obstructions, and the picket Monitors covered the boats so engaged. " It seems that the work of placing these torpedoes had been completed that very night, and the Patapsco went down, with two-thirds of her crew, almost immediately on being struck, being at the time about six hundred (600) yards from Sum'

'

'

ter.

'Immediately after entering the harbor of Charleston, vigorous efforts were made to remove these floating torpedoes; but, although some of the very '

men who had put them down were employed, with

the aid of steam tugs and boats, and all the ordinary appliances, to recover them, dragging and sweeping the water for many days, only four (4) could be found of the sixteen (16). " The Bibb came in contact with and exploded oneonthel7thof March, and the 'Massachusetts' grazed one on the 19th, so that the balance remain '

"These obstructions were defended by torpedoes, and by a series of batteries, iron-clads and torpedo-

And Captain Gray

he saw of

;

'

way the main entrance was obstructed

between Sumter and Moultrie, and two of the channels leading from it were barred by piles and booms, leaving open only the main channel to the south, which was left to the control of the hea^vy batteries that lined

having been picked up and encountered at

ron,

various times in the St. John's and Stono, explodThey were liable ing occasionally with full effect. to be lost by getting adrift or, if not tight, might be spoiled by water; but the rebels kept a vigilant eye on them, examining them at times and replacing them. There was a regular establishment here for their fabrication, under the charge of Mr. Gray, who held the position of captain. "A part of thecorrespondence of this branch is now in my hands, from which it appears that there were thirty-five (35) to forty (40) hands emploj^ed, and that Mr. Gray distributed the barrel torpedoes along the coast from Georgetown to St. John's; he also transmitted a variety of material even as far as Mobile, and his connection was direct with

tbein,

statea that they were afloat iu August, 1864.

which was

in the squad-

up

to the last that

undiscovered. " A set of the same kind, placed across the mouth of the Wando, were recovered and destroyed. Acting-Master Gifford found as many as sixty-one (.61) at different points of the shore, about the harbor, ready for service, or nearly so, and at hand to be put down if needed. " At Causten s Bluff, in St. Augustine Creek (one of the approaches to Savannah), were found a number lying on a wharf all ready for immediate use. They were conveniently handled, and could be laid down rapidly and easily. Woods and Thompson say that with one boat they placed them at the rate of four in an hour. "This kind of torpedo was the most convenient of all, and the most dangerous, though, being liable to shift with the current, they were apt to trouble those who used them. One rebel steamboat Marion') had been blown up in the Ashley River ( some time ago by one of them; and, in June, 1864,

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

another rebel steamer, plying from Sumter up the harbor, -was struck by one and beached on the shoal near Johnson, to prevent sinking in deep water, supposed at the time to have been run ashore accidentally.

" It is probable that the Tecumseh was sunk at Mobile, in Admiral Farragut s attack, by one of this kind; also the 'Milwaukee,' the Osage,' the 'Rudolph,' and a tin-clad (48, in the recent captures of the forts. " My own flag-ship, the Harvest Moon,' was destroyed by the same device, in Georgetown, and three army transports in the St. John's— Maple Leaf,' Harriet Weed, and another. " Mr. Gray states they were placed in such numbers about the main entrance and channel, about the time of our operations against Morris Island, that it would have been impossible for any vessel to escape that entered. There were also permanent torpedoes. One species of these consisted of a frame of three or four heavy timbers, parallel to each other and a few feet apart, tied together by cross-timbers; at the head of each timber was a cast - iron torpedo with a '

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

fuze. *

The frame was placed obliquely, and held by weights, so as to present its torpedoes to the bottom of a vessel approaching. Series of them were placed in particular parts of the channel. "Four frames, mounting fifteen (15) torpedoes, were found at the entrance of Ashley River; they had been there some time, and yet were in such good condition that one exploded when towed away carelessly, and though a dozen feet from the tug the explosion hurt and knocked overboard several men. "Frames were also found in the narrow pass of the Hog Island Channel, just as it branches from the main channel near Battery Bee, and close to the boom obstructions already described; and another set in the neck of the middle channel near Castle Pinckney. " There is said to be another set in the shoal connecting the middle and the north channel, not re-

moved at this date. " One of these frames was found lying

in a dock

of the Cooper River, with the torpedoes

mounted

ready for use. " In many cases the frames had been much wormeaten, so that in attempting to remove them the timber broke and fell to the bottom. On the wharf near it and the adjoining buildings, which had been used as a factory for the torpedoes until our shells rendered it dangerous, were thirty (30 cast-iron torpedoes for framing. " This kind of torpedo was used in the Ogeechee and Savannah Rivers, where they were distinctly visible at very low water; and probably it was one of this kind that struck the 'Montauk' in February, 1863, when attacking Fort McAllister. "As torpedo frames could not be fixed in very deep water, another kind was used for the purpose. This was a large sheet-iron boiler, capable of containing 1,000 to 3,000 pounds of powder, to be exploded by a galvanic battery connected by an insu'

'

1

lated wire. " Three of these were located in the main channel between Battery Bee and Fort Johnson; the wire rope of each was led to Sullivan's Island, and all were found in good condition. "Persevering efforts were made by the squadron divers to follow the wires from the shore to the torpedoes, but they had become so overlaid by deposits of sand as to resist all attempts to release them, and were broken several times in the proceeding. A large quantity of the wire rope was taken up.f Some of the range-poles having been removed, it

was found impossible to determine with precision the exact locality where the divers could reach them without following the wires. "A torpedo boiler ready to receive powder was found on the wharf, where the cast-iron torpedoes for the frames already mentioned were discovered, together with a large quantity of the wire rope. " This was made in the best manner, probably in England. The copper wire was insulated by a tube of India-rubber, protected by. a wrapper of hemp, closely laid wire. " In this connection I may also mention the torpedoes designed for the rams and torpedo-boats, samples of which were recovered by divers from, the bed of the river, where they had been thrown.

and over that

" There were two sizes, both being elongated copper cylinders with hemispherical ends, and diameters of ten (10) inches, but one was thirty-two inches long, the others twenty-four inches. "At the outer end were screw-sockets for eight fuzes, so as to present points of explosion in every direction. The torpedo for the bow of a ram was of copper, barrel-shaped, and tapering to a point at the outer end. It had sockets for seven fuzes on the upper bilge and end. Its contents of powder was about one hundred and thirty - four pounds. " The three torpedo-boats in service had been sunk in the Cooper River, off the city wharves. Two have been raised, and one put in good order so as to steam about the harbor; in length about sixty-

four (64) feet, and five and one-half (5^) feet in diameter, capable of steaming about five (5) knots. There were six others that were under repairs, or being completed, of which two are now ready for service. Just above those that had been sunk were the three iron-clads, Chicora,' Palmetto,' and Charleston,' all of which had been fired and blown up on the day we entered. The Chicora alone is visible in any part,, and that only a few inches of the casemate at low water. " Up a small creek was found a fourth iron-clad, the Columbia,' of the same size as the Charleston, 'but plated with six (6) inches of iron; a new '

j

refu-

'

'

'

'

'

'

well-built vessel, just ready for service " It seems that about a month before the entrance of the Union forces (January 13), the vessel had been docked in the creek above the city, and in getting her out of the dock she grounded. The rebels seem to have begun to extricate the vessel,

but had not

sufficient time before they abandoned Charleston. Why she was not destroyed is difficult to conceive, as they sank the three that were in service, and burned two new iron-clads that were not completed. This vessel was fully ready for service, even guns mounted, which, it was said, were taken out after grounding, and a portion of the plating had been removed as a preparation for lightening and floating the vessel, under the belief that they could be saved. I gave the necessary directions, and on the 26th had the satisfaction of seeing her floated, which was effected by the exertions of several officers — Lieutenant - Commander Matthews, Fleet Engineer Danby, Chief Engineer Kierstead — by Master Carpenter Davis, by Lieutenant Churchill, and the divers. This vessel has an extreme length of two hundred and sixteen beam, fifty-one and one-third (Sl.J) feet (216) feet is plated with six (6 inches of iron carries six (6) guns of the heaviest calibre, has two engines high pressure, ample accommodations on berth-deck for cabin, ward-room and men, with good quarters in ;

)

;

;

the casemates. Her leakage is very small, indicating no great injury from the grounding. Her steam-power was in good order, only requiring the stack-pipe and smoke-box to be replaced, and some of the interior pipe that had laeen cut. The Columbia left on the 23d of May, in tow of the ^3 anderbilt,' and was commanded by Lieutenant '

*A model of this kind was made for me by William Flynn, whn had worked on them in Charleston.

off

765

'

THE NA VAL HISTORY

768

" I propose to place four of my own new lO-inch guns in the casemate one at each corner. They weigh about 16,000 pounds, and will throw a solid shot, -with forty pounds of powder, which has pierced four and a half inches of good iron at two hundred yards. If the two other guns are needed they may be of 9-inch. "Annexed are eighteen sketches illustrating the various devices which are referred to in the foregoing, as well as the defences of the harbor " 1. General plan of the harbor, showing the positions of the batteries, obstructions of booms, ropes ;

with the heavy batteries that Uned the harbor, and the rebel iron-clads " I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your

be. in connection

obedient servant,

"J. A. Dahlgbbn, " Rear-Admiral, Commanding South " Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

"Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.'''

:

and piles, torpedoes, barrel, frame and boiler, sites where lie the wrecks of the Monitors Weehawken rebel Housatonic, and 'Patapsoo,' steamship '

'

'

'

steamer 'Etiwan,' etc. " This has been prepared with great care by Captain Boutelle, from drawings on the spot, of the batteries, determination of the locality of the obstructions, etc., from observations, or from the statements of those who removed them, it is a valuable and highly executed specimen of coast survey work, which is highly creditable. "

2.

"

3.

Fortifications on James Island. Fortifications on Sullivan's Island.

" 4. Defences of Charleston Harbor. " These three maps were also executed by Captain Boutelle, of the coast survey. " 5, 6 and 7. Rope obstructions between Sumter and Moultrie, their anchors and floats. " 8. Portion of boom obstructions in Hog Island

Channel. ' '

'•

9.

10.

Barrel torpedo

Torpedo frame found

in

Ashley Elver,

Hog

Island and middle channel. " "

11.

Its torpedo.

Torpedo frame and its torpedo, used in the Ogeechee near Fort McAllister, and in the Savannah River near the city. " 13. Torpedo from bow of rebel ram." "14 and 15. Torpedoes of the Davids' or torpedo13.

'

boats.

"16. Specimen of the 'David' or torpedo-boat, found in Charleston. "17 and 18. Sketch of rebel ram Columbia,' captured with Charleston. " 13, 16, 17 and 18 are by Second-Assistant-Bngineer Smith. All the rest were made under the supervision of Captain Boutelle, of the coast survey, and with great care, from actual samples. " The foregoingconveys the best information that I could collect by the means at my disposal in regard to the submerged impediments of the harbor; and their efliciency, when kept in good order, is not to be judged from the condition in which we found those which were composed more or less of heavy timber. The daily care and renovation that they received from the rebels had ceased for two and even three months before we handled them The boom obstructions and frames in Hog Island Channel were reached only two to two and a half months after the city was abandoned, and the frames in the middle channel had been left unnoticed for three months. It may be conceived that daily care was indispensable to their preservation, and this they did not receive after the rebels evacuated Charleston. "Annexed will be found the statements of various persons in regard to what they know of the various kinds of obstructions, etc used to defend the harbor of Charleston, and also extracts from a .iournal found at the headquarters of the torpedo department in Charleston. " There is no greater diversity in these accounts than might be expected from the nature of the devices and the circumstances under which the different parties obtained information of them. Quite sufficient is certain to show that these several contrivances of obstruction and torpedoes would have been as troublesome as it was expected they would '

The best illustration that can be given of the strength of Charleston is this notice of the obstructions added to an account of its fortifications. The strong positions in which the latter were placed, and the skill displayed in their construction, show what obstacles had to be overcome by the Federal new era in military enArmy and Navy. gineering had commenced on the outbreak of the civil war and although the Confederates made use of the forts within their territory constructed of masonry, these were either strengthened by sand-bags or supported by earth-works of the most formidaMost of these fortifications ble description. were ultimately mounted with foreign guns of the largest size and most approved pattern; and, while we render due credit to those who overcame such gigantic obstacles, we should not fail to acknowledge the ability and energy of those who created

A

;

them.

The old-fashioned system of forts was necessarily ignored by the Confederates from the first. It was impossible to build fortifica.tions of m.asonry in time to the crisis which followed the attack on

meet

Sum-

and in the sand of the Southern coast nature had supplied an excellent material for rapidly building, at smaller expense, were the military works required. taught by the civil war that, instead of ex-

ter,

We

pending millions of dollars on fortifications of masonry, we could secure the same or better results at comparatively little expense of time or labor, and have our money to spend on guns and torpedoes. The best way to understand these matters is to examine the plans of fortifications built along the Southern coast. Nothing was ever before constructed of sand-bags so formidable as Fort Fisher and the other defences of Cape Fear River, and the works at Charles-

ton and Savannah. They were masterpieces of military engineering. In order to show the difSculties to be encountered at Charleston, we append the general plan of the Confederate works.

,

When the Union forces took possession of Charleston, they were rather surprised to find but one hundred and forty-nine heavy guns in all the forts. This, however, was quite sufficient to secure the place against a naval attack, while the armycontingent was never sufficient by many thousand men to make much impression on

.

OF THE CIVIL WAR.

land defences. At the same time the troops were useful in co-operating with the Navy to annoy the garrison. The duty of the army was harassing beyond description, and the privations of the soldiers were many. The enemy generally outnumbered the attacking force two to one, so that if Charleston could be called "in a state of siege" it was a most incomplete investment. As for naval success in an attack on Charleston, it was out of the question. The force supplied the naval commanders-inchief was so small, and the obstructions, torpedoes and forts so numerous, that it would have been little less than a miracle for a hostile ileet to reach the city. Had

"the

there been

any doubt on this subject, it would be removed by the evidence given after the fall of Charleston by persons who had charge of the obstructions. That every effort was made to overcome the difficulties of the situation by Rear- Admiral Dahlgren and his gallant officers and men is certain. They were always ready for any adventure,

how hazardous. Many acts of gallantry were performed by the Army and Navy; but, take it altogether, the siege of Charleston was in the highest degree harassing and unsatisfactory to both the Army and Navy of the Union. General Hardee evacuated Charleston to enable him to get in the advance of General no matter

Sherman and reach Raleigh and

join his forces to those of General Beauregard, and with the garrison at Augusta, who were

aiming to reach the same point. This left the coast of South Carolina comparatively free of Confederate troops; yet there were points that required attention. Fortialong the rivers had to be deIn the panic at the movements of stroyed. Sherman's army most of these places had been hurriedly evacuated without injuring still

fications

them, and the enemy might again occupy them. On the 25th of February, 1866, Georgetown, S. C, was occupied by the naval forces, in view of the movements of General Sherman, who might desire to be placed in communication with it before entering North Carolina. There were at this point well-constructed works, mounting sixteen guns, two of them 10-inch columbiads, but no resistance was made, the garrison having departed. Acting-Ensign A. K. Noyes, commanding TJ. S. S. " Catalpa," was sent to the city of

Georgetown

to hoist the

Union

flag,

the

municipal authorities having offered submission, and some of the seamen climbed the dome of the town hall and ran up the Stars and Stripes. As soon as the flag was raised, a party of Confederate horseman

769

was given the seamen from the "Mingoe" and " Catalpa" were landed and

the alarm

drove off the enemy. Gun-boats were sent as far as they could go about forty miles up the Cooper River, to co-operate with an army force under General Schimmelfennig, to break up any parties of Confederate troops that might still linger in the vicinity; but it was found that the enemy's forces had all crossed the Santee, burning the bridges behind them. These movements of the gun-boats involved great care to avoid the sunken torpedoes

—

—

known

to exist in all the rivers.

Even the " Harvest Moon," the

flag ship of Admiral Dahlgren, did not escape unscathed. While proceeding down to a point two or three miles below Georgetown, this vessel, with the Admiral on board, was blown up by coming in contact with a torpedo. The shock was tremendous, the vessel shivered in every timber, bulkheads were driven in, and it seemed as if the boilers had burst and the magazine exploded. Before any one could fairly realize the situation, the " Harvest Moon" had sunk to

the bottom. Had the torpedo struck the vessel a little further forward or aft there would have been great loss of life, but, as it was, only one life was lost. These infernal machines were met with when least expected, and with the greatest care in dragging for them were often overlooked. By the end of March, 1865, the coast of South Carolina and Georgia may be said to

have been free from Confederate raiders, and the inhabitants were rather glad to see the boat expedition sent out by Admiral Dahlgren. These were a check upon the parties of deserters from General Johnston's army who were trying to reach their homes, and were rendered indifferent, by poverty and suffering, on whom they sub-

The condition of affairs all along was deplorable, owing to the disasters of the civil war, and the strong hand of power was necessary to put an end sisted.

the

to

coast

it.

May there was nothing Rear- Admiral Dahlgren to accomplish, and he was quite ready to be relieved from a command that had brought upon him so much labor and care, without his having accomplished what the Navy Department desired, the capture of Charlestoii by the fleet, a thing which under the cir, cumstances was almost, if not quite, im^ possible. On the 23d of June, 1865, the By

the last of

left for

Admiral was relieved from his command, and received the following complimentary letter from the Secretary of the Navy :

Navy Department, Jane 23, Sir— Tour

1865.

dispatch of the 21st instant, reporting your arrival in Washington in pursuance of the

THE NAVAL HISTORY

770

On

the receipt hereof, you wiU haul down your and regard yourself as detached from the command of the South Atlantic Squadron, which you have conducted with ability and energy for two

flag

and important position of the Union, and in the work of repossessing the forts and of restoring the authority of the Government in the insurgent tral

States.

years.

Respectfully,

The Department takes the occasion to express to you its approbation of your services, and of the services of those

who have been associated with you

in

GriDEON Welles, Secretary of fhe Navy.

Rear- Admiral John

blockade of the coast and harbors at a cen-

efficient

A.

Washington, D.

SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON", JANUARY Rear-Admiral

J.

A.

Dahlgren, C.

1865.

1,

Dahlgren, Commanding.

Staff— Lieutenant-Commander Joseph M. Bradford, Fleet-Captain Lieutenant-Commander E. O. Mathews, Flag-Lieutenant-Commander; Lieutenant Alfred T. Mahan, OrdnanceOfficer; Lieutenant James O'Kane, Flag-Lieutenant; Ensign Ernest J. Dichman, Aide; Fleet-Engineer, Robert Danby; Fleet-Paymaster, James H. Watmough Fleet-Surgeon, William Johnson; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant and Pilot, Wm. Haffards; Acting-Ensign, Walter Cooper Acting-Ensign and Signal-Officer, Geo. H. Rexford. ;

;

;

" CANANDAIGTJA "—SECOND-BATE. Captain, Gustavus H. Scott; Commander, N. B. Harrison; Lieutenants, S. B. Gillett and Walter Abbott; Acting-Masters, Calvin C. Childs, J. L. Gifford and R. G. Lelar; Acting-Ensigns, T. E. Harvey and Andrew Wiilard; Acting- Master's Mates, S. S. Willard and James Wilbar; Surgeon, C. H. Burbank; Assistant Paymaster, W. H. Anderson; Engineers: Chief, G. B. N. Tower; Second Assistant, J. J.

Barry Acting - Second Assistants, Wm. McGrath and J. W. Mellor Acting-Third-Assistants, W. M. Smith and H. B. Goodwin; Boatswain, Charles Fisher; Gunner, E. J. Beecham. -

;

;

STOKE-SHIP " NEW HAMPSHIRE." Commander, William Reynolds; Acting-Masters, H. W. Hand, R. B. Hines, J. C. Cox and W. A. Morgan; Acting Ensigns, C. S. Lawrence, Woodward Carter and Frank .Jordan; Chaplain, John

Surgeon, H. C. Nelson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Levi S. Bingham; First-Lieutenant of Marines, G. G. Stoddard; Acting-Master's Mates, A. B. Flynn, H. A. Rogers and Harry Lueus; Third Assistant Engineer, William Charlton ActingBoatswain, Edward Hughes; Acting-Gunner, Geo. Blake;

;

W.

Allen.

FLAG " — THIRD-KATE. Commander, James C.Williamson; Acting-Volunteer-Lie utenanc, Wm. H. Latham; Acting-Master, '

'

Wm.

Lallman; Acting-Ensigns, C. V. Kelley, 8. A. Gove, E. W. Watson and John Denson ActingMaster's Mate, Wm. Merrill; Acting- Assistant Payjnaster, O. B. Seagrave; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. J. Burge; Engineers: Second-Assistant, I. R. McNary Acting-Second-Assistant, Campbell McEwen Acting - Third - Assistants, Lory Bennett, Theodore Scudder and H. A. Chase Acting-Gunner, J, H. Pennington. ;

;

;

;

"ST. LOUIS"

—THIRD-RATE.

Commander, Geo. H. Preble; Lieutenant, Wm. F. Stewart; Acting-Master, S. W. Hadley; Acting-Ensigns, Hazard Marsh, Henry Pease, Jr., S. 8. Minor and Fred. Wood Actint; - Master's Mate, F. L. Bryan; Passed Assistant Surgeon, J. H. Maeomber; Paymaster, J. 8. Post; Acting-Boatswain, George Brown; Gunner, G. P. Cushman; Sailmaker, 1. E. ;

Crowell.

"JAMES ADGER

"

—

THIRD-RATE. H. Patterson Lieutenant, Gilbert C. Wiltse; Acting-Master, A. F. Holmes; Acting-Ensigns, G. E. Halloway, O. C. Snow and Chas. Danenhower; Acting- Master's Mates, L. W. Smith,

Commander,

T.

J. W. Thode; Acting-Assistant W. W. Myers; Acting-Assistant Paymas-

Robert Steel and Surgeon,

Wilbur Ives; Engineers Acting-Chief, E. A. Whipple; Acting-Second- Assistants, G. W. Scobey and J. B. Place; Acting - Third - Assistants, P. J. Holmes, Timothy Woodruff, Richard Morgan and John Roach; Acting Gunner, Joseph Venable. ter,

:

PAWNEE -SECOND-RATE. Commander, George B. Balch; Lieutenant, Wm. Whitehead; Acting-Masters, .1. C. Champion, Thos. Moore and E. A. Magone; Ensign, Henry Glass; '

Acting-Master's Mates, C. H. Poor, Jr., T. L. Fisher and Jacob Kemp; Assistant Surgeon, 8. F. Shaw; Assistant Paymaster, C. S. Perley; Engineers Chief, B. E. Chassaing; Second- Assistants, W. J. Clark, Jr., Arthur Price and J. G. Brosnahan; Third-As:

Robert Crawford; Boatswain, James Brown; Gunner, James Hays. CIMARRON " THIBD-BATE. Commander, Egbert Thompson Acting- Master, Wm. E. Thomas; Acting Ensigns, Geo. F. Howes sistant,

'

'

;

and Charles Penfield Acting-Master's Mate, N. Gold;

smith: Acting Assistant Surgeon, T. S. Keith; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, J. T. Lee Engineers : Second-Assistants, J. B. Carpenter, C. F. Meyer, Jr., W. H. Kelly and W. L. BaUey. " MINGOE " third-rate. •

Commander, J. B. Creighton; Acting - Masters, W. Cangdon and J. C. Wentworth; Acting-EnSam 1 Merchant, S. R. Carlton, R. F. Dodge and J. A.Phipps Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. A. J.

signs,

;

Cabel; Acting Assistant Surgeon, G. 'H. Napheys; Engineers First- Assistant, E. A. C. DuPlain; Acting-Second-Assistant, James Mitchell, W. F. Worrell and Levi Smetzen; Acting -Third -Assistants, Wm. Emmarick and G. G. Blake; Acting-Gunner, :

Andrew Harmand.

" catskill"

— foubth-rate.

Lieutenant-Commander, Edward Barrett Lieutenant, Chas. W. Tracy; Acting - Masters, J. C. Hamlin and Wm. Reed Acting- Ensigns, J. D. Barclay, E. B. Cox and Charles Clauson Assistant Surgeon, John W. Coles Assistant-Pavmaster, H. P. ;

;

;

;

Tuttle Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, J. P. Butler; Acting-Second-Assistants, J. G. Dennett and Jonas T. Booth Third - Assistant, Wm. M. Barr Acting Third-Assistant, H. M. Test. ;

;

;

;

;

" PATAPSOO

Lieutenant Lieutenant,

THIRD-RATE.

Commander, S. P. Quackenbush T. Sampson Acting- Master. John

Wm

;

OF THE CIVIL WAR. "White Acting-Ensigns, J. S. Johnson, A. B. BashAssistant-Surgeon, S. H. ford and J. C. Brown Peltz ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. 8. Creevey; Engineers First-Assistant, Reynolds Driver Acting-Second-Assistant, G. li. Palmer Third-Assistants, D. C. Davis, G. P. Sweet and J. J. Ryan Pilot, G. Pinckney. ;

;

;

;

;

—

" PONTIAC " THIED-BATE. ActingLieutenant - Commander, S. B. Luce Master, Geo. P. Winslow Acting-Ensigns, Thomas Stevens, E. M. Clark, T. E. Lawton and James E. Carr Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. Fitzgerald and Acting-Assistant Paymaster, H. S. E. L. Keinp Skelding; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. W. Sherfy; Engineers Second - Assistants, Francis Cronin, Cipriano Andrade and H. F. Bradford Third-Assistants, C. P. Tiber and J. G. Littig Acting-Gunner, Chas. F. Adams. ;

;

;

;

:

;

;

—

"JiEHI^lH" TOTTETH-BATE. Lieutenant- Commander, Alex. A. Semmes Lieutenant, John H. Reed ; Acting - Masters, W. N. Price and John H. Bolles Acting-Ensigns, D. W. Hodson, J. H. Cromwell and Rich. Lanphier Assistant-Surgeon, David V. Whitney Acting-Assistant Engineers FirstPaymaster, W. F. A. Torbert Assistant, W. W. Hopper Second-Assistant, O. B. ;

;

;

771

G. Walter Allen; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, D. P. Gerrish; Second-Assistant, C. F. HoUingsworth Acting-Second-Assistant, P. C. Russell; Third- Assistant, H. H. Kimball Acting-ThirdAssistant, J. F. Kingsley. " WISSAHICKON"— POTJETH-EATB. Lieutenant-Cf)mmander, A. W. Johnson; ActingEnsigns, H. B. Francis, H. F. Dorton and Alonzo Elwell Acting-Master's Mates, D. J. King and Joseph Gregory. Jr.; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, S. C. Johnson Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Chas. ;

;

;

;

Dutcher

Acting-First-Assistant, John Fallon; Third-Assistant, C. W. Kenyon ActingThird-Assistants, C. E. Jevins and James F. Miller. :

Engineers

:

•

SONOMA -THIED-EATB. Lieutenant- Commander, R. W. Scott; ActingMaster, H. M. Merrill; Acting-Ensigns, S. H. Pallock, Geo. Couch, 8. G. Bryer and M. J. Daly; Acting - Master's Mate, D. W. Spinney ActingAssistant Surgeon, David Fairdrey, Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Wm. Sellew; Engineers: ActingSecond-Assistant, A. B. Cullins Acting-ThirdAssistants, Rufus Barton, R. G. Lewis, George Paul and John O'Keefe Gunner, J. M. Hogg. '

;

;

;

;

;

:

;

MUls Acting-Second- Assistants, Henry Wanklin and J. H. Vaile Acting - Third - Assistant, H. C. ;

;

Wilkins.

"— POTJETH-BATB. Lieutenant-Commander, Jonathan Young Acting-Master, 8. A. Waterbury Acting-Ensigns, C. A. Pike, R. P. Leary and G. A. Johnston AssistantSurgeon, W. J. Simon Acting- Assistant Paymas" SANGAMON

;

;

;

-POUETH-BATE. Lieutenant - Commander, Edmund W. Henry Acting-Masters, George P. Lee, J. E. Stickney and H. A. Green; Acting-Ensign, Geo. E. Thomas; Act'

NIPSIO

'

;

ing-Master's Mates, W. 8. Howland and J. C. Butler; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. J. GilfiUan; ActingAssistant Paymaster, T. Mansfield Engineers First-Assistant, 8. L. P. Avres Second-Assistant, E. W. Koehl; Third -Assistant, C. R. Roelker; Acting-Third-Assistant, Wm. J. Dougherty.

H

.

:

;

;

;

Coming

Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, \V. S. Hazzard; Acting-Second- Assistant, W. J. Barrington Third - Assistant, J. A. Kaiser Acting-Third-Assistants, W. E. Coster and C. H. Hunt. ter,

D.

:

;

;

;

'' NAHANT "— POtTBTH-EATB. Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. K. Mayo; Lieutenant, Henry F. Picking; ActingMaster, Wm. Shack-

ford; Acting-Ensigns, C. J. Rogers, A. B. Prince, E. H. Frisbie and W. C. Mendell; Assistant Sur-

geon, S. G.

Webber

;

Acting- Assistant Paymaster,

Wm. H. Palmer; Engineers: Acting

First -Assistants,

John H. Foster and T. B. Grene

;

Second-Assist-

ant, L. T. Stafford; Third- Assistant, J. L.

Hannum;

Aeting-Third-Assistant, Morris McCarty. " PASSAIC " THIED-KATB.

—

Lieutenant - Commander, T. Scott Fillebrown Lieutenant, H. L. Johnson; Acting-Masters, A. A. Owens and Charles Cook Acting-Ensigns, L. A. Waterman, Richard Hepburn and Sylvester Eldridge; Assistant Surgeon, Wm. P. Baird; ActingAssistant Paymaster, F. A. Wheeler; Engineers First- Assistant, James Sheridan; Second-Assistants, F. H. Fletcher, Webster Lane and Joseph Hooper; Acting-Third-Assistant, G. S. Odell. ;

;

"MONTAUK"— POUBTH BATE. Lieutenant-Commander, E. E. Stone; Lieutenant, E. F. Brower; Acting-Master, W. W. Crowningshields; Acting-Ensigns, G. W. Bourne, W. T. Mitchell and B. Gabrielson; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, G. B. Todd Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Engineers Second - Assistants, C. A. Robbins A. Adamson and J. W. Hollihan Acting-SecondAssistants, Simeon Rockburn and Charles Amberg; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. F. Walton and Richard ;

:

;

;

Bell.

"

NANTUCKET

"

—POITETH-EATB.

Lieutenant - Commander, Robert F. R. Lewis; Lieutenant, J. F. McGlensey; Acting-Master, J. M. Forsyth Acting-Ensigns, G. T. Chapman, Frank ;

" OTTAWA "—FOTJETH-BATE.

Lieutenant-Commander, James Stillwell ActingMaster, Wm. H. Winslow Acting- Assistant Surgeon, L. H. Willard; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. W. Huntington Acting-Ensigns, Benj. Mitchell, C. H. Choate, W. H. McCormick and W. N. Smith; Engineers: Second- Assistants, Geo. H. White and R. ]3. Hine; Acting-Second Assistant, Wm. Ross; Acting-Third- Assistant, C. G. Mead. WINONA -POTTETH-EATB. Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. H. Dana; ActingMasters, E. H. Sheffield and Wm. McKendry; Acting-Ensigns, Walter Sargent and J. Severns; Acting;

;

;

'

Master's Mate, Alfred Staigg; Acting- AssistantSurgeon, Charles Little; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, T. H. Dickson; Engineers Second-Assistant, Alfred Hendrick; Acting-Second- Assistant, J. B. A. Allen, Jr.; Third- Assistant, R. L. Wamaling; Act:

ing-Third-Assistant, C.

" DAI CHING

W. ''

Plaisted.

—FOUETH-EATB.

Lieutenant-Commander, J. C. Chaplin; ActingMasters, J. W. Crosby and Geo. Howorth; ActingEnsign, Walter Walton; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. R. Richardson; Acting -Assistant Paymaster, Edw. Sherwin; Engineers: Acting First-Assistant, G- R. Bennett Acting-Third-Assistants, D. Castana, J. R. Fulcher and Montgomery West. ;

"COMMODOEE M'DONOUaH "— POirETH-BATB. Lieutenant-Commander, Alex. F. Grossman; Acting-Masters, Wm. Knapp and John Myers; ActingEnsigns, N. W. White and George Glass ActingMaster's Mates, Sam'l Flaxington and L. F. Strant; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, R. Freeman; ActingAssistant Surgeon, D. J. Harris; Engineers: ActingSecond-Assistants, Sylvanus Warren, 8. S. Hettrick and Nelson Ross. NATAIi BATTBET. Lieutenant, Geo. W. Hay ward Acting-Ensign, J. A. Edgron; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, B. F. ;

;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

772

—

Moore Acting - Assistafii Sufg-eon, W. H. Bates Acting Assistant Paymaster, Wm. E. Foster; Engineers Acting -Second -Assistants, C. H. McCarty and Peter Anderson Third-Assistant, 8. C. McLanahan; Acting Third- Assistant, Wm. Adams.

" SARATOGA " THIRD-BATB. Acting-Volunteer Lieutenant, Edgar Bred head Acting-Masters, B. S. Melville and (J. H. Baldwin; Acting-Ensigns, Edw. Rogers and G. O. Pabeus; Acting-Master's Mates, C. H. Chase and W. A Stannard; Acting Assistant Surgeon, Winthrop Butler; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Louis A. Yorlie; Boatswain, Phihp J. Miller; Gunner, Stephen Young; Carpenter, O. H. Gerry; Sailmaker, J. C. Bradford. "JOHN ADAMS"— THIKD-BATE. Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, Alvin Phiniiy Act-

:

;

John

—

"HOME" THIED-EATE. Acting-Master, Benj. Dyer; Acting- Ensigns, A. E. Barnett, R. E. Anson and A. D. Anderson; ActingActing-AssistAssistant Surgeon, W. W. Howard ant Paymaster, Ichabod Norton; Engineers: ActActingDandreau; ing-Second-Assistant, Cornehus Third- Assistants, Paul Dandreau, T. J. Hamilton, Wm. Smith and G. W. Hughes. " AZALIA "~B0UBTH-BATE.

;

;

:

;

;

;

"FLAMBEAU "— THIED-BATB. Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Edward Cavendy Acting-Master, Gilbert Richmond Acting Ensigns, J. W. Griffiths, J.T. Carver, J. S. Thomles and J. M. Hudson Acting - Master's Mate, J. F. Peterson

;

Acting-Master, Fred.

;

;

W.

Str.ong; Acting-Ensign,

Joseph Frost; Acting-Masters Mates, F C. Simond and Robert N. Turner; Engineers Atcting-SecondAssistant, Chas. Gewans; Acting-Third- Assistants, W. W. Fish, F. L. Strong and J. Priest. PEEEY " BOUBTH-BATE. :

;

Assistant Surgeon, P. H. Pursell ActingAssistant Paymaster, F. V. D. Horton Engineers Acting - First Assistant, John Harris; Acting-Second-Assistant^ C. B. Curtes Acting-Third- Assistants, Ai P. Bullard and Edw. Humstone. ;

:

;

;

Acting- Master's Mate, N. F. Rich; ActingAssistant Paymaster, Geo. E. Bissell ; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Chas. O. Davis; Acting Third-Assistant, A. N. Odell, Thos. Stimson and James Hare.

;

-

Ross,

vyell, Jr.;

;

Acting

MABY SANBOED -THIBD-BATB. Acting - Ensigns, Z. Kempton J. F. Otis, G. W. Pease and Wm. Cald-

'

Acting- Master,

ting-Masters, C. 0. Ricker, T. C. Chapinand Henry Vaughan Acting-Ensigns, H. D. Burolett, T. S. Avery,. A. A. Franzen, P. W. Fragen, G. S. JohnActing - Master's Mates, son and Frank Fisher W. M. Gregg, S. E. Adamson, John Ostega, Nathan Brown and Oliver O'Brien Acting-Assistant-Surgeon^ N. M. Randlett Acting- Assistant Paymaster, ActingArch'd McVey Gunner, J. M. Ballard Gunner, A. C. Holmes Carpenter, J. G. Thomas. ;

;

;

;

-

—

'

'

;

"

SOUTH CABOLINA

''

—THIED-RATE.

Acting- Master, S. N. Freeman Acting-Ensigns, R. R. Donnell and Fred. Elliott Acting-Master's Mates, Edw. H. Sheer, T. H. McDonald and C. S, Bridges; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Benj. Marshall; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, T. A. Emerson. ;

;

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, Wm. W. Kennison; Acting- Master, Wm. Bailey Acting-Ensigns, John Gunn, E. M. Dimon, C. G. Boyer and Ansel S. Hitch Acting-Assistant Surgeon, H. C. Vaughan Acting -Assistant Paymaster, S. W. Tanner; Engineers Acting - First - Assistant, J. T. Hathaway ;

"HAEVEST MOON" — POUBTH-BATB.

;

;

:

;

Acting Second Assistants, -

-

J.

H.

Rowe and Henry

Gormley Acting-Third-Assistants, S. John Agnew. " LODONA " — THIRD-BATE. ;

C.

Lane and

;

;

;

;

;

:

;

ard and W. H. H. Hawes. HOPB -POUBTH RATE. Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. L. Churchill; Acting- Ensign, Andy Hartshorn Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. E. Sauld and J. S. Leon. ;

;

'

'

H

A. Cartes, Frank Watson, W. Millett and G. T. Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. E. Rand; Engineers Acting - Second - Assistant, Edwin Vaughn; Acting -Third -Assistants, S. M. Van Clief, E. W. Cross and L. McNeil. WANDO " POTJETH-BATE. ;

—

'

'

Acting-Master, Fred'k T. King Acting-Ensigns, E. K. Smith, M. A. Nickerson, Lewis Jennings and Alex. Cormack Acting - Master's Mate, W. C. N. Sanford Acting- Assistant Surgeon, P. C. Whidden Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. L. G. Thayer; Engineers: Second-Assistant, J. P. Kelly ActingSecond- Assistant, J. J. Sullivan; Ac ting-Third- Assistants, Wm. Norie, T. T. Sanborn and G. W. Wakefield. W AMSUT f A " - BOtTBTH-BATE. Acting- Master, Charles W. Lee; Acting-Ensigns, E. R. Warren and T. R. Dayton Acting-Master's Mates, F. L. Wheeler and Thos. Nickerson Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Charles Loueks Engineers Acting -First -Assistant. William Johnston; Actmg-Third-Assistants, B. P. Napheys, David Mc;

;

;

STETTIN -BOtTETH-EATE. Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, C. J. Van Alstine Acting-Master, J. M. Butler; Acting- Ensigns, C. B. Pray, .J. C. Staples and Wm. Jenny; Acting- Master's Mate, Edward W. Mosier Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Robert Stone; Acting -Assistant Paymaster, C. M. Burnes; Engineers: Actin^-Second-Assist'

;

;

John Hawkins Acting - Thn-d - Assistants, Anthony Gale, J. W. BUiott and W. AV. Smith. ;

— THIED BATE

Acting-Masters, R. O. Patterson and J. B. Childs; Acting - Ensigns, S. W. Cowing, B. D. Reed and G. C. Chamberlain Acting-Master's Mate, John W. ;

:

:

Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, Geo. E. Welch S. Blanchard, J. W. Tuck. A. S. Gardner and S. W. Rhoades; Acting- Ensign, R. W. Parker; Engineers: Acting-Secfmd-Assistants, E. H. Keith and John Lardner; Acting-Third-Assistant, Jesse Wright; Gunner, Wm. Bartlett Carpenter, Samuel N. Whitehouse.

" MB-MPHIS"

;

Engineers Acting - First - Assistant, Robert Mulr ready Acting-Third-Assistants, C. T. Wamaling and John Ryan. POTOIISKA "— BOUBTH-EATE. Acting-Master, F. M. Montell; Acting-Ensigns;

Joshn

— POUETH-BATE.

Acting-Masters, H.

ant,

;

;

;

'

"

;

:

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, R. P. Swann Acting-Masters, H. G. McKennee and R. C. McKenzie Acting- Ensigns, Wm. S. MeNeilly and L. B. Brigham Acting- Assistant Surgeon, T. W. Meekly Acting-Assistant Paymaster, A. M. Stewart Engineers Acting-Second-Assistant, M. C. Heath Acting-Third-Assistants, James Mollineaux, Wm. Leon-

" VAIiPAEAISO

Acting- Master, John K. Crosby Acting-Ensigns, W. H. BuUis, D. P. McKevan, A. N. Bates and L. A. Cornthwait; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, A. Sumner Dean Acting -Assistant Paymaster, L. E. Rice Engineers Acting-Seeond-Assistant, J. A. Miller and G. A. Geer; Acting-Third-Assistants, Henry Fisher and F. W. Racoe. PHIIiADELPHIA -FOTJBTH-RATE. Acting-Master, Geo. H. Avery Acting-Ensigns, Geo. B. Bailey, Geo. Edwards, E. R. Davison, John B. Starr and C. D. Duncan Assistant - Surgeon, Assistant Payroaster, H. L. Wait J. H. Culver

;

;

;

'

'

;

;

;

:

Donald and T. T.

Risbell.

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

"AMABANTHtrS "— FOUETH-BATE. Acting- Master, Enog O. Adams Acting-Ensign, Wm. R. Cox Acting-Master s Mates. Wasliington Van Wyck, James O'Donnell and A. D. Damon Engineers Acting-Second- Assistant, C. R. Jones ;

;

:

;

Acting-Third -Assistants, Samuel Fowler and H.

W.

Force.

773

" 0. P. WILLIAMS "—FOUETH-BATB. Acting - Master, L. W. Parker; Acting -Ensign, J. W. North; Acting-Master's Mates, L. E. Daggett and W. J. Lane. "GEOBGB MANGHAM'' FOUETH-EATE

Acting-Master, John Collins, Jr. Acting-Ensigns, Wallis and A. Tuttle; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, T. G. Holland. ;

"ETHAN ALLAN "--FOUETH-E ATE.

J. E.

Acting-Masters, J. A. Pennell, W. L. Kempton Jos. McCart Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Bunting andWm. Mero Acting - Master's Mate, Edwards Dexter Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Isaiah Dowling; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Wm. R. Woodward.

and

;

;

;

—

"CHAMBEES" FOUETH BATE, Acting-Master, William Watson; Acting Ensigns, William Jennings and L. P. Delan Acting-Master's Mate, A. K. Baylor Acting-Assistant Paymaster, ^ J' W. D. Walker. " OLEANDER "—tFOUETH-KATE. ;

; •

.

Acting-Master, R. Price Walter Acting Ensigns, H. G. Seaman and Geo. Dunlap; Acting - Master's Mate, George Newlin Engineers Acting-SecondAssistant, Samuel Swartwout Acting - ThirdAssistants, Robert B. Dick, H. S. Brown and L. B. Joyce. ;

:

;

" PAEA "

—FOUBTH-BATE.

Acting-Master, David P. Health Acting-Ensign, Edward Ryan Acting - Master's Mates, John McDonough and Wm. H. Morse. ;

;

"NOBWICH"— FOTJETH KATE. Acting • Master, W. H. DeWolf Acting -Ensigns, J. H. Sinscatt, J. P. Chad wick and R. W. Laid Acting Master's Mates, Henry Sinclair and Wm. White Acting - Assistant Surgeon, J. A. Petrie; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, C. F. Gardner Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, P. B Robinson Third - Assistant, L. H. Lamdim Acting - ThirdAssistants, H. J. Tarr and J. B. Johnston. " FEBNANDINA "— FOUKTH-BATE. Acting - Masters, Lewis West and George P. HoUis Acting - Ensigns, Christopher Flood, B. H. Chadwick and Charles Sawyer ActingMasters Mate, Wm. C. King Acting - Assistant Surgeon, S. B. Kenney Acting - Assistant Pavmaster, T. N. Murray. HOUGHLEN " FOUETH-BATB. Acting - Master, E. S. Fusher Acting-Ensigns, 0. M. Shirving and Jacob Cochran; Acting Assistant Surgeon, Israel Bashong; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, R W. Allen. " DAFFODIL "^FOtTBTH-EATE. ;

;

-

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

—

'

'

;

Acting- Master, Wm. H. Mallard Acting-Ensign, John McGlathery Acting Master's Mate, N. B. Walker Engineers Acting-Third- Assistants, Wm. ;

-

;

:

;

H. Capen,

Thomas

Forrest and John Tucker.

" OKVETTA

"

—FOUBTH-EATB.

Acting-Master, Wm. Fales Acting-Ensigns, E. W. Halcro, Charles Nellman and D. W. Andrews; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Samuel A. Kay. ;

'HXDBANGA

-FOUETH-EATE. Acting-Master, Charles W. Rodgers; Acting-Master's Mates, J. B. Newcomb, J. G. Underbill and John Wolstenholme Engineers Acting - Second Assistant, A. N. Koones; Acting-Third- Assistants, H. E. Whitworth, W. B. Hall and C. M. Adams. :

;

" B. B.

HALE " FOUETH-BATB. -

Acting- Master, Charles F. Mitchell; Acting-Ensigns, Henry Stohl, G. A. Smith, J. N. VanBuskirk. Wm. L. Pary and Wm. Lamee; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, O. B. Gilman; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Frank Marsh; Acting-Third- Assist-

DAN SMITH — FOUETH-EATE. Acting-Master, Barker Van Voorhis; Acting-Ensigns, A. H. L. Bowie and Robert Craig: ActingMaster's Mate, H. P. Diernianse. " GEOBGB W. BODGBBS" FOUETH-EATE. '

"

'

—

Acting-Master, Loring G. Emerson; Acting-Ensign, J. H. Handy; Acting- Masters Mate, A. Trensdale.

"acacia'' — FOUETH BATE. Acting- Masters, Wm. Barrymore and J. E. Jones; Acting-Ensigns, H. F. Blake and A. S. Rounds; Acting-Master's Mates, Win. J. McFadden and James Hawkins; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Joseph Foster Engineers Acting - Second - Assistant, T. D. Crosby; Acting-Third- Assistants, J. K. Wright; A. V. Harvey, E. H. Haggens and Robert Henry. :

;

"T.

WAKD" — FOUETH-BATB.

A.

Acting-Master, Robert T. Wyatt Acting-Ensign, W. C. Odroine Acting - Master's Mates, M. M. Baker, Jr., and A. Olmstead. " BACEB "--FOUETH KATE. Acting- Master, E. G. Martin Acting-Ensigns, D. B. Corey and J. F. Kavanaugh Acting-Master's Mate, James Williams Acting- Assistant-Pay master, Charles Smith. ;

;

.

;

;

;

"JOHN GBIFFITH " — FOUETH-EATE. Acting - Master, James Ogilvie; Acting Ensigns, Wm. Knight, W. G. Pitts and Thos. Perry. "SARAH BRUEN " FODBTH-BATE. -

—

Acting-Master, 8. P.

Wm. F. Redding

Edwards and

Mate,

Wm.

J.

Richardson

;

;

Acting-Ensigns, Acting-Master's

H. Olmey.

" IBIS "—FOURTH- BATE. Acting-Ensign, Wm. H. Anderson Acting-Master s Mates, W. W. Brandt, Ehsha Hubbard and Roger Conoly Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, ;

;

Richard Nash; Acting - Third - Assistants, Dennis

Lyng and James Hankey. " dandelion" Acting Ensign, George

— FOURTH-BATE. W. WiUiams; Acting-Mas-

Mates, W. F. Vincent, J. K. Gould and James Sullivan; Engineers: Acting- Third- Assistants, E. Babbit and John McKeezer. ter's

ABETHUSA -FOUETH-BATB. Acting Ensign, John V. Cook Acting Master's Mates, I. D. Lovett andF. H. Newcomb; Engineers: Acting Second Assistant, Geo. W. Howe ActingThird- Assistant, William J. Moore and J. T. Greenwood. " OAMELIA'' FOUBTH-EATB. ;

:

—

Acting-Ensign, David B. Howes Acting-Master's Mates, Abraham Leach, F H. Munroe and Wm. P. Lard; Engineers Acting-Third-Assistants, Benjamin Cobb, Jr., John Grimes and John Corson. ;

:

"SWEET BBIEE" - FOUETH-BATB. Acting-Master's Acting-Ensign, .1. D. Dexter Mates, T. J. Dill. J. R. Grove and L. H. Brown; Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistants, M. V. B. Darling and T. J W. Cooper; Acting-Third- Assistant, J. W. Blake. -FOUETH-BATB. ;

IVil" .1

c + r^-v*

c"

THE NA VAL HISTORY

774

Engineers: Aeting-Second- Assistants, Reuben McClenahan and Augustus Wendell Aeting-Third;

Edw. Bannaclough and W.

Assistants,

J. Phillips.

Earle; Engineers: Acting Second- Assistants, S. W. C. J. Henry; Acting-Third-Assistants, Geo. E. Norris and H. B. Garabedian.

Widlam and

—

" GLADIOIiUS " FOURTH-BATE. Acting - Ensign, Napoleon Boughtoii ActingMaster's Mates, 8. W. Byram, H. B. Eaton and

' '

JONQUIL " —FOUETH-BATE.

:

Wm.

Parker; Engineers: Acting-Third Assist-

C.

ant, John D. Williams, Geo. W. Beard and Augustus IStraub. " CARNATION " POUBTH-EATB. Acting-Ensign, William Boyd Acting-Master's Mates, J. D. Reed, Albion Burnham and A. H. Francis Engineers Acting - Third - Assistants, Win. C. Boone and D. M. Spangler. " IjABITBNUM"— FOUKTH-KATE. Acting -Ensigns, Sturgis Center, J. D. Kihlborn and J. P. Thompson Acting-Master's Mate, Peter Moakley Engineers Acting - Second - Assistant, James Stevens Acting - Third - Assistants, Benis Hayes and Walter S. Jarboe. OATALPA -FOUETH-BATE. Acting-Ensign, Allen K. Noyes Aoting-Master'§ Mates, J. W. Mathews, A. S. Tafte and John MoGee; Engineers: Acting-Second Assistant, Timothy McCarty; Acting-Third- Assistants, Nicholas Cassin and J. Nicholson. "OliOVEE" FOtTETH-BATE. Acting -Ensign, Frank S. Leech; Acting-Master's Engineers Acting Third Mate, S. H. Bryant Assistants, W. W. Shane, W. F. Henderson and ;

:

;

;

:

;

;

'

;

—

,

;

;

M.

Griffiths.

GEEANIUM " — FODETH-BATE. Acting - Master's Acting - Ensign, David Lee Mates, J. D. Wingale, Benjamin Russell and Wm. "

;

Acting-Ensign, Charles H. Hanson; Acting-MasMates, Thos. Newton and Henry Lynch; EnWm. H. Barclay and J. C. Batchelder. ter's

gineers: Acting-Third-Assistants,

'

NOBFOLK PACKET

-POUBTH BATE.

W. Wood and S. A. Dayton; Paymaster, Andrew Tower; Act-

Acting-Ensigns, Geo.

Acting -Assistant ing - Master Moore.

Charles

Mates,

s

BEAZIIilEEA"

' '

Bedell and

Allen

— FOURTH-BATE.

Acting- Ensigns, J. H. Bennett, N. C. Borden and Horace Dexter; Acting-Masters Mates, P. W. H. Harrington and C. A. Austen; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, George S. Fife; Acting- Assistant Paymaster C. H. Longstreet. "

G.

W.

Acting-Ensign, G. Mates, W. R. Lyons. "

"

BLUNT G.

— FOUETH-BATE. Curtis;

Acting- Master's

CHATHAM" —FOURTH-BATE.

Acting-Master's Mates, George W. Post and Win. Woods; Engineers: Acting-Tliird-Assistants, Frederick Wagner and H. A. Brown.

" LARKSPUR

"

—FOUETH-BATE.

Acting-Master's Mates, John O'Conner, W. A. Arkins and David Wilson Engineers: Aeting-Thi>-'^Assistants, W. J. Cannon and A. L. Grow. ;

CH A PTER

LI II.

OPERATIONS OP THE WEST GULF SQUADRON IN THE LATTER PART OF 1864,

AND

IN

1865.

joint opekations in mobile bay by rear-admikal thatcher and general canby.

Gallant Services of Commodore Palmer — Blockade-runners on Texas Coast. — Demoralizing Tenacity of Confederate Government. — Cutting out of the Schooner ' Golden Belle." — Capture of the " Delphina," "Annie Sophia," and "Pet," Prize-laden Schooners. — The Steamer " Will-o'-thb-Wisp " Boarded and set on Fire. The Confederate Privateer Exciting and Hazardous Adventures. "Anna Dale" Captured and Burned. — Conspicuous Gallantry of the Volunteer Element of the Navy. — Acting-Rear- Admiral Thatcher Relieves Commodore Palmer. Shelling Confederate Batteries near Mobile. — Capture op Spanish Fort, Forts Alexis, Huger and Tracy.— Mobile Surrenders.— Operations OP the Gun-boats in Rivers of Alabama. — Confederate Rams " Huntsvillb" and "Tuscaloosa" Sunk. — Federal Gun-boats Sunk by Torpedoes. — Confederate Gun-boats and other Property Surrendered to the Navy. — Conditions of Surrender. — Instructions to Flag-Captain Simpson. — Parole given by and List op Officers and Men Surrendered.— Entrance of Gun-boats into Blakely' River. Complimentary Letter relative to Commodore Palmer. — Destruction of Confederate Ram "Webb." — Galveston Surrenders. — List of Vessels and Officers

—

—

^

—

of

West Gulf Squadron,

James COMMODORE manded the West

1865.

Palmer comGulf Blockading Squadron up to the time RearAdmiral Thatcher took command in the latter part of February or early part of March, 1865. After being relieved, he continued to give Rear - Admiral Thatcher that hearty and effective support that always distinguished him in his former commands under Admiral Farragut on the S.

Mississippi and elsewhere, marking him as one of those cool and gallant men who perhaps in time of peace would not attract much attention, but whose services in time of war are strongly marked by judgment and gallantry combined. These qualities always leave a strong impression on a ship's company that has the good fortune to possess

such a commander. Whatever duty Commodore Palmer undertook he performed it

where the commanders under whom he served never parted with him without the warmest eulogiums in his praise, all of which were deserved. While he had the temporary comin the records of the war,

mand of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron he kept the vessels of the fleet actively employed, which will be better appreciated and understood by a brief outline of the operations.

Commodore Palmer was one of those who encouraged intrepidity in young officers; and as there was not a large field for daring deeds, and as the duty of the vessels under his command was cliiefly confined to the dull routine of blockading the Texas coast, no opportunity was lost to obtain distinction, and at the same time inflict injury upon the enemy. Since the closing of the Confederate ports

THE NAVAL HISTORY

776

made attempts though

it

to reach the coast of Texas,

would seem that

it

was scarcely

profitable for them to carry on their illicit trade in the Gulf, where they could be so easily cut off, and at the time when the war must have appeared to any one with an observant mind to be so rapidly approaching a close. But as long as there was life there was hope, and the Confederate Government, to the very last moment of its existence, put on a bold front and acted as if in the

heyday

of its power. The only way it could keep up its credit abroad was bj^ now and then getting out a load of cotton on a steamer, or some of the schooners that had been left to them after the several raids that had been made on such coasting vessels

that the

soldiers

never

—a

very brave set

felt

als from making a permanent lodgment in their State, but had given a large quota of their troops to assist the Confederates in every other quarter of the Southern

domain. It would have been, indeed, a grievous infliction if the Texans had succeeded in drawing to their State the remainsof the Confederate armies who had not been driven to surrender, for they might have kept up the war two or three years longer, with great loss to the North in expense and with no gain to themselves. But the same demoralization of the Con-

OOMMODOEE (AFTERWARDS BEAR-ADMIEAL)

as they possessed. Though the communications with Texas and the northern portion of the Confederacy had been almost entirely cut off by the vigilant watchfulness of the Navy on the coast and on the great river which divided the Confederacy, yet the Texans were as active as ever in carrying on operations, particularly in the introduction of arms of all kinds, provisions, clothing and military stores, apparently with a view to carrying on the war on their own account if Richmond fell, or to offer a place of retreat to those dissatisfied spirits who could see nothing good in a union with the Northern States. The Federal invasions had, so far, been so unsuccessful,

Texan

men — had

that they had been worsted in the least. On the contrary, they had not only prevented the Federal gener-

of

.TAMES

S,

PALMER.

federacy which was so painfully apparent in Richmond was also felt in Texas. Though they appeared to be imbued with the popular enthusiasm that had done so much to prolong the contest, and though they had given as many proofs of devotion to the cause and evidences of endurance and noble sacrifice, yet they were not carried away with the bitterness of feeling that seemed to animate the people further north.

The Texans could see plainly enough that mismanagement on the part of the

official

Confederate authorities, together with the Union victories and the popular resolution of the Northern people to prosecute the war ;ti

["1

von c^yxTcc

-\T-\

rfr\-v

^Ar.

^1^«U1«

OF THE that Texas

CIVIL WAR.

would become the great battleground, and that, whatever way the tide of war might turn, the State would be impoverished. So far, Texas had borne no hardships that soldiers could not reasonably endure, for her plains were full of hogs and cattle, and her fields were well supplied with corn, and they had sufficient military ardor to uphold them to the last. But there were large amounts of cotton on hand from which no revenue was derived, and attempts were now and then made to get the fabric to market in anything that would float, which, in many cases, succeeded when success was least expected. Emboldened by their first attempts, the blockade-runners from the Texan ports became more audacious, so much so that the Federal naval officers were put upon their mettle, and hence resulted a number of small but gallant affairs which, in justice to the officers concerned in them, should not be omitted. They are the small links that make up the chain of history, and were as important in the eyes of the performers as

more prominent

affairs.

On

the 36th of December, 1864, a large schooner, named the "Golden Belle," was lying in Galveston harbor, watching a chance to evade the blockaders outside, and make a run to Havana or Nassau. Acting -Ensign N. A. Blume, of the "Virginia," asked and received permission from his commanding officer, Acting- VolunteerLieutenant Charles H. Brown, to go in and cut out the schooner. Obtaining volunteers from the crew for the expedition, he left with the third cutter about 8:30 p. m. Having five miles to pull against a heavy head sea, Mr. Blume did not reach Boliver Point and get in sight of the schooner until She was lying about a 1 A. M. of the 27th. quarter of a mile from Fort Jackson, about a mile from Fort Greene, and less than four hundred yards from the Confederate guard-schooner "Lecompte." When within five hundred yards of the schooner, a light was seen moving about her decks. The boat passed her and came up astern, not being discovered till alongside. She was

then immediately boarded and carried, and the prisoners secured. The captors immediately made sail, slipped the schooner cable and stood down the bay, the guardboat supposing that she had started out to run the blockade. Coolness and clever management was manifested in piloting the "Belle" out of Galveston harbor, which is an intricate one. In going out. the prize had to pass almost within hail of Fort Point on Galveston Island, then find her way in the dark through the main channel and cross the bar at the right point; all of which was done without a mistake. At daylight, the

777

that morning the owner of the "Golden Belle" could see her from Galveston carefully anchored under the guns of the Federals.

As it resulted, there was this expedition, and the

no loss of life ori glamour which

generally attends a bloody affair was missing but it was none the less a dangerous one, and all engaged in it deserve as much credit as if some had been shot. have made it a rule to mention the names of the participants when good work was performed, and, this being a case in point, the following are entitled to a place N. A. Blume, Acting - Ensign William Steven;

We

:

;

son, Master-at-Arms James Webster, Gunner's Mate ; Thomas Wallace, Coxswain ;

Jacob Bowman, Captain Forecastle William Thompson, Captain Forecastle Augustus Miller, Captain After-guard Peter Miller, Seaman Thomas K. Fenley, Landsman. On January 34th, 1865, quite as clever an affair took place off Calcasieu River, by a cutting-out expedition, under LieutenantCommander Richard W. Meade, which was a complete success witliout any casualties. A three-masted schooner, loaded with cotton, was lying at the second bend of the Calcasieu River, about two and a half miles from its mouth, ready to slip out at the first ;

;

;

;

opportunity, and the object of the expediwas her capture. As a large force of the enemy was encamped close at hand, it was deemed best to take a force sufficiently large to insure success. Lieutenant-Commander Meade accordingly fitted out the tion

" Chocura's " launch and first cutter, and took forty men of her crew under his personal command. The night of the 33d of January was chosen for the attempt, and as it was cold and dark, with drizzling rain and a norther blowing, it was just such a night as a blockade-runner would select to evade the blockaders. The party left the

"Chocura" at dark and pulled in silently for the river. Just as they entered it, the schooner was discovered coming down under sail with a fresh breeze. Had the boats been ten minutes later she would have reached open water and escaped. She was at once boarded and carried but, unfortunately, her captain saw the boats before they reached his vessel, and, putting his helm hard down and letting fly his sheets, ran the schooner hard and fast aground on the flats close to the beach and not far from the enemy's force. Six prisoners were secured at once, and a boat that was towing astern was seen to push off and pull rapidly up the river, in which, doubtless, some of the crew escaped. The prize proved to be the schooner "Delphina," with one hundred and eighty bales of cotton on board one of ;

—

THE NAVAL HISTORY

778

the habit of making to raise money, which, though small in quantity, was none the less valuable to the captors when it could be secured. This cargo would have been worth in England over one hundred thou-

sand

dollars.

Every

effort

was made

to

get the " Delphina " afloat. The after-deck load was thrown overboard and her anchor carried out but as the norther caused the water to fall rapidly, leaving in an hour only about a foot of water alongside, the efforts to float her were unavailing. The launch grounded in the meantime, and it was deemed best not to expose the men to an attack from an overwhelming force. The schooner was therefore set on fire and the expedition returned to the "Chocura." ;

Acting-Ensigns Tracy and Beardsley ac-

excuse on this account for inflicting harm on Federal merchant-ships. It was not to be supposed that Union officers would let a vessel put to sea with a hundred thousand dollars' worth of cotton on board without using every effort to capture it, when they knew that if it reached England it would soon be converted into cash to buy arms with which to shoot Union people. There was really no greedy intent which induced officers to follow up vessels in port loaded with cotton, but simply a desire on their part to put an end to the war. Half the time the vessels and cotton were burned when it might frequently have been saved, but it was not considered worth the while to risk the lives of officers and men. This was the case on this occasion, as there was a force of three hundred cavalry at the point where the "Delphina" was burned. The Confederates were very watchful and alert in getting vessels ready for sea and loaded with cotton bales, but the blockaders were equally so; and, if we may judge by the results, much more active in the pursuit of the blockade-runners and in the capture of them than their owners were in getting their wares to market. On February 8, 18C6, an expedition was fitted out by Commander Mullany, of the "Bienville," assisted by Commander Woolsey, of the " Princess^Royal." for the purpose of destroying the steamer ' Wren," a blockade-runner lying in the harbor of Galveston, and also of capturing two cotton-ladened schooners that were lying at anchor under the forts, ready to go to sea when the wind and weather permitted. Two boats were sent on this expedition, viz.

LIEUTENANT-COMM.\NDEB (NOW CAPTAIN)

B.

W. MEADE.

companied Lieutenant-Commander Meade. The officers and men behaved as all men will when they are led by a judicious and gallant commander. They were not altogether unfortunate in not receiving some prize-money. Eighty bales of cotton were thrown overboard before they set fire to the schooner this drifted out to sea, and thirty bales were picked up on the following morning, and very likely more were secured later. This was "hard on the shippers but such are the fortunes of war, and it was the ;

;

onlj^

way

to cripple the resources of the

Confederacy. Captain Semraes, of Alabama fame, railed at Union naval officers a great deal for what he called their greedy spirit in capturing cotton coming out and arms going in, whicli he called destroying the property of Southern people, and makes an

:

The "

Bienville's " first cutter,

with thirteen men, Acting-Ensign George H. French, in charge, and the"" Princess Royal's " first cutter, with a crew of nine men, Acting-Ensign A. H. Reynolds, in charge, assisted by Acting-Master's Mate Lewis Johnson, the whole under the command of Acting-Ensign French, of the " Bienville."

The boats

left

the " Bien-

ville "

about 8.20 p. M., and stood in for the harbor, Mr. French intended to pass inside the schooners and make his first attack on the "Wren," destroy her, and then capture the schooners; but he failed in this, owing

which carried him so far out of that he found himself close aboard the schooners. Without hesitation, orders were given Mr. Reynolds to board one. while Mr. French carried the other. Both were taken without resistance, though the crews aggregated twenty men. nearlv equal to the crews of the two boats. The "Princess Royal's" cutter captured the "Annie Sophia," and the " Bienville's," the to the tide, his course

" Pet," both supposed to be English. After getting the schooners underway and secur-

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

779

ing their crews, one was placed in charge of Boatswain's Mate, Thomas Gallyer, of the " Bienville," and the other in charge of Acting- Master's Mate Johnson, with orders to proceed to the "Bienville," where they suDsequently arrived in safety. Mr. French then proceeded in company with the other boat to perform the duty of destroying the "Wren"; but, finding it impracticable (owing to the strong current and wind against him, with his reduced crews) to find the " Wren," or make good headway, and having parted company from the other boat in the darkness, he concluded that it would be injudicious to proceed further, as day was approaching, and returned to his ship. On the whole, this might be called a good

worth wrecking.

The "Pet" had two hundred and of cotton, and the "Annie Sophia" two hundred and twenty, a handsome reward to the adventurous sailors who went on the expedition. The dearth of blockade-running steamers made it more easy to capture this cotton, for the long, low runners generally laid well

shot.

catch.

fifty-six bales

—

up the harbor under the protection of the forts, while the schooners had to move down to the lower baj' to await a fair wind and get to sea when an opportunity offered. Yet the steamers that did attempt to run the blockade often failed, as was the case with the " Will -o'-the- Wisp " (steamer), which was burned off Galveston by an expedition under Lieutenant O. E. McKav, of the "Princess Royal." The " Will-o"'-the Wisp " had been run on shore off the harbor of Galveston, where she was caught in the act of landing some heavy guns, and was chased on shore. On the night of the 9th of Februa.ry, 1865, a boat expedition was fitted out by Commander M. B. Woolsey, consisting of two boats' crews, one from the " Princess Royal," and the other from the gun-boat "Antona,'" the whole under command of Lieutenant McKay, with orders to go in and destroy the steamer and prevent her landing the arms and stores she had on board. The boats shoved off from the " Princess Royal" between 2 and 3 a. m., while the ship and the "Antona" moved in toward shore and took up a position about nine hundred yards from the " Will-o'-the-Wisp." The boats soon reached and boarded the stranded steamer, set her on fii-e in the wheel-houses,

and then returned to the "Princess Royal." She had previously been riddled by the fire of the two blockaders, and had been set on fire by their shells, so that she was almost The Confederates had a total wreck. shown their usual energy in getting out the cargo, the decks being torn up to enable them to do so. Even the engines had been taken to pieces and carried away, so that, 1

^U^ U^^*-^ ^r^^nX^^A

Urt«

f.1-.^

-ITTi^rt

.^^4-

Although there was no resistance offered by the enemy, the attempt made by the boats was worthy of all praise. The Confederate cavalry had thrown up heavy breastworks, and it was expected that the landing party would meet

with a stout resistance.

One gallant affair would inspire another, and these cutting-out expeditions became the order of the day.

When

they started

no man knew what would be the result of an expedition until it was over, or what force was likely to be encountered. The enemy, knowingthe adventurous spirit of the officers of the squadron, might set a out,

trap for them, and, instead of getting a load of cotton, they might get a load of grape-

The Confederates had

fitted out a privaor vessel-of-war, or whatever name that class of vessel might be recognized under an armed schooner, the " Anna Dale," which, on February 18. 1865, was lying in Pass Cavallo, Texas, waiting for part of her

teer

—

—

crew, when she intended to slip out to prey on Federal commerce. This vessel had been observed for several days apparently watching an opportunity to get to sea when the wind favored her. Lieutenant-Commander Henry Erben, Jr., of the "Panola," had been watching her closely, and at night kept picket-boats close to the inlet to see that she did not slip out without due notice from the boats. On the night of the 18th he sent in two armed boats, the gig and third cutter, to cut the schooner out, with Acting-Ensign James W. Brown in charge, assisted by Acting-Master's Mate John

The work was handsomely perThe boats crossed the bar, which was quite smooth at the time, and found the schooner made fast to a wharf with a battery on shore close aboard. She had a pivotgun mounted, and everything indicated that she was an armed vessel with this battery to protect her. Lights were seen moving about the decks, and men heard talking, Rosling.

formed.

when Mr. Brown made a dash

for the schooner, boarded her, drove all the crew below that were on deck, and fastened down the hatches. The fasts were then cut and the vessel drifted out into the stream. Sail was made on the " Anna Dale," and everything done to take her out, but she grounded, and it was determined to destroy her.

The

prisoners, with their baggage,

put in one of the schooner's boats with some small arms and a la-pounder howitzer, and the vessel was then set on fire. The "Anna Dale" proved to be a Confederate privateer, but had not yet attained the dignity of being called a cruiser. She was of seventy tons burden, well armed, and commanded by Joseph L. Stephenson, vs^ere

,

i-„ "NT.,.,,,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

780

he expected twenty-five more men at sunHe set, and would have sailed soon after. expressed great surprise that the boats were not fired upon by the battery, which consisted of three guns and a hundred men stationed only a short distance off. The "Anna Dale" was a fast schooner, and, had she escaped the vigilance of the blockaders and reached the northern coast, would no doubt have done much damage before she

was

captured. This affair was certainly well executed and was without loss of life, which makes such events all the more acceptable. Acting-Ensign Brown was, no doubt, a gallant officer. He speaks in the highest terms of the behavior of Mr. Rosling and of Boatswain's Mate James Brown and QuarterMaster Benton Bunker, and the boat's crew generally. It will be observed that, in most of these affairs, the acting or volunteer officers bore very prominent parts. In all this kind of duty the volunteer element of the Navy was always conspicuous, it being more congenial to them than parading the deck and following the routine of a regular man-of-war. They were a tough, brave set of men, full of resources and worthy of every trust. Captain Semmes, of the "Alabama." in his journal of that vessel's cruise, berates the volunteer officers of the Federal Navy, and calls them a low-lived set of fellows but it must be remembered that, in the fight between the "Kearsarge" and "Alabama," nearly all the officers of the former were volunteers raised in the merchant service, then as fine a school of seamanship as any in the world; and under the training of their gallant and efficient first-lieutenant, Thornton, made a practice in gunnery that put to shame the firing of the English gunners that are said to have joined the " Alabama" from the English naval gunnery training-ship, the "Excellent." In this, perhaps, can be found the reason why Captain Semmes did not approve of them.

notwithstanding all the forts in the bay had surrendered and the Confederate There was not fleet had been captured. the slightest chance of arms, munitionsof - war, or provisions reaching the Confederate army through Mobile, and the enemy continued to hold it simply from the same sentiment that governed every other part of the South. Though the demoralization in the Confederacy was plainly apparent to those who had eyes to see, yet the majority could not be made to believe that the Confederates could be subjugated. They could not be made to understand that there was anything fatal, in a military point of view, in Sherman's memorable march, though they received daily news of his successful marchings, his occupation of At-

;

EEAB-ADMIRAL HENEV

Bay by RearAdmiral Thatcher and General Canby.

K.

THATCHEB.

Joint Operations in Mobile

After the capture of Wilmington, Com-

modore James the

command

S.

Palmer was relieved of West Gulf Squadron

of the

by Acting-Rear-Admiral H. K. Thatcher, an officer of great merit, who had shown good judgment and gallantry at Fort Fisher.

The moment Rear-Admiral Thatcher

ar-

rived at the scene of his command, he placed himself in communication with that gallant and efficient military commander. General Canby, and offered all the co-operation the Navy could give toward the capture of Mobile, which still held out.

lanta, Savannah, Columbia, and his advance to Goldsborough, driving before him an army quite equal in numbers to his own,

was joined by Generals Schofield and Terry with some thii-ty thousand troops, and causing the ablest generals of the Confederacy to fall back before his triumphant before he

legions. If the demoralization of the country could ever be brought to the surface, it was when General Joe Johnston was brought to bay at Smithsville, with Sherman's hardy veterans (that had marched through the South) confronting him, and tlie victorious troops of Schofield

and Terry, him in.

just

from Wilmington, hemming

OF THE Some of the most intelligent men in the Confederacy (though the most deluded) clung to the idea that it was a physical impossibility for the South to be subjugated by the troops

of the North. This impossiclearly stated by the Confederate Congress in an address to the Southern people as late as the winter of 1864-5 that the passage of hostile armies through the Southern country, though productive of cruel suffering to the people and great bility

was

;

pecuniary loss, gave an enemy no permanent advantage or foothold. To subjugate a country, its civil government must be suppressed by a continuing military force, or supplanted by another, to which the inhabitants would be obliged to yield obedience. They insisted that the passage of troops through their country could not produce any such result. Permanent garrisons would have to be stationed at a sufficient

number

of points to strangle all civil au-

CIVIL

WAR.

781

could prevent it any more than Lee could prevent destruction on his march to and from Gettysburg. The fact is, the Confederacy was in its last throes when Sherman started from Columbia, and the people of the South everywhere (owing to what the promoters of the rebellion called "the decay of public spirit") were getting impatient with the hardships of the war, having no longer any confidence in the ultimate results. Yet there were places, like Mobile, that had for a time flourished, owing to the constant flow of blockade-runners to their ports, and who knew but little of the sufferings of the war, and had never, in fact, been subjected to any hardships, determined to hold on to the last, even after Charleston fell. Ever since Admiral Farragut attempted and failed to reach the city of Mobile, the channel to which would not admit the Union vessels, that city had settled down to fancied security, no doubt

and overawe the people before it could be pretended by the Federal Government that its authority could be extended over the Southern States. They claimed that to subdue the South would require more soldiers than the United States could

waiting till Richmond should fall, and they could surrender with some show of determination to resist to the last. They did no harm to the Union, but their defiant

raise to garrison all the different points. In a geographical point of view, therefore,

sions.

thority

was

asserted that the conquest of the Confederate States was impracticable. The geographical point of view was decisive to those who fomented the war in the first place, who adopted this as their creed with which to delude their suffering people arid it

;

when Sherman was marching his irresistible army all through the South, they could see nothing in it but a harbinger of good to their cause though he had passed through ;

the country, they asserted that he had not conquered it, and had not been able to leave a single garrison on his way since he They argued that, even if he left Dalton. passed out of the Carolinas, he would be defeated then, and all the country he had passed through would be re-opened to the Confederate armies. All such sophistries might pass muster with the ignorant, and this appeal to the common hprd, no doubt,

had

its effect

;

but

it

was most absurd and

criminal, to say the least of it, for the promoters of this rebellion to try and delude those upon whom all the suffering fell, when they could see the handwriting on the wall as plainly as it was seen at the feast of Belshazzar. All the deluded people should have known that, as Sherman's army sped along, everything in the shape of a soldier left the side-points of defence and joined the fleeing mass in the front. There was no use leaving garrisons in the Wild rear, there was nothing to garrison. desolation and ruin are always left in the

attitude

was

offensive,

and Canby and

Thatcher determined to reduce their preten-

On the 8th of March, 1865, Rear- Admiral Thatcher received information from General Canby that there were indications that the enemy's forces in Mobile were about to evacuate their works, and had torn up some thirty miles of the Mobile and Montgomery railroad, in the neighborhood of Pollard, and were removing the material in the direction of Mongomery, and suggesting a reconnaissance in force. This Admiral Thatcher immediately undertook with the fiNQ Monitors he had at his disposal; and proceeding to reach a point in as close proximity to the city as the shallow water and the obstructions would permit, succeeded in drawing from the enemy a heavy fire, and demonstrated that the defences were intact and the Mobilians still determined on resistance. It was therefore determined by the two Federal commanders to make a combined attack on the works and city without delay, and on March 31st the landing commenced from the transports under cover from the gun-boats on the right bank of Fish River, at a point called Danley's Mills, about seventeen miles above its junction with Mobile Ba.y. The gun-boats kept shelling the woods from Point Clear to Blakely River bar, while the troops were landing, to clear the coast of the enemy's forces supposed to be lurking in that vicinity, and also to draw the fire of the enemy's batteries, should there be any erected between Point Clear and Spanish Fort. Numerous streams had

THE NAVAL HISTORY

782

the passage of artillery. The troops set to work, as soon as landed, to construct the bridges and to make tlieir advance, while the light-draft gun-boats kept open communications with the army along shore by boats or signals. General Granger had the immediate command of the Army, and this accomplished officer lost no time in pressing forward his troops. The first fruits of their labor was the fall of Spanish Fort and Fort Alexis, which surrendered on the 8th of April, 1865, after a heavy bombardment of ten hours from the Army and Navy. The Navy landed a battery of heavy guns under the command of Lieutenant-Commander G. H. Gillis, late of the "Milwaukee." General Canby commended the services of this battery higldy in the attack on these forts, which the Confederates regarded as the key to Mobile. Nearly two thousand prisoners and sixteen heavy guns, with ammunition in abundance, were taken in these works, while the enemy lost heavily in killed and wounded.

Apalache and Blakely Rivers were at once dragged by the sailors in boats, and sixteen large submerged torpedoes were taken up.

On

the 10th instant the "Octorara,"

Lieutenant

-

Commander W. W. Low, and

iron - clads were succesful, by the diligent exertions of Commander Pierce Crosby, of the " Metacomet," in clearing the rivers of torpedoes, in moving up nearly abreast of Spanish Fort. From this posi-

the

tion, Lieutenant-Commander Low, with his rifled gun, shelled forts Huger and Tracy with such effect that both forts were evacu-

ated on the 11th instant, and the naval forces took possession, capturing a few prisoners in the adjoining marshes. The sailors held then* position in these works till General Canby could garrison them with troops. On April 12th, Rear-Admiral Thatcher moved with the gun boats, convoying 8,000 men of General Granger's force to the west side of Mobile Bay, for the purpose of attacking Mobile. On their anchoring at the objective point, it was found that the Confederates had evacuated all their defences and retreated with their gun-boats up the Alabama River. The city of Mobile

was thereupon summoned to an immediate and unconditional surrender by Rear-Admiral Thatcher and General Granger (General Canby being at Blakely), on the ground that it was entirely at the mercy of the Federal forces, they being in possession of the outside forts. The officers sent to make the formal demand for the surrender of the city were met by the Mayor and other civil authorities at the City Hall, where the former addressed the following letter to the Federal commanders

mayor's office, \ City of Mobile, April 12, 1865. Gentlemen— I have the honor to acknowIedf<e the receipt of your communication at the hands of )

Lieutenant-Colonel R. G. Laughlin, of the staff of Major-General Granger, commanding Thirteenth Army Corps, and Lieutenant - Commander 8. R. Franklin, United States Navy, of the staff of Admiral Thatcher, demanding the immediate and unconditional surrender of this city. The city has been evacuated by the military authorities, and its municipal authority is now within my control. Your demand has been granted, and I trust, gentlemen, for the sake of humanity, all the safeguards which we can throw around our people will be secured to them. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. H.

Slough,

Mayor of the City of Mobile. Majob-General Gordon Granger, Commanding Thirteenth Army Corps. Acting-Rear-Admiral H. K. Thatcher, Commanding West Gtulf Squadron. The flag of the United States was then hoisted on the City Hall, and a portion of the troops immediately advanced to preserve order and prevent pillage. A provost guard was established, and the works around the city, which were of immense strength and extent, were garrisoned. Thus ended the contest with Mobile, which from the beginning of the war had enjoyed great immunity from battle and strife. It had been the medium through which millions of dollars worth of arms, provisions and clothing had reached the Confederate armies, and after defying the Federal forces unnecessarily when the war

was

virtually over,

it

was evacuated

in

a

panic before the Federal gun-boats had fired a shot into the city. While the Army was landing in front of Mobile, the "Octorara" and three river iron-clads worked their way up the Blakely River, and thence down the Tensas, and

anchored in front of the city. They were sent at once up the Tombigbee River" where the Confederate iron-clad " Nashville " and the gun-boat "Morgan" had fled. The two powerful rams, "Huntsville" and "Tuscaloosa," were sunk in the Spanish River before the place was evacuated. The naval forces were at once set to work clearing the main ship channel of torpedoes and obstructions, which proved to be a formidable task. While picking up torpedoes, the

"Ida" was blown up and destroyed, as well as a steam-launch belongtug-boat

ing to the " Cincinnati." The tug-boat "Althea"was destroyed by a torpedo in Blakely River, and the gun-boat "Sciota" was blown up while underway, running across the bay, in twelve feet of water, making the fifth vessel (with the " Milwaukee ") sunk by torpedoes since Admiral Thatcher's operations began against the city.

On May

4,

1865,

Rear- Admiral Thatcher

received written proposals from

Commo-

OF THE dore Ebenezer Farrand,

commanding

CIVIL WAR.

the

Confederate naval forces in Mobile waters, to surrender his ships, ofRcers, men and public property generally, and desiring a meeting with the Admiral to arrange the terms.

The two commanders met

at Cit-

a point about thirty - five miles above Mobile, and the surrender was agreed upon and accepted on the same basis and terms as were granted by General Grant to General Lee, by General Sherman to General J ohnston, and by General Canby to General Taylor, which last surrender ronelle,

was made at the same place and time. The day previous to the receipt of the proposal for surrender, Rear -Admiral Thatcher had made preparations for attacking the Confederate vessels in the Tombigbee, and the attack would have undoubtedly been made had Commodore Farrand delayed his surrender a day longer. As a matter of record, and as an interesting episode of the war, the conditions of the surrender are herewith inserted, with accompanying papers, which will be found to be interesting reading. It will be seen, on looking over the list of naval ofRcers who surrendered, how many familiar names of those who once belonged to the United States Navy are found in that list men who, after four years of hard work, found out how futile was the attempt to overturn a properly constituted and well-organized Government by a set of malcontents, who led away those whose true interests lay in supporting the Constitution and the flag to which they had sworn allegiance. They had no interest in supporting the political agitators who, for their own purposes and with no love of their Southern country, wanted to dissever themselves from the great union of States which alone made their country a great one. No doubt, when those who laid down their arms:, on that occasion look back and remember the fallacious hopes with which they were beguiled, and how little was done to make the condition better than it was in the United States, will, in their hearts, regret the day when they were

—

tempted by State's-rights fallacies to desert a flag whose march from the time of our first Revolution has been an onward one of glory and honor. Not a star of its galaxy had ever been dimmed until those whose duty it was to hold it aloft, beyond the reach of treason, undertook to trail it in the dust and trample it under their feet. It shines brighter after all it has gone through than ever it did before, as gold is brightened by being purified by fire. This was the last of the naval fighting of the war. The great fabric of the rebellion, with all its supports knocked away, toppled to the ground and all who ;

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no one should get on board the "Malvern " without full identification. The President himself felt a little nervous, and that night a marine kept guard at his state-room door. Next morning, at 10 o'clock, Mr. John A. Campbell, late Associate Justice of the Suof the United States, sent a request to be allowed to come on board with General Weitzel, to call on the President. He spent an hour on board, Mr. Lincoln and himself seeming to enjoy themselves very much, to judge from their laughter. After General Weitzel and Mr. Campbell had returned on shore, Admiral Porter

preme Court

went below, and the President said to him "Admiral, I am sorry you were not here when Mr. Campbell was on board. He has gone on shore happy. I gave him a writ:

ten permission to allow the State Legislature to convene in the Capitol in the absence The Admiral of all other governments." was astonished at this piece of information, and felt that this course would bring about complications. He found it all had been done by the persuasive tongue of Mr. Campbell, who had promised the President that, if the Legislature of Virginia could meet, it would vote the State right back into the Union, and cause all the Virginia troops to lay down their arms ; that it would be a delicate compliment paid to Virginia, and would be appreciated, etc.

General Weitzel agreed with Mr. Campbell, and the President was won over to agree to what would have been a most humiliating thing if it had been accomplished. When Mr. Lincoln informed the Admiral that General Weitzel had gone on shore with an order permitting the Legislature to meet, the Admiral reminded the President that the city of Richmond was under martial law, and that no civil authority could exercise any power without the sanction of the General commanding the Army. This order should go through General Grant,

who would doubtless protest against this arrangement with Mr. Campbell. The President remarked, " Weitzel made no objection, and he commands here." " That is because he is Mr. Campbell's particular friend," replied the Admiral, wished to gratify him."

"Run and

"and

stop them," said the President,

"^nd get my order back." To make things sure, the Admiral had an order signed by the President, and directed General Weitzel as follows: "Return my permission to the Legislature of Virginia to meet, and don't allow it to meet at An ambulance wagon was at the all." landing, and, giving the order to an officer, the Admiral said to him, " Jump into that wagon and kill the horse, if necessary, but catch the carriage which carried General to

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THE NAVAL

800

order to the General." The carriage was overtaken, the President's order was sent back, and no attempt was made to induce This the latter to reconsider his decision. was a clever scheme on the part of Mr. Justice Campbell to soothe the wounded feelings of the South, and no doubt was kindly meant, but it would have created a commotion in the North. About an hour after the departure of Mr. Campbell, a man dressed in gray homespun, with a huge rough stick in his hand, appeared at the landing and demanded to " I am Duff Green," he see the President. said; " I want to see Abraham Lincoln, and my business concerns myself alone. You that Duff Green tell Abraham Lincoln wants to see him." The officer of the deck delivered this message in the cabin, and the President said, "Let him come on board Duff is an old friend of mine, and I ;

would

with him." Mr. Duff Green passed over the side, he stood defiantly on deck, scowled at the flag, then turning to Admiral Porter, whom he knew very well, said " I want to "When you come see Abraham Lincoln." in a respectful manner," said the Admiral, "the President will see you; but throw away that cord of wood you have in your hand before entering the President's preslike to talk

When

:

ence." " How long is it," inquired Duff Green, " since Abraham Lincoln took to aping royalty ? Man clothed in a little brief authority cuts such fantastic capers before high heaven as make the angels weep. I expect airs from a naval officer, but not from a man with Abraham Lincoln's horse-sense." The Admiral thought, and still thinks,

man was

crazy but he made Mr. Green throw his stick overboard, which was done, with the remark: "Has it come to that? Is he afraid of assassination ? Tyrants generally get into that condition." The Admiral reported all this to the President, who remarked: " Let him come down; he always was a little queer I shan't mind him." When Mr. Green was shown into the cabin, the President arose and offered him " No," said Green, with a tragic his hand. air, " it is red with blood I can't touch it. When I knew it, it was an honest hand. It has cut the throats of thousands of my people, and their blood, which now lies soaking into the ground, cries aloud to heaven for vengeance. I came to see j'ou, not for old remembrance' sake, but to give you a piece of my opinion. You won't like it, but I don't care, for people don't generally like to have the truth told them. You have come

the

;

;

;

here, protected by your Army and Navy, to gloat over the ruin and desolation you have caused. You are a second Nero, and had

JtilSTUKY

you lived while

in his

day you would have fiddled

Rome was

burning." the fanatic commenced his tirade, Mr. Lincoln stood with outstretched hand, his mouth wreathed in a pleasant smile. He was pleased at meeting an old and esteemed friend. As Duff Green started on his talk, the outstretched hand was withdrawn, the smile left his lips and the softness in the President's eyes faded out. He

When

was another man

altogether.

Green went

on without noticing the change in the President's manner and appearance: "You came 'here," he continued " to triumph over a poor conquered town, with only women and children in it. whose soldiers have left it, and would rather starve than see your

—

hateful presence here those soldiers and only a handful at that who have for four years defied your paid mercenari3S on those glorious hills, and have taught you to respect the rights of the South. You have given your best blood to conquer them, and now ;

—

will march back to your demoralized Capitol and lay out your wits to win them over so that you can liold this Government in perpetuity. Shame on you Shame

you

!

" on Mr. Lincoln could stand it no longer, his hair stood on end and his nostrils dilated.

He

stretched out his arm until his lean forefinger almost touched Duff Green's face.

"Stop, you political tramp," he exclaimed; "you, the aider and abettor of those who have brought all this ruin upon your country, without the courage to risk your person in defence of the principles you profess to espouse A fellow who stood by to gather up the loaves and fishes, if any should fall !

to

you

A man who

!

had no

principles in

the North, and took none South with him political hyena, who robbed the graves of the dead and adopted their language as his own You talk of the North cutting the throats of the Southern people. You have all cut your own throats, and unfortunately have cut many of those of the North. Miserable impostor, vile intruder Go, before I forget myself and the high position I hold Go, I tell you, and don't desecrate this national vessel another minute !

A

!

!

!

!

This was something Mr. Duff Green had not calculated upon. His courage failed him, and he fled out of the cabin, never stopping until he reached the deck, where he stood looking at the shore, seemingly measuring the distance to see if he could swim to the landing. The Admiral followed close behind him. and said to the officer of the deck, "Put that man on shore, and if he appears in sight of this vessel while we are here, have him sent awav with scant

ceremony."

When

the Admiral returned to the cabin,

OF THE fifteen

minutes

later,

the

President

CIVIL WAR.

was

perfectly calm, as if nothing had happened, and did not refer to the subject for some " This place seems to give you hours. annoyance, sir," said the Admiral ; " would you prefer going to City Point, where we are more among friends than here?" "Yes," replied the President, " let us go. I seem to be putting my foot into it here all the time. Bless my soul how Seward would have preached and read Puffendorf, Vattel !

and Gfrotius to me, if he had been here when I gave Campbell permission to let the Legislature meet I'd never have heard the last of it. Seward is a small compendium of international law himself, and laughs at my horse - sense, which I pride myself on, and yet I put my foot into that thing about Campbell with my eyes wide open. If I were you. Admiral, I don't think I would repeat that joke yet awhile. People might laugh at you for knowing so m^ch more than the President." !

Several incorrect accounts of the President's visit to Richmond have from time to time appeared in print, for which reason we have inserted this narrative of Mr. Lincoln's proceedings. The President returned to Washington, and with the surrender of General Lee the war was virtually at an end so that the services of the Navy in the James River, with the exception of a few gun-boats, could be dispensed with. The latter were needed for police duty along the river and to pick up stragglers from the Confederate army. No one but an eye-witness could realize the great change in the aspect of Naval affairs that suddenly took place. vessels headed down stream towards Fort;

ress

Monroe, then to proceed to such

Navy

Yards as they might be ordered to. Army transports were hurrying to City Point to remove troops and stores as might be required. Officers no longer wore an anxious look, everywhere contentment reigned, for each one was pleased that the long struggle was over and there was a prospect of soon seeing a united country. Notwithstanding Rear- Admiral Semmes, in his Memoirs, dilates on the joy of the exchanged prisoners at once more saluting the Confederate flag waving on board his vessels, it is well known that the Confederate soldiers and sailors had for a year past been heartily tired of the war and that their armies were gradually becoming demoralized, as was evident from the great number of desertions, which reduced Lee's forces to such a small number at the surrender. Those who remained with their General to the end may be compared to the Old Guard of Napoleon. Yet even these ;

801

veterans were anxious to reach their homes, and every one who knew anything about the matter felt with Mr. Lincoln that it was well to give them their horses with which to plow their fields, and their nauskets to shoot the crows with, for which indulgence they would feel so grateful that they would probably never again raise their hands against the Government. Had it been necessary to equip an army for the purpose of driving the French from Mexico, the very troops that had fought so persistently against the Federal Government would have been the foremost to volunteer for the service, and would have been preferred for the duty, since it was well that such unsettled spirits should have had employment, and they would have had an opportunity to strike a blow for the old flag which would tend to make them faithful to it forever. It may, therefore, be considered a misfortune that the French made their exit from Mexico on the flrst demand of the

United States

Government, for

to

have

driven them out with a combined army of the blue and the gray would have contributed more to make our country united than all the arts of politicians. have several days appointed during the year for national observance July 4th, February 22d, etc. but there is one day which brought more happiness to the country than any other, which is the day when peace was established between the North and South, and the nation was once more restored to its entirety. There should be a national anniversary established to commemorate the return of peace the anniversary of the day when General Lee laid down his arms with the determination never to take them up again against the Union, in which he was followed by General Johnston and all the other generals of the Confederacy. Such a national anniversary should not be observed with any purpose of exulting over those who laid down their arms and returned to their allegiance, but simply to commemorate the return of peace and the union of the whole nation that union on which the prosperity of all the States depends. That would be a day in which every one could take part for he must be blind, indeed, who cannot see the innumerable blessings that have been poured upon our country. We join hands now over the resting-places of the gallant dead and strew flowers alike on the graves of the boys in blue and the boys in gray. Let there, be a common Anniversary, where all can clasp hands, and let that be the memorable day when the Confederacy laid down their arms.

We

—

—

—

—

;

CHAPTER

LV.

OPERATIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON IN THE LATTER PART OF 1864 AND IN 1865.

—

Acting Rear- Admiral S. P. Lee takes Command. Loss of the Tin-Clad " Undine." Burning of the Gun-boats " Tow ah," "Key West" and "Elfin." Operations, of the Army under General Thomas against General Hood. The Effective Work Performed by the Squadron in Conjunction with the Army. Destroying the Confederate Batteries on the Tennessee River. General George H. Thomas Compliments the Navy.— General Hood's Retreat and Losses. The Confederate Ram " Webb."— Gallantry of Lieutenant-Commander Fitch and HIS Men. End of the Confederate Navy in the Mississippi Region. Surrender OP Confederate Property at Shreveport. List of Vessels and Officers of the Mississippi Squadron, 1865.

—

—

—

—

-

-

S. P.

Lee,

Porter in

October, 1864, in the command of the Mississippi Squadron, was not fortunate on his arrival in the West. On the 4th of November, Admiral Lee reports the loss of the " tin-clad" gun-boat " Undine " in an engagement with the Confederates on the " Tennessee." The enemy had seven pieces of artillery against the gun-boat's four. On the 4th of November the light-draft gun-boats " Towah," "Key West" and " Elfin " had a severe engagement with the enemy, lasting several hours, when ActingVolunteer-Lieutenant E. M. King, finding it impossible to save the vessels, ordered them to be set on fire and abandoned. These gun-boats had previously recaptured and burned what was left of the " Undine" and also the transport "Venus." The latter and seven other transports were obliged to be destroyed to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. The commanding officers of these light gun-boats fought their vessels with great bravery, but they had been sent on duty that more properly belonged to iron-clads, and in contending against the enemy's (802)

—

—

—

—

ADMIRAL ACTINGwhoREAR followed Rear- Admiral

—

works their ardor eclipsed their judgment. In their desire not to dim the record of the Mississippi Squadron, these officers held their position longer than they should have done, by which eleven steamers, including transports, were given to the flames.

Lieutenant-Commander Le Roy Fitch, a most gallant officer, was in command of the 10th District, Mississippi Squadron, which included the vessels destroyed. Had. he been present, his good judgment would have led to a different result. Fitch arrived on the scene when the batteries of the gun-boats had been mostly disabled, and to have run the enemy's batteries to join the fun-boats would only have added to the isaster. So he witnessed the desperate engagement from below the enemy'sworks, and had time to reflect on the want of judgment displayed in sending such, frail

vessels

mounting

against

strong earth-works-

a narrow and sand-bars. Notwithstanding it had been evident from the commencement of the civil war that Tennessee was one of the prizes for which the Confederacy would contend, and rifled

field-pieces in

river full of shoals

in spite of all the trouble the Federal

Army

and Navy had incurred to get the State under subjection, it had again been abandoned

THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE tender mercies of the Confederate General Thomas, with a comparatively small force, was left to occupy the

to the

rangers.

whole State, so that when General Sherman defeated Hood, at Atlanta, the latter fell back upon Tennessee, and but for the gen-

and foresight of that sturdy old Roman, George H. Thomas, a great disaster would have overtaken the Union cause. The Confederate General, Forrest, had invested Johnsonville, and Hood's entire army was reported as moving on that place, eralship

the scene of the late destruction of the gunboats and transports. It is not likely that

Acting Rear- Admiral Lee had been apprised of the advance of Hood's army into Tennessee, as otherwise he would have sent

some iron-clads to that quarter, since the " tin-clads " were entirely too light to contend against the heavy batteries opposed to them.

Soon after these events, the "Carondelet"

was sent

to

Lieutenant-Commander

Fitch,

who, on the 3d of December, had pushed on up to Nashville in the expectation of cooperating with General Thomas against the advancing forces of Hood. The " Carondelet," Acting-Master Charles W. Miller,

was stationed to assist that portion of the army resting on the river, while the other vessels of Fitch's command were kept in readiness to move wherever they might be required. During the day, Lieutenant-Commander Fitch made constant trips up and down the river in the gun-boat "Moose," getting everything in readiness to cooperate with the Army to the best advantage.

At 9 p. M., Fitch received intelligence that the enemy's left wing had reached the river and planted batteries at Bell's Mill, four miles below Nashville by land, but, owing to the bends in the river, eighteen miles by water. It was learned that the en-

emy had captured two steamers, and, although the night was dark and a storm threatening. Fitch determined to recapture or destroy the vessels, so that the Confederates would derive no benefit therefrom. The squadron moved in the following

order: "Neosho," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant Samuel Howard; "Carondelet," Acting-Master Charles W. Miller; "Fair Play," Acting - Master Geo. J. Groves

"Moose," Lieutenant-Commander Le Roy

Fitch; " Reindeer," Acting-Volunteer-Lieu-

tenant H. A. Glassford; "Silver Lake," Acting-Master J. C. Coyle. Acting-Master Miller, in the "Carondelet," was directed to run below the enemy's lower batteries, giving them grape and canister as he passed, then round-to and fight the bat" Fair Play" teries heading up stream. The •r„r,r. +/^ f/^^l t,b(=> "Ca.rondelet"

CIVIL WAR.

803

was to follow the " Moose," and the " Silver Lake " was to bring up the rear. All these with the exception of the "Carondelet" and "Neosho," were light gun-boats, known in the vernacular of the Mississippi Squadron as "tin-clads." The vessels moved quietly down the river, with no lights visible, and were not seen by the enemy until the " Carondelet " opened fire on his lower battery and encampment. The Confederates sprang to arms, and volley after volley of musketry was poured into the Union vessels, while the shore batteries kept up a brisk fire. The gun-boats responded with equal rapidity, and. the narrow river was soon filled with smoke, which caused great confusion for a time, preventing the vessels from firing, while it was no hindrance to the enemy, who could see the position of the gunboats and kept up a galling fire upon them. The chances of the vessels coming in collision with each other, in the thick smoke,

vessels,

caused Lieutenant -Commander Fitch, ia his flag-ship, to back up the river past the upper batteries, as that portion of the stream was clear of the smoke. In performing this manoeuvre, the " Moose" was subjected to a severe fire from the enemy's but in a short time 20-pounder rifles ;

the fire of the "Moose" began to tell, and the enemy were driven from their guns by the shower of shrapnel. The "Reindeer," now coming to the assistance of the "Moose," the two vessels swept the field.

The

"Moose"

and

"Reindeer"

were

lashed side by side together, and kept up the engagement through the night. The enemy's fire was not well directed, most of their shots passing over the vessels. The latter, although a good deal cut up, were not in any way disabled, and there was no loss of life on board. At about midnight the enemy ceased firing, and in the morning were nowhere to The "Moose" then moved be seen. down the stream and met the "Carondelet" and " Fair Play," in company with the transports the enemy had captured the day The enemy had been driven out before. of these vessels before they had time to destroy them or to remove the forage and stores with which they were loaded. Tlie prisoners captured by the Confederates in the transports escaped from their guards and rejoined the vessels. This whole affair, like everything else undertaken by Lieutenant - Commander Although his Fitch, was well managed. command was not a large one, this young officer was often mentioned for gallant and efficient service, and he ever displayed

sound judgment, no matter in what position he was placed. His officers and men, in-

THE NAVAL HISTORY

804 their bravery. sels

The management of the

ves-

on the occasion we have just mentioned

required great judgment and coolness to avoid collision. The greatest width of the stream was seventy-five yards, and it was so filled with smoke that it was almost impossible to see anything. The little flotilla arrived in Nashville with the two recaptured transports, "Prairie State" and " PrimaDonna,'"'in tow, and also the " Magnet," which had been retaken from the enemy. The loss of the Confederates in their engagement with the gun-boats was afterwards found to be considerable. On the 4th of December the iron -clad steamer "ZSTeosho" had joined the flotilla of Lieutenant-Commander Fitch. She carried

two 11-inch smooth-bore guns and was

the outside of the "Neosho" was demolished, yet the little vessel maintained her position for

again under a raking

so furiously assailed did not hesito do. He ordered the pilot of the "Neosho" to proceed slowly,

moment what

while the enemy's fire was deliberately returned, until the vessels arrived abreast of the lower battery. Fitch then rounded-to and fought with his vessel's head up stream using grape and canister, while the "Neosho" was receiving the concentrated fire of all the enemy's batteries. Lieutenant - Commander Fitch's position was the only one from which he could bring his guns to bear upon the different batteries, owing to the manner in which they were sheltered behind the spurs of hills. He had also great faith in the " Neosho," which had been built to defy the enemy's field batteries. She was now in a position to test her strength and to allow her to use grape and canister at a distance of thirty 3^ards. The enemy kept up a terrific cross-fire,

and

their sliot

and

shell rattled

against ever}^ part of the vessel but the deliberate and accurate fire of the gunboat soon drove back the sharp-shooters and infantry, although the artillery, being strongly posted on the high blufiis with a ;

plunging

fire,

was found more

difficult to

silence.

In a short time everything perishable on

the'

under convoy of the "Fair Play" and "Silver Lake." But Fitch was not to be balked by the Confederate batteries as long as his am-

He set all hands to work lasted. away the debris, and then proceeded down the river to his old position,

to clear

and when

and gained

ville

munition

tate a

fire,

Finding it would of transports. be inipossible to get the transports below the batteries, without having them cut to pieces. Fitch sent them back to Nash-

teries.

with the " Neosho " and some of the lighter gun-boats of his command, together with a number of army transports. When nearly abreast of the scene of the encounter of the 3d inst., a large force of Confederates was discovered advantageously posted to dispute the passage of the vessels. Fourteen pieces of artillery at once opened on the gun -boats, accompanied by heavy volleys of musketry from rifle-pits. Fitch, with his usual judgment, had left the transports three miles in the rear under charge of Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant Glassf ord,

half, until,

convoy

well protected against shots from field bat-

On the 9th of December LieutenantCommander Fitch started down the river

two hours and a

finding that the enemy's shells were cutting away the " fair-weather pilot-house," and letting it down so that it would hide the " fighting pilot - house," and thus obstruct the sight of the commanding officer and pilot, Fitch, steamed up the river

taking with him the " Carondelet," a vessel which had withstood the tempest of shot and shell from Forts Henry. Donelson, Vicksburg and Grand Gulf. Having secured the "Carondelet" to the bank above the enemy's batteries, with orders not to open fire until after the "Neosho" should engage, Fitch, in the latter vessel, proceeded below the Confederate batteries, rounded-to, and opened as before. As on the former occasion, the enemy opened also, but this time they got the worst of it, the " Carondelet," with her heavy guns, dealing destruction right and left. Two of the enemy's pieces were soon dismounted, and by dark all but two of

them were silenced. These were fired as the "Neosho" proceeded up stream, there being nothing more for her to do. This event is mentioned as an exhibition of pertinacity and courage seldom equalled. The gallant Fitch never shrunk from the performance of any duty however hazardous. He was always under fire whenever opportunity offered, not owing to chance circumstances, to which sluggards often attribute a man's reputation for heroism, but to a determined will. This gallant officer gained little promotion for his war services, and his highest recognition was a complimentary letter from the Secretary of the

Navy on

the occasion when he brought about the capture of General John Morgan, the celebrated Confederate partisan leader. In the engagement with the Confederate batteries, the "Neosho" was struck one hundred and ten times with shot and shell, ranging in size from 50 to 30 pounders, but she received no injury that would have prevented her frona going into battle immediately afterwards.

From

the 7th to the 15th of December,

1864, Lieutenant-Commander Fitch's little flotilla was most active in co-operating with

OF THE the Army, making reconnoissances and attacks on Confederate batteries whenever they showed themselves along the river, On the 14th inst., ITitch was requested to co-operate with the Army in order to capture some artillery. By a very skillful manoeuvre on the part of the Army and Kavy, a battery of four guns was captured, While the Navy were advancing in front, the cavalry surrounded and captured the battery. In the afternoon the same tactics were successful against- another battery of four guns, which fell into the hands of the Federal cavalry. The loss of these guns was a severe blow to General Hood at that

moment,

for he

was

deficient in artillery

CIVIL WAR.

805

The efficient co-operation of the Navy on the Tennessee River, in fact, contributed largely to the demoralization of General Hood's forces, as the gun-boats chased the Confederates along the banks and gave them no rest. For thirtv days and nights the officers of the gun-boats had very little rest, such was their zeal in their effort to defeat Hood's army, which had come so far to be beaten, and was never again able to make headwav against the Federal forces, In this important campaign the following was achieved by the Federal army Fourteen thousand Confederates killed, wounded, and prisoners, including nineteen general officers, seventy guns captured, over three thousand stand of arms taken, twenty ammunition wagons, and a great quantity of ammunition. The only reason that prevented the capture of the whole Confederate army was the wretched condition of the roads, which prevented any rapid pursuit. The Confederates were also greatly aided by the water falling in the river, preventing the gun-boats from reaching Muscle Shoals, the point were Hood crossed the Tennessee. All along the river, where the vessels of the Navy could penetrate, the destruction of pontoons and ferry fiats was immense, so that the main body of the Confederate Army was forced to push on to the Shoals before they could cross the Tennessee. This destruction extended from twelve miles below Florence for a distance of one hundred and seventy-five miles, and enabled the Federal troops to cut off large portions of Hood's demoralized army, and filled the woods :

with Confederate stragglers.

Anything which bears the signature of glorious hero. General George H. Thomas, will ever be interesting, and a compliment from him paid to the Navy will

that !i

be appreciated. General Thomas immediately telegraphed to Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee the result of his operations against General Hood, and expressed his thanks for the aid the Army had received from the naval flotilla on the Tennessee :

SURGEON NINIAN PINKNEY, FLEET SURGEON,

MISSISSIPPI

United States Military Telegraph, Paducah, Kentucky, Dec. 30, 1864

SQUADRON.

In this expedition the Federals found themselves, on the 15th inst., in possession of the field.

Throughout the long and harassing operations which followed the invasion of Hood into Tennessee, the Navy co-operated most zealously with the Army, patrolling the river, destroying Hood's pontoons, and conveying troops from point to point in the gun-boats in the absence of other means of transportation. In this way General A. J. Smith, that gallant officer of the Red River expedition, was enabled to effect a secure

\ (

[By telegraph from Headquarters Department Cumberland, Pulaski, Dec. 29, 186i.] Sir— Your two telegrams have been received. We have been pressing the worii as hard as tho condition of the roads would permit, and have sucprobably ceeded in taking some few prisoners some five or six hundred— since the enemy crossed Duck River. From the best information I have at this time, Hood's losses since he invaded the State of Ten-

—

nessee

sum up

as follows

:

Six

(6)

general oflBcers

wounded and one (1) taken prisoner at Frankhn—thirteen in all, and about six thousand (6,000) men killed, wounded and taken prisoners at same battle. On the 8th instant, at Murfreesboro', he had one (1) general officer wounded, about one thousand (1 000) men killed, and two hundred and killed, six (6)

THE NAVAL HISTORY

806

In the battles of the 1st and 16th instant, before Nashville, he had one (1) lieutenant-general severely wounded, one (1) major-general and three (3) brigadier-generals, with four thousand four hundred and sixty-two (4 462) officers and men made prisoners, besides losing fifty-three (53) pieces of artillery and over three thousand (3,000) stand of small-arms.

artillery.

During his retreat we have captured fifteen (15) more guns, and from fifteen hundred (1,500) to two thousand (3,000) prisoners, and a large number of sinafl-arms have been picked up by the way. Citizens report that he passed this place with his army completely disorganized, except the rear - guard,

composed of about five thousand (5,000) men. He destroyed a considerable quantity of ammunition at this place, besides abandoning an ammunition-train of fifteen U5 or twenty (20 wagons about a mile beyond. Your official co-operation on the Tennessee )

1

River has contributed largely to the demoralization of Hood's army.

Major-General A. J. Smith, commanding detachof the Army of the Tennessee, will probably reach Clifton by Sunday next, January 1, 1865, where transports are expected to meet him to take

ment

command to Eastport. Please afford him every assistance in your power in effecting a secure lodgment at Eastport and as I consider the " Cumberland " now entirely safe, I will be obliged to you if you will have a strong force kept in the "Tennessee " to keep open navigation on that river. In concluding this telegram, it gives me great pleasure to tender to you, your offihis

;

cers

and men,

my hearty

co-operation during the thirty days.

thanks for your cordial operations of the past G. H.

Thomas,

Major-Qeneral.

Rbab-Admibal 8. P. Lbb, Commanding Mississippi

Hqiiadron, Chicka-

saw, Alabama.

These were about the last important events in the history of the Mississippi Squadron, as the war was now drawing rapidly to a close. The retreat of Hood left the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers comparatively free from Confederates, and there was little prospect of another invasion of the State while G-eneral Thomas remained in command. The vessels of the Mississippi Squadron were scattered along the great river, where the guerillas still carried on their operations on a small scale. Very little occurred that could embellish the pages of history. The Red River region was revisited, the Washita and Black Rivers patrolled, and every precaution taken to guard those inland waters. At this time the Confederate ram " Webb " succeeded in making her way past all the vessels of the fleet and reached a point twenty-five miles below New Orleans, where she was destroyed, as we have heretofore mentioned. This episode created quite an excitement in the fleet for the time, but it appears that no one was to blame for the "Webb" getting so far down the river unharmed. The dash of the " Webb was the last affair of the expiring Confederate Navy, and the last attempt to carry out a valuable cargo of cotton and naval stores which, had it been left on the ;

levee at Shreveport, La., a few days longer, could have been shipped to New Orleans, openly insuring the owners a good profit. The Confederate naval officer in command at Shreveport, Lieutenant J. H. Carter, notified the U. S. naval authorities at the mouth of Red River that he was ready to surrender to the United States Government all the property in his possession, consisting of one useless iron-clad and a quantity of naval stores. Twenty -four. officers and eighteen men surrendered themselves and were paroled, and that was the last of the Confederate Navy in the Mississippi region.

When Lieutenant - Commander W. E. Fitzhugh proceeded to Shreveport to take possession of the Confederate naval property at that place, he was received in a friendly manner, and all seemed anxious that he should secure everything that had belonged to the Confederate Government. Above Alexandria, the few ravages made by the invasion of General Banks' army had been obliterated, and the people were living quietly on their farms, although deprived of many comforts to which they had They were delighted been accustomed. and in their hearts, no doubt, welcomed the Union flag as an old and well-tried friend. They saw in the Union gun-boats the symbols of lawful authority, that would respect the rights of citizens and punish law-breakers; and so conscious were the civil authorities on Red River that it was necessary to have within at the return of peace,

reach the strong arm of power, that they requested a sufficient naval force should be stationed in their vicinity to overawe the malcontents, if there should be any, and assure those anxious to return to their allegiance that they should receive protection.

As a rule, however, the people of Louisiana were only too glad to lay down their arms and return to the pursuits of peace. Many of them had seen, from the time when the Navy obtained possession of the Mississippi and its tributaries, that it would be useless to contend against the power of the North. It is true that the Confederate forces in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas showed an indomitable spirit in resisting the advance of the Federal armies, j^et they received a sufficient number of checks to convince them that the subjugation of the \yhole country was merely a question of time. fact, which has been little comon, that at least three hundred and fifty thousand soldiers from the slave States fought on the side of the Union, and, It is

a

mented

had Texas and Western Louisiana been securely held, there would have been a

number

of

recruits

tained for the Federal

in

that

Army.

quarter ob-

OF THE

MISSISSIPPI

CIVIL WAR.

807

SQUADRON, JANUARY,

Acting Rear-Admieal, Samuel

1865.

Lee, Commanding.

P.

Staff—LiEUTBNANT-CoMMANDEB

C. A. Babcock, Acting-Fleet-Captain Lieutenant F. J. Naile, Flag-Lieutenant Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, William G. Saltonstall Fleet-SubGEOK, NiNIAN PiNKNEY FLEBT-PATMASTEB, ElISHA W. DUNN FLEET-BNGINEER, SAMUEL BiCKerstaff; Acting-Master, C. R. Knowles Acting Ensigns, Wm. R. Cooper and C. C. Gushing. ;

;

;

;

;

;

" ESSEX

"

—FOUKTH-BATB.

Commander, Andrew Bryson; Acting-VolunteerLieutenant, J. C. Parker; Acting- Ensigns, Spencer Johnson, E. M. Wood and J. H. Barry ActingMaster's Mates, J. A. Whitesides and R. D. Punch; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Thomas Allan; ActingAssistant Paymaster, Chas. W. Slamm; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Joseph K. Heap; Acting-First- Assistant, J. L. Hilliard; Acting-Second-Assistants, E. P. Spragueand C. H. Burt; Acting-Third-Assistant, Ifieholas Sauer; Gunner, Charles Earnshaw; Actingdarpenter, Geo. H. Stevens. BENTON -POTJKTH-BATE. Lieutenant-Commander, E. Y. McCauley; ActingMaster, W. J. Lees; Acting-Ensigns, P. H. Randolph and P. Frazer, Jr. Acting-Master's Mates, William Kisnei, Hiram Simonton, A. T. Bisel, R. L. Evans And Henry Clifton Assistant Surgeon, C. J. S. Wells Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. J. Lowndes; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Joseph V. Starr; ActiugFirst-Assistants, H. W. Fairfowl and S. L. Walkin;shaw; Acting-Second Assistants, Oliver Bray, A. A. JenkS and B. A. Farmer; Acting-Third -Assistant, William Hatfield; Acting-Carpenter, Richard Ratch;

'

;

;

;

ford.

"

MANHATTAN "—FOUKTH-RATE.

Lieutenant-Commander, Edw. C. Grafton; Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Robert B. Flv; ActingEnsigns, G. B. Mott, J. B. Trott, C. H. Sinclair and J. L. Harris; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, H. W. Mitchell Acting - Assistant Paymaster, H. G. Thayer; Engineers: Acting-Chief, C. L. Carty; Aoting-Second-Assistants, W. H. Miller, J. B. Ferrand ;

And Thomas

Finnie.

"CHOCTAW

Baker, A. S. Ludlow, D. A. Boies, A. H. Ahrens and Jay Nyman Passed-Assistant-Surgeon, Michael ;

Bradley; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Kirkendall; Second Lieutenant of Marines, P. L. Church; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Geo. W. Walker; ActingFirst - Assistant, O. G. Richey Acting - SecondAssistant, C. B. Adams Acting-Third Assistants, W. B. Richey and J. W. CasseU Gunner, John R. Halt; Acting-Carpenter, Noah Dean. " sybil" FOURTH-RATE. Lieutenant-Commander, John G. Mitchell; Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. W. Atkinson; ActingEnsigns, John McCleane and Wm. Hammett, Jr.; Acting-Master'sMates, J. R. Hugle, H. B. Sprague, W. H. Smith and W. W. Rumsey; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, H. A. Bodman; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, T. B. Reed Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, Samuel Tubbs; Acting - Second - Assistant, F. G. Seavey Acting-Third- Assistant, W. M. Piercy. " NEOSHO"— FOURTH-RATE. ;

-

;

;

—

:

;

;

Lieutenant-Commander, Robert Boyd, Jr.; Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Samuel Howard; ActingMaster, E. F. Brooks; Acting -Ensigns, James Downs and W. P. Higbee; Acting-Master's Mates, C. C. Royce and C. T. Rees; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, M. A. Miller Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. H. Byrm; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Wm. MUls; Acting -First- Assistant, W. C. Sanford; Acting-Second-Assistant, J. S. Miles; Acting- Third- Assistants, J. F. Humphrey, W. H. Dunning and M. C. Noland, Acting- Gunner, W. T. Devlan. " LOUISVILLE FOURTH-BATE. Lieutenant-Commander, George Bacon ActingMaster, H. D. Cofianberry; Acting-Ensigns, R. H. Langslands, Geo. V. Mead and Chas. Smith; ActingMaster's Mates, J. J. Drew,W. H. English and J. T. Hensley; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. R. Semans; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Isham J. Hardy; ActingFirst- Assistant, C. W. Reynolds Acting- SecondAssistant, C. F. Degelman; Acting-Third-Assistant, L. A. Salade Acting-Carpenter, James McKuen. ;

''

—

;

''

— THIRD-RATE.

Lieutenant-Commander, J. J. Cornwell ActingEzra C. Beaman; Acting-Ensigns, M. B. Jiluncy and H. C. Marsh; Acting-Master's Mates, A. V. Forgey, E. F. Crane and James Stoddard; Assistant Surgeon, Edw. Kershner Acting- Assistant Paymaster, E. jS^. Whitehouse; Engineers: Acting-Chief, N. P. Baldwin; Acting-First-Assistants, C. E. Arbuthnot and J. Blake; Acting-Second Assistants, J. F. Stone and H. G. Moreland; ActingThird Assistant, S. C. Babbitt Acting-Carpenter, ;

IMaster,

•

;

John

A. Stuart. 'LAFAYETTE' -FOURTH-BATE. Lieutenant-Commander, James P Foster; Acting-Masters, J. R. Neeld, F. G. Sampson and J. H. Welsh; Acting-Ensigns, Paul Morgan and C. H. Slocum; Acting-Master's Mates, S. O. Lovell, Wm. E. Atkins and Edw. C. Eraley; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, D. Haj^den; Acting-Assistant- Pay master, J. P. K.elly; Engineers: Acting-Chief. Robert Tate; Acting-Second-Assistants, James Wilkins, J. W. Paul and E. H. Kidd; Aeting-Third-Assistant, A. A J6hnson Acting-Gunner, Geo. Price Acting-Carpenter, J, W. Lister. "BLACK hawk'' THIED-RATB. Lieutenant-Commander, James A. Greer; Acting Masters, Edw. Alford and Henry Baker Acting Ensigns, C. A. Calvert, R. T. Howell, J. A. Jones, J. O. ;

;

—

;

;

;

-FOURTH RATE. Lieutenant-Commander, Edward P. Lull ActingMaster, C.W. Adams; Acting-Ensigns, W.W. Duley, 'TENNESSEE

;

A. A. Ward and J. J. P. Zettiok; Acting-Master's Mates, Henry Wyman, Thos. Kennedy and J. Canaday Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Jones ActingAssistant Paymaster, P. H. Tawo Engineers Act;

;

:

;

ing-First-Assistants, W. C. Perry and Chas. Chadwick; Second- Assistant, F. C. Goodwin; ActingSecond-Assistant, B. D. Mulligan; Acting-Third -Assistants,

W.

J.

Mack and

D.

S. Clarke.

'

MOOSE"— FOURTH-RATE. Lieutenant - Commander, LeRoy Pitch ActingMaster, W. C. Coulson; Acting- Ensigns, John Revell, D. B. Dudley and Isaac Wiltse; Acting - Master's Mates, Daniel Molony, O. W. Miles and W. S. Hol;

den; Assistant Surgeon,

W. M.

Reber; Acting- As-

sistant Paymaster, Jas. W. Clark; Engineers: Acting-Chief, D. McFarland; Acting-First-Assistant, Thos. N. Hall; Acting-Second-Assistant, Chas.

Wm.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

808

" ODIOHITA"— POTJETH-EATB. Lieutenant - Commander Byron Wilson; ActingMaster, Eugene Zimmerman- Acting-Ensigns, M. M. Wheeler, R. T. Lamport and J. W. Adams; ActingMaster's Mates, Rivers DraKe, E. P. Marshall, A.W. Widup, S. A. Park and J. H. Moss Acting-Asistant Surgeon, Geo. E. Francis; Acting Assistant Paymaster, J. R. Meeker; Engineers: Acting - Chief, Thos. Hebron; Acting - First - Assistants, John 8. Moore; Acting-Second-Assistants, G. T. Wilson and A. H. Tyler; Acting-Third-Assistants, Thos. Reed and F. A. Morse; Acting-Carpenter, Richard Nisbet.

kins; Acting-Second-Assistant, C. C. Streepey; Acting-Third-Assistant, B. F. Graham. '

;

GENERAL BDENSIDE "— FOtTETH-EATB. Morean Forrest Acting - Ensigns, David Putman; Acting- Master's Mates, Roddie Reynolds, Francis McGlincey, W. C. Mudge, Louis Hartlet, Hans Trulsen and Edw. McGaughey Act;

—

;

ing-Assistant Surgeon, R. J. Curtis; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Geo. I). Rand; Engineers; ActingFirst-Assistant, Benj. Chester; Acting- Second- Assistant, Wm. W. Smith; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. G. Burkley and Jos. Walter. '

'

OSAGE

"

—rOUBTH-EATE.

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, George W. Rogers; Acting-Master, Wm. S. Pease; Acting-Ensigns, W. J. Durney and Arthur O'Leary Acting-Master's Mates, John C. Winslow and R. W. Rogers; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. R. Bowler; Engineers: AotingCliief, Thos. Doughty; Acting-First- Assistant, R.J. Stone; Acting-Second-Assistants, W. C. Gabbrith ;

and Wm. Grant; Acting -Third - Assistants, Burke and J. M. Wilson; Acting-Carpenter,

Wm.

C. C.

Gilliland.

" OAEONDELET "— FOUKTH-RATE. Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant, Chas. P. Clark;

Acting-Master, C. W. Miller; Acting-Ensigns, Oliver Donaldson, S. D. Jordan and T. A. Quinn- ActingMaster's Mates, L. W. Hastings, W. H. H. DeGroot, Geo. F. Bean, Wm. J. Fraks and W. D. McKean, Jr.; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, D. Curtis; ActingAssistant Paymaster, G. W. Robertson; Engineers Acting-Chief, Chas. H. Caven; Acting-Second-Assistants, Michael Norton and W. S. Barlow; ActingThird-Assistants, John McWilliams and Thomas Mattingly; Acting-Carpenter, Geo. W. Kenny. :

' •

CHIIiIiIOOTHE "- -FOUKTH-RATE.

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Geo. P. Lord; Acting-Master, J. M. Holmes; Acting-Ensigns J. D. Buckley, H. A. Hannon, H. Shoemaker and R. H. Day; Acting-Master's Mates, W. S. Thomas, James Harrington and JohnH. Ely: Acting- Assistant Surgeon, G. C. Osgood; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Hathaway; Engineers Acting-Chief, A. W. Hardy; Acting-First- Assistant, Chas. Trotter; Acting-Second-Assistants, J. W. Hymen alid Anthony Lane; Acting-Third-Assistant, J. W. Ferrell; Acting-Gunner, Wm. E. Keyes; Acting-Carpenter, J. H. Fink. AVENGER " rOTJETH-RATE. Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Charles A. Wright; Acting-Ensigns, John Gregg, J. H. Neely and John Maloney; Acting - Master s Mates, Henry Walters, J. D. Moore and B. W. Perry; Acting Assistant Surgeon, J. H. Moses; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. W. Van Cleve, Jr.; Engineers: Acting - Chief, John G. Scott; Acting-First-Assistant, J. A. Burns; Acting-Second-Assistant, 8. S. Patterson; ActingThird- Assistants, Wm. Jayne and Thomas McGarrity Acting-Carpenter, Benj. H. Brink. :

'

'

—

;

"

EXCHANGE

"

-FOUETH-RATE.

'

:

"

Lieutenant,

PITTSBURGH

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant -Commander, Wm. R. Hoel; Acting-Master, S. B. Coleman; Acting-Ensigns, James Ovatt and Freeman Vincent; ActingMaster's Mates, John Scott, C. B. Jones and F. M. McCord: Acting-Assistant Surgeon, F. M. Follett, Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Charles H. Gould; Engineers Acting-Chief, Geo. H. Atkinson; ActingPu'st- Assistant, E. R. Pavy; Acting-Second-Assistants, W. H. Mitchell and Robert Milby; ActingGunner, P. C. Green; Acting-Carpenter, Wm. C. Boggs. " EEIKDEEE " FOUETH-RATB.

—FOUETH-KATE.

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, James C. Gipson; Acting-Ensigns, C. L. Meany and R. W. Brown; Acting-Master's Mates. G. T. Miller, B. F. Saunders and J. W. Clawson; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, E. M. Goodwin; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, D. Davis, Jr.; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, A. G. Per-

Acting-Volunteer - Lieutenant, H. A. Glassford Acting-Master, JohnH. Rice; Acting-Ensigns, C.W^ Spooner and 'T. M. Lewis Acting - Master's Mates, G. S. Upton, E. Gasaway and W. H. Burton; Act ing-Assistant Surgeon, F. A. Jordan; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. W. Barry; Engineers ActingFirst-Assistant, A. H. Bagby; Acting Second-Assistant, N, Conner; Acting-Third-Assistant, G. M. ;

:

Hayman. TAYLOR "

—

FOURTH-RATE. Lieutenant, Fred'k S. Hill; Acting- Masters, W. T. Power and Charles Ackley; Acting-Ensigns, J. W. Lalor and W. H. C. Michael; Acting- Master s Mates, W. P. Eakle and H. S. Allen; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Saml Mendenhall; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Geo. H. Holt; Engineers Acting-Chief, James Fleming; ActingFirst-Assistant, J. R. Ramsey; Acting-Second-ASsistants, Wm. Furck and Philip Sheridan; Acting'

'

Acting Volunteer

-

-

:

Third - Assistants, Walter Mossington and S. H. Lancaster; Acting-Carpenter, J. M. Peabody. TINDICATOE -THIED-EATE. Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Henry H. Gorringe; '

Acting-Masters, J. F. Reed and D. P. Slattery; Acting-Ensigns, W. Zimmerman, B. C. Wheeler and J. W. Foster; Acting- Master's Mates, L. C. Ball,. John Davis, Lewis Lehman, Henry Kane and A. A. King; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, C. E. Vaughn; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. W. Hanson; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Thomas Cook; Acting-SecondAssistants, Chas. Tistandt, Anthony Courtway and James O'Neil Acting -Third- Assistants, S. H. Brogan, Andrew Lusk and John Link; Acting-Gunner» Wm. H. Barton; Acting-Carpenter, James Trulty. " HASTINGS " FOURTH-EATE. ;

—

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. S. Watson; Acting-Master, Wm. Neil; Acting-Ensigns, C. H. Reed and Jas. McDonald Acting- Master's Mates, E. C. Urner and W. H. Gray Assistant Surgeon, James M. Flint; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, P. J. Stone, Jr.; Engineers: Aeting-First-Assistant, H. L. Juce; Acting-Second-Assistants, Edwin Senior and Andrew Wilson Acting-Third- Assistants, A. M. Wasson and Geo. W. Amsden. ;

;

;

"FOREST EOSE "— FOUETH-BATE. Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, A. N. Gould ; Acting-Ensigns, H. B. Graves, C. W. Johnston and Geo. G. Cox Acting-Master's Mates, Ira Athearn. C. W. Crooker and J. M. Stewart; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, R. Cadwallader Acting-Assistant Paymaster, A. J. Myers; Engineers: Acting - FirstAssistant, Francis Marsh Acting-Second-Assistant, Joseph Kennedy; Acting-Third- Assistant, Silas ;

;

;

Huskey.

—

" ST. CLAIE " FOUETH-EATE. Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, James S. French; Acting-Ensigns, Joseph Sawyer, W. A. Burchard and H. O. Proctor; Acting -Master's Mates, W. S. Culbertson. James Reid and W. T. Ross ActingAssistant Paymaster, E. H. Johnson; Engineers: ;

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

Acting-First- Assistant, Wm. McLean Acting-Second-Assistant, Edward Lozier; Acting-Tliird-Assist;

ant, Mieliael J. Soden.

" IiEXIN»TON" — POUBTH-RATE. Acting -Volunteer • Lieutenant, William Flye Acting Ensigns, Henry Booby, J. G. Megler, Acting - MasC. C. Briggs and .Howard Hale ter's Mates, O. W. Botten and Ezra McDunn Acting - Assistant Surgeon, H. M. Mixer ActingAssistant PaA^niaster, T. Doane; Engineers: ActingChief, W. H. Meredith Acting - First - Assistant, A. L. Mann Acting - Second - Assistant, Reuben Story; Acting -Third -Assistants, Jacob Vittinger and Wm. T. Neal; Acting-Gunner, Louis Frederick; •

-

;

;

;

;

Acting-Carpenter, R. Can-oil.

CINCINNATI -FOURTH-BATB. Acting- Volunteer-Lieu tenant, Jason Goudy; Acting-Master, J. B. Williams; Acting-Ensigns, Walter Pinner and S. J. Benight Acting-Master's Mates, J. G. Abbott, A. B. Allen and J. B. A. Conant; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, E. Dayton Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. R. Carmody Engineers ActingChief, J. W. Hartuper Acting-First- Assistant, E. D. CoUett Acting Second - Assistants, T. Guernsey and G. W. Dean Acting- Third-Assistants, Andrew Bolandand John Henry; Acting-Gunner,L. K. Ellis; Acting-Carpenter, John Cronan. " NATJMKBAG"— rOTJRTH-RATE. '

;

;

:

;

809

jack; Acting-Second-Assistant, T. M. Sloan; ActingThird- Assistant, G. W. Marfleld Acting-Carpenter, m. Reid. ;

—

" JULIBT" POUBTH-EATB. Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Thos. B. Gregory Acting - Ensign, E. C.Williams; Acting - Master's Mates, G. A. Gregory, J. 8. McCoy, G. W. Ball and W. M. Mullen Actmg - Assistant Surgeon, W. W. Wentworth Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. Linsly, Jr., Engineers: Acting -First- Assistant, W. H. Hardin Acting - Second - Assistant, J. G. Briggs Acting-Third-Assistant, Thomas Hanna. " KENWOOD " POUETH BATE.

;

;

;

;

;

—

Volunteer - Lieutenant, John Swaney Acting-Ensigns, J. C. Weeks, J. L. Reed and ISf. H. Conklin; Acting- Master's Mates, M. M. Yorstonand W. R. Moffatt Acting-Assistant Paymaster, D. W. Van Houten Engineers Aoting-First-Assistant, T. J. Mallon Acting - Second - Assistant, W. J. Milligan Acting-Third- Assistant, J. H. Holman. " INDIANOliA "—POUBTH-EATB. Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, James Lanning.

Acting

-

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

" GENEEAL

-

;

;

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, John Rogers Acting-Ensigns, Thos. Cadwell; Acting-Master s Mates, Alex. Procter, H. R. Ferris and J. P. Popejoy; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Edgar L. R. Draper; ActingAssistant-Paymaster, Henry B. Mears Engineers Aoting-First-Assistant, Edward Cage Acting-Second - Assistant, J. A. McCormick Acting - ThirdAssistant, J. R. Byland. ;

;

;

;

;

:

;

"GENEEAL PEICE"— POUBTH-BATE.

;

;

"POET HINDMAN "—FOURTH-BATE. Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, John Pearoe Acting - Master, J. J. Rogers Acting - Ensigns, N. T. Rennell and Chas. Marsden Acting- Master's Mates, C. F. A. McCord, S. N. Barker and E. C. Ellis Acting-Assistant Surgeon, N. L. Gerould ActingAssistant Paymaster, J. R. Bowler Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, Thos. Girty; Acting-SecondAssistant, John Coock Acting-Third-Assistants, D. B. Cox, Eli Powell and R. Yocum. " BEILIiIANT " - POrBTH-EATE. ;

;

;

;

;

Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, W. R. Wells Acting-Master, H. E. Bartlett Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Leever and D. P. Bosworth, Jr.; Acting- Master's Mates, D. McKay, P. Barclay and W.W. McCracker; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Geo. Harvey ActingAssistant Paymaster, T. F. Croft Engineers Acting-Chief, Thos. Sheffer Acting -First -Assistant, A. R. Calhoun; Acting-Second-Assistant, A. CampActing-Third-Assistants, J. B. Baldwin and bell R. A. Hyle Acting-Carpenter, W. C. Stiver. ;

;

;

;

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, Chas. G. Perkins Acting-Master, G. D. Little Acting-Ensign, N. F. Vaughan; Acting-Master's Mate, C. D. Griggs Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Milton James ActingAssistant Paymaster, B. Page Engineers ActingFirst - Assistant, W. E. Willey Acting - SecondAssistant, Jas. Cutler; Acting-Third- Assistant, C. W. Egster and R. M. Myers. ;

;

;

;

;

;

" PAW-PAW "

;

OZAEK" — POUBTH-EATB.

Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant, Geo. W. Brown; Acting-Master, John Powell Acting-Ensigns, Jos. Moyer, C. M. Bragg and C. M. Puller; Acting-Master's Mates, N. T. Brown, G. A. Ege and D. C. Fralick Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. T. Gillette Engineers Acting-First- Assistants, J. H. Everhart and A. J. Sypher Acting-Second- Assistants, J. L. Parsons and G. M. Baker; Acting-Third- Assistants, ;

;

;

:

;

C. Beal Riblett

and Southwell Lyon; Acting Gunner, ;

J. F.

Acting-Carpenter, H. J. Ervin. " PBOSTA "— POUBTH BATE.

;

;

;

*

-•

;

;

;

c\

J_l_

:

;

;

—

" PEAIBIE BIRD" POUETH-EATE. Acting-Master, Thomas Burns Acting-Ensigns, Acting-Master's J. W. Chambers and W. M. Ernst Mates, J. B. Morton, J. K. Lull, Jr., W. D. Bangs and AV. D. Carley Acting - Assistant Paymaster, Lafayette Harter Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, Geo. Rodabaugh Acting - Second Assistant, Joseph Grippin Acting - Third - Assistant, M. G. ;

;

;

:

;

-

;

;

Marsillot.

—

" MOUND CITY " POUBTH-BATE. Acting- Master, Frederick T. Coleman ActingEnsigns, W. H. Decker and T. J. Dean; Acting- Master's Mates, B. W. Herr, S. S. Spangler, W. M. Sterritt and C. B. Hapgood Acting- Assistant PaymasEngineers Acting-Chief, Edw. ter, Wm. H. Baer ;

;

;

j_

;

;

Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, J. E. Smith; Acting-Master, J. L. Bryant Acting-Ensigns, C. H. Gullick, R. T. Nelson, J. W. Richards and W. W. Master's Acting Mates. E. A. Dumont Phillips; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Isaac T. Coates ActingAssistant Paymaster, J. C. Spalding Engineers :i?

— POUBTH-EATB.

Acting-Master, M. V. B. Haines Acting-Ensigns, Acting-MasJ. H. Rivers and W. L. Constantine Actingter's Mates, John Pybus and J. D. Coriell Assistant Surgeon, O. A. Rives Acting - Assistant Paymaster, A. S. Me Williams Engineers ActingFirst- Assistant, E. Reynolds; Acting-Second Assistant, B. S. Bull Acting-Third-Assistant, T. K. HOI.

:

;

:

;

;

"

BEAGG " —POUBTH-BATE.

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, Cyrenius Deminey Acting - Master, W. L. Holcomb Acting - Ensigns, M. Houston and F. H.Waite; Acting- Master's Mates, James Williams, C. L. Chapman and Wm. Dickson; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, F. A. Castle; ActingAssistant Paymaster, L. C. Stebbins Engineers Acting-Chief, James Miller Acting-Second- Assistants, Jos. Anderson and J. A. Wilson Acting-Carpenter, J. W. Kennedy.

:

Merriman

:

Acting - First - Assistant, Alex. Magee Acting-Second- Assistants, J. M. Hartwell, J. B. Atwood, G. N. Heisel and P. Vanzant ActingGunner, T. H. Green Acting - Carpenter, Jerome Burns. ;

;

;

"JUDGE TOBBENCB" —POUBTH-EATB.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

810 Sill;

;

' '

NTMPH " —^TOtTBTH

BATE. Acting-Master, Patrick Donnelly; Acting-Ensigns, F. M. Hathaway and L. Gardner Acting-Master's Mates, W. C. WilUams, W. C. Frost, C. A. Benham, F. W. Whiteside and W. W. Hosea Acting-Assistant Surgeon, D. P. Taylor Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Arthur Sibley; Engineers: Acting - FirstAssistant, N. D. Smith Acting-Second- Assistant, Acting-Third-Assistants, A. T. Homer Z. Brickell and W. H. Poulson. " NAIAD "—FOURTH-BATE. '

Acting - Master's Mate, Chas. White; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Marshall Engineers: Acting-Chief, P. E. Hartwig; Acting-SecondAssistants, Jasper Holman and E. C. Jones; ActingThird- Assistant, John Denhart.

Wm.

'

;

;

;

ABGOST.

Acting- Master, John C. Morong; Acting-Ensigns, G. T. Hazlett and A. B. Homer; Acting- Master's Mates, Peter Lake and J. A. McCreary ActingAssistant Paymaster, R. E. Patterson Engineers AotingActing-First- Assistant, Thos. Blanchard Second-Assistant, Chas. Silvercahn Acting-ThirdAssistant, A. Donnelly.

;

;

;

:

;

;

Acting-Master, Henrv T. Keene Acting-Ensigns, R. W. Alson and B. G. Van Dyke Acting-Master's Mates, L. A. Cole, C. H. Leamanand C. E. Townley; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, M. P. Lowry Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, R. P. Morrow; Acting-Second-Assistant, C. Abbott; Acting - Third;

;

"

;

ALEXANDRIA "— FOTTETH-KATB.

;

Acting-Master, D. P. Rosemiller; Acting-Master's Acting - FirstMate, D. M. Stauffer Engineers Acting-Second-Assistant, Assistant, H. C. Shibly

:

:

;

Willcoxan; Acting - Third - Assistant, Morton.

J.

J.

S.

"

W.

J.

MARMORA " —^FOTJRTH-BATE.

Acting-Ensign, Acting-Master, Benj. Sebastian D. W. Tainter; Acting-Master's Mates, A. S. Thompand B. P. Bosson, N. E. Moore, W. F. Thomas worth Acting-Assistant Surgeon, F. W. WunderPaymaster, Geo. L. Davis Chaplain, W. H. lich Stewart; Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, G. W. Fulton Acting-Third-Assistant, A. L. Sinis.

Acting- Master, Thomas Gibson Acting- Ensigns, D. D. Bond and Thos. West; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. Arnold, E. C. Nye and W. B. Tice ActingAssistant Surgeon, Emile Gavarret Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Chas. R. Howard; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, A. H. Armstrong Acting-Second- Assistant, F. A. Cramer Acting-Third- Assist-

;

;

;

;

;

:

;

;

ant, C. S. Hamiiton.

—

PAIR PIjAI " FOURTH-RATE. Acting-Master, George J. Groves; Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Singleton, L. R. Hamersley and J. S. De Forrest Acting-Master's Mates, C. B. Thatcher, J. W. Harbin and W. H. Roberts Acting-Assistant Paymaster, John G. Sankey; Engineers Acting-FirstAssistant, Robert Mattratha; Aeting-Second-Assist;

;

:

ant,

Acting-Third-Assistants, Wm. Acting Carpenter, C. Rusford

John Mayhugh

Davizley and C

;

;

;

;

:

;

;

HUNTRESS

-POURTH-RATE. Dennis Acting-Ensigns, M. Flynt and Fi-ank Middleton; Acting-Master's

J.

John

S.

;

Mates, H. Z. Allphin, B. F.

Brumback and J. R. S. DeFord;

Thomas; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, H.

Hurling Engineers: Acting-First Assistant, John CuUin; ActingSecond - Assistant, Isaac Ackley Acting - ThirdAssistant, Johnson Crawford. "NEW era" POURTH-RATE. Acting Assistant Paymaster, E.

J.

:

;

—

W

Acting-Master, A. C. Sears; Acting-Ensigns, B. Shilleto andC. A. Schetky; Acting- Master's Mates, W. P. Renner, A. Hamilton and Henry Ufford Acting- Assistant-Surgeon, Geo. A. Warren; ActingAssistant-Payniaster, B. Purdy Engineers Acting-First-Assistant, Israel Marsh; Acting-ThirdAssistants, A. W. Smith and J. W. Edmundson

Wm.

;

:

;

Acting- Carpenter,

Byard Martin.

—

CRICKET " POURTH-RATE. Acting - Master, M. J. Cronin Acting - Ensigns, N. A. Closson and Ignatius Daum Acting- Master's Mates, H. C. Bates, J. W. Summers, Louis J. Marshall and Walter Lawrence Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Stephen Cushing Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. 8. Dunscomb; Engineers: Acting - First Assistant, Jebin Fox; Acting-Second- Assistant, T. C. Ridgly Acting-Third-Assistant, R. A. Halderman. '

;

;

;

;

;

Mates, H. A. Thoburn and James Lawler ActingAssistant Surgeon, Geo. F. Beasley Acting-Assistant Paymaster, H. T.Wright; Engineers: ActingFirst-Assistant, S. H. Linn Acting-Second-Assistant, W. H. Stiles Acting-Third-Assistant, Lorenzo Fulton. ;

;

;

-

;

Mates, Chas. Murray, E. D. O'Bryon and J. A. Leaman Acting - Assistant Paymaster, A. S. Apgar Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, Edw. C. Peck Acting - Second - Assistants, G. W. Gough and Michael O'Reiley Acting- Third - Assistant, C. A. Cooper.

Acting-Master,

" PAIEY " — FOUETH-BATE. Acting - Masters, W. E. H. Fentriss and Chas. Swendson Acting - Ensigns, J. S. Roberts, J. 8. Hurlbut and C. B. Plattenburg Acting - Master's

;

;

Thomas Manning. " PAWN "— POURTH-BATE. Acting-Master, John R. Grace Acting-Ensigns, John Sullivan and John Conden Acting - Master s

'

;

;

;

'

W. H. Collins, Edw. W. Brooks and H. Henderson. " GBBAT WESTEEN " — FOUETH-BATE.

Assistants,

;

—

"SIIiVEE CLOUD" FOUBTH-EATB. Acting-Master, Wm. Ferguson j Acting-Ensigns, Rob't Wilkinson J. M. Reidand J. C. Hall; ActingMaster's Mates, J. M. Darrah, R. S. Critchell and Acting Assistant - Surgeon, O. B. J. H. Bentley Damon Acting - Assistant Paymaster, W. H. Hathorne Engineers Acting - First -Assistant, B. F. Clark; Acting Second-Assistant, W. A. Collins; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. W. SheUenberger and C. M. MiUigan. " PEEI "— FOUETH-RATE. -

;

;

:

;

Acting-Master, Thos. M. Farrell Acting-Ensign, Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Carter and W. H. Haven; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, T. P. Leech Acting- Assistant-Paymaster, C. W. Bull Engineers Acting-Third-Assistants, J. A. Goodwin, David Pace and John W. Ross. ;

E. C. Higgins

;

;

:

" GENEEAIi THOMAS "— POUETH-RATE. Acting-Master, Gilbert Morton Acting-Ensign, Richard McCallister; Acting-Master's Mates, Joseph Grenlick, A. C. Orcutt, L. D. Simonds and Hans Trulsen; Engineers: Acting-Pirst-Assistant, G. W. Burrows; Acting-Second-Assistant, W. E. Cowle; Acting-Third- Assistants, Jackson Andrew and J.W. ;

Miles. ' '

BOMEO "—FOUETH-BATE.

Acting-Master, Thomas Baldwin Acting-Ensigns, R. P. Shaw and J. E. Ernst; Acting-Master's Mates, John Winram and W. J. Franks; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, E. R. Moffatt; Engineers: Acting-FirstAssistant, J. N. McCurdy; Acting-Second- Assist;

ant, W. E. Teal.

Taylor

;

Acting - Third Assistant, -

Wm.

"BATTLEB "— FOUETH-EATE.

;

;

Acting-Master, N. B. Willetts Acting-Ensigns, H. N. Wells, S. H. Strunk and H. E. Church; Acting-Master's Mate, John Cronin and W. N. Bock; ;

OF THE .

CIVIL WAR.

Acting- Assistant Surgeon, "W. B. Hartman; ActingAssistant Paymaster, George P. Peck; Engineers Acting-First- Assistant C. F. Seager; Acting-SecondAssistants, G. W. Sliields and J. H. Hume. SIKEN -FOURTH-RATE. Acting - Master, James Fitzpatrick Acting - Ensigns, T. G. Herron and Z. T. Tibbatts ActingMaster's Mates, E. H. Thompson, J. P. Jordan, C. E. Jordon and H. W. Gray Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Lewis Westfall Acting- Assistant Paymaster, S. S. Davis Engineers Acting-First Assistant, William Bishop Acting-Second- Assistant, James Abrams Acting-Third- Assistant, J. R. Meredith. SILVER IiAKE -FOURTH-RATE. Acting - Masters, J. C. Coyle and G. W. Bone Acting- Masters Mates, Samuel McKee, J. S. Dubois and F. N. Schooley Acting - Assistant - Surgeon, J. H. Mills; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, Sam'l Ecoff Acting-Seeond-Assistant, WUIiam J. O'STeill. 'SPRINGFIELD' -FOURTH-RATE. Acting-Master, Edm. Morgan Acting- Ensigns, H. D. Disereus and J. E. Wright Acting-Master's Mates, J. Cunningham, H. Homkomp and Wilham J. Rudd; Engineer: Acting-First-Assistant R. McLean Acting-Third- Assistants, William Bell and H. J. Spence. " VICTORT " FOURTH-RATE. ;

'

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—

Acting-Master, Frederick Read; Acting Ensigns, B. Trufant and John Fisher; Acting-Master's Mates, R. L. Taylor, J. L. Kelso and G. W. Kepler; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. W. Shields; ActingAssistant Paymaster, Benj. Page; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, J. L. Winston Acting-Second-

W.

;

Assistant, J. C. Jones; Acting

W.

Sam'l Henery and G.

-

Third - Assistants,

Postlethwaite. ;

;

tello

D.

;

:

Acting-Third-Assistants, William McKenzie, G. E. Reno. " CHAMPION "—FOURTH-RATE.

Shaw and

Thomas

Acting - Ensigns,

Devine, M. Allen and

A. Hagerup; Acting-Master's Mates, Herman Alms, Benj. Nelson, T. J. Eokert and C. F. Beall; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Geo. O. Allen Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Geo. F. Bennis; Engineers Acting-First- Assistant, John Johnston; Acting-SecondAssistants, Geo. Walde and C. A. Fisher; ActingThird-Assistants, J. J. Suor and Wm. Lingle. ;

:

CURLEW -FOURTH-RATE. Acting-Ensigns, H. B. O'Neill and M. G. Bailey; Acting Master's Mate, Thomas Crawford, C. \V. Dunlap and Robert S. Balestier; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, John Gorden; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. R. Morris Engineers Acting- First- Assistant, Benj. A. Hoffman Acting-Second-Assistant, L. 8. Everson Acting-Third- Assistant, C. C. Grain. '' GAZELLE" FOURTH-RATE. Acting-Ensigns, A. S. Palmer, James Derring and Conrad Erickson Acting- Master's Mates, A. G. Boggs and J. W. Mullen Acting - Assistant Paymaster, H. A. Mitchell; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, A. H. Armstrong; Acting-Second-Assistants, F. M. Peak and Frank S. Wyman; Acting-Third'

" LITTLE REBEL "—FOURTH-RATE. Acting-Ensien, Jos. P. Pettey; Acting-Master's Mates, N. P. Jacobs, J. F. Rulow, Isaac H. Brown andW. H. Evans; Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistants, Julius EUiter and J. M. Miller; ActingThird- Assistants, E. H. Burton and G. Dorsey. " ROBB "—FOURTH-RATE.

Acting-Ensigns, James Tushy and Howard Hale; Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Jacoby and W. L. Berrian; Engineers Aeting-First-Assistant, Benj. Everson Acting - Second - Assistant, J. G. Moore Acting-Third-Assistant, B. H. Colher. :

;

;

" TENSAS "—FOURTH-RATE. Acting - Ensigns, A. C. Van Pelt and Jacob Rutherford; Acting- Master's Mate, Henry Van Velsor; Engineers Acting-Second Assistants, Sam'l :

Weaver and Park Scanlan; Acting-Third- Assistants, Nathan Spear and N. J. Brooks. "

VOLUNTEER

''

—FOUBTH-RATE.

Acting-Ensigns, M. R. Haines and Louis Kenny; Acting-Master's Mates, J. A. Coleman and M. L. Kirk; Engineers: Acting- First- Assistants, Peter Wagner and G. W. Taylor; Aoting-Seeond-Assistant, R. A. Benneson; Acting- Third-Assistant, Wm. T. Moore. "

SAMSON "-FOURTH-RATE.

Acting Ensign, Geo.W. Painter Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. A. Mitchell: Engineers: ActingChief, C. H. Christopher; Acting-First-Assistant, Wm. Paul, Jr. "GENERAL PILLOW"— FOUBTH-RATE. Acting-Ensign, Frank W. Halsted; Acting-Master's Mates, Geo B. Hall, B. F. Craig and W. H. Dobell Engineers Acting - Third - Assistants, J. T. Slack and W. H. Cornell. ;

;

"GENERAL SHERMAN "—FOUBTH-RATE. Acting- Master, J. W. Morehead Acting-Ensigns, E. D. Hurd and C. L. McChing Acting - Master's Mates, D. J. Chad wick and M. Pinney; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistants, J. W. Street and David Street; Acting-Third- Assistants, Horace Stedman and T. H. Hamilton. " GENERAL GRANT." Acting-Ensigns, Joseph Watson and S. H. Harbe son; Acting-Master's Mates, E. B. McSweeney, D. G. Porter and H. W. Kruse; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. D. Hoffman Engineers Acting- First- Assistant, H. W. Taylor; Acting- Second- Assistant, Edw. Cos:

811

:

" NEW NATIONAL "— FOUETH-EATE. Acting-Ensign, J. M. Farmer; Acting - Master's Mates, J. D. Holmes, W. B. FloycL W. E. Jelleyand H. A. Taylor Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. W. Keley Engineers: Acting - First - Assistant, W. O. Logue; Acting-Third -Assistants, G. W. Aikin, G. R. ;

;

Bell, Oliver

Rosebush and W. M.

Ulix.

RECEIVING-SHIP "GRAMPUS." Acting - Ensigns, J. W. Litherbury and Robert Howden; Acting-Masters Mates, C. J. Dananda, A. H. Lewis and W. H. Corey; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, J. J. McElhany Acting - Assistant Paymaster, Edw. D. Hayden. ;

HOSPITAL-SHIP "RED BOVEB." Acting-Ensigns, Charles King and J. J. Irwin; Fleet-Surgeon, Ninian Pinkney Passed-Assistant Surgeon, J. S. Knight Acting- Assistant Surgeons, G. H. Bixby and J. P. Field; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, A. W. Pearson; Acting-Master's Mate, R. G. Van Ness; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Wm. J. Buffinton; Aoting-First-Assistant, Wm. Sprague; Acting-Second-Assistant, W. M. Fletcher; Acting-ThirdAssistants, W. H. Vanwert and J. T. English; Acting-Carpenter, Harlow Kinney. ;

;

TUG "PERN.''

-

:

;

;

;

—

;

;

Acting-Ensign, John M. Kelly; Acting-Master's Mate, Jacob Bomgarnar; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, John Reed; Acting-Third-Assistant, A. K. Porter. TUG "MISTLETOE." Acting-Ensign, Janes L. Lingley; Acting-Master's Mate, John Thompson; Engineers: Acting-SecondAssistant, D. S. Miller; Acting - Third - Assistant, Allison

Haywood. TUG "MIGNONETTE."

Acting-Ensign, H. D. Green; Engineers: ActingSecond-Assistant, W. L. Calhoun Acting-Third;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

812 TTJO

' '

MTKTLE.

Mate,

Acting-Ensign, Isaac N. Goldsmith; Engineers: Acting-Seeond-Assistant, Geo. Longwell; Acting-

J.

W. Hambrick Engineers ;

Third-Assistant, J. H. Wright.

Acting - Master's Mates, Joseph Graham Engineers Acting - Second - Assistant, F. M. Magers Acting-Third-Assistant, J. E. Henderson. ;

Acting-Ensign, Wm. Harris; Acting-Master's Mate, A. McCarthy; Engineer: Acting-Second- Assistant, H. A. Cady.

:

;

"W.

TtrO " LAUEEIi."

W.

R.

Acting-Second-

TUG "DAISY."

TUG "PANSY."

Acting-Ensign,

:

Assistant, W. P. Clugsten; Acting-Third-Assistants, L. H. Jones and Byrd Allen.

Owen; Engineers: Acting-

Second - Assistant, Chas. Hilling; Acting

-

Third

Assistant, L. E. Davis.

Pilot,

Shinn

;

H.

BBOWN "— POUBTH-BATE.

French; Actii^ - Ensign, J. Acting - Master's Mates, O. Deweese, Jr., Jeflferson A.

R. H. Hopkins and C. W. Dimmock; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, R. Cutter Acting-SeeondAssistants, A. C. P. French and G. W. Hart. " GENERAL L YON " — FOtTETH-BATE. ;

"DAHLIA." Acting-Ensign. "W. H. Strope Acting - Master's Mate, Thomas Roach Engineer Acting - SecondAssistant, A. R. Smith. TUa "HTAOINTH." Acting-Ensign, J. B. Hizerman; Acting-Master's Engineers Acting - SecondMate, James Malis Assistant, M. L. Andrews Acting-Third-Assistant, L. C. Thatcher. TUG "IVY." Acting-Ensign, Perry C. Wright: Acting-Master's Mate, Daniel Sullivan; Acting - Second - Assistant TTJG

; :

;

:

;

;

Engineer,

Thomas

Nerley.

Acting-Ensigns, James Pilot, Richard E. Birch Martin and Thos. Cad well; Acting- Master's Mates, E. W. Robinson, D. V. Balthis and F. B. Chase; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Wm. H. Doane; Engineers Acting- First- Assistant, W. J. Hamilton Acting-Second- Assistants, James Baldwin and R. A. ;

:

Smith

;

Acting-Third- Assistants, G. C.

" ABBAHAM "— POUETH-EATE. Paymaster, A. E. Watson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Louis Jorgensen Acting - Ensign, William Wagner Acting - First - Assistant Engineer, Enos ;

TUG " THISTLE." Acting-Ensign, R. J. Ettingham Acting-Master's ;

ShuU and

H. Workhouse.

;

Hoshier.

CHAPTER

LVI.

COMMERCE-DESTEOYERS. theik inception, kemakkable career, and ending.

The "Florida" ("Oreto"), "Clarence," "Tacony," "Alexandria," "Georgia" ("Japan"), "Rappahannock," " ISTashvillb," "Shenandoah" ("Sea King"), " Tuscaloosa," Chickamauga " (" Edith "), " Tallahassee " ("Atlanta "), "Olustee," "Chameleon," etc.— Cutting out of the U. S. Revenue Steamer " Caleb Cushing " from the Harbor of Portland, Me. — Capture of the "Florida " ON THE Coast of Brazil. — An Apology to the Brazilian Government. — Captain Collins' Punishment. —The "Florida" Sunk in Hampton Roads. — Destruction of the Whaling Fishery in the Arctic Ocean. — Neutrality Laws Violated by Foreign Governments. — Scenes on board the Confederate Cruisers. — Actual Losses inflicted by the "Alabama" and "Shenandoah."— Criticisms, Remarks, •'

ETC., etc.

WE

have

told the

story

of the

"Sumter" and "Alabama," and partly that of the " Florida," which latter, after her escape from the Federal

squadron off Pensacola, particularly the "R. R. Cuyler," in January, 186.3. com-

menced the business of destruction which she was fitted out.

for

In her first attempts at destruction the " Florida " was not particularly fortunate, for in the course of ten days Captain Maffitt only succeeded in destroying three small vessels. He then put into Nassau, where, it will be remembered, the "Florida," formerly the " Oreto," had been seized by the authorities and her case brought before the courts for violation of the 'Enlistment Act. The merchant to whom the vessel was consigned swore that the " Oreto" was a bona fide merchant vessel, while at that very moment her guns and munitions of war were on board another vessel in the harbor. When the ship returned to Nassau in July, under the name of the "Florida," her appearance a,t first caused considerable confusion among the witnesses and officials, '

the British Foreign Enlistment Act had

been committed. However, this circumstance did not

seri-

ously influence the British authorities at Nassau. Maffitt had entered a bona fide Confederate port, and now that he was again in Nassau, with a regular commission, a good crew, and the Confederate flag at his peak, he received an ovation. The officials allowed the "Florida" thirty-six hours to remain in port and take coal and whatever else she might require, although the orders of the Home Government limited the supply of coal to what was supposed to be necessary to enable a Confederate cruiser to reach one of the ports of the Confederacy.

From Nassau the "Florida" proceeded to Barbadoes, where she received on board one hundred tons of coal, in further violation of the orders of the Home Government, which provided that a second supply of coal should not be allowed within three months. Doubtless, the instructions were similar to those issued by Earl John Russell to the British Minister at Washington in the case of the " Trent," one set to be shown to the CI

— j._

THE NAVAL HISTORY

814

stating the real intentions of the GovernThere seemed to be the same desire at Barbadoes as elsewhere to see American commerce destroyed, and, with such a feeling in existence, the chances for the escape of Federal merchant vessels were nauch di-

ment.

minished. The " Florida " did not commit such havoc as the " Alabama," for in the space of five months she captured but fifteen vessels, which were all destroyed in the usual style of the Confederate cruisers. Her cruisingground extended from the latitude of New York to the southward of Bahia, in Brazil. In the vicinity of Fernando Noronha, Maffitt picked up a vessel called the " Lapwing," loaded with coal, and, by converting her into a tender, was enabled to supply himself with fuel as long as he wished to remain on the station. On the 6th of May the brig "Clarence" was captured off the coast of Brazil, armed by Maffitt with some light guns, and placed in command of Lieutenant Charles W. Read, formerly a midshipman in the U. S. Navy and another Confederate State's vessel-of-war was created in the shortest possible time, with orders to burn, sink and destroy; although it was doubtful if Maffitt's authority to commission vessels would have been recognized in case he should have fallen in with a superior force. Lieutenant Read was bold and full of resources, seeming to disdain all danger. He shaped his course for the coast of the United States, and by the 10th of June had captured five vessels, four of which were destroyed. The fifth was the schooner "Tacony," and this vessel, being better suited to his purpose than the "Clarence." Read burned the latter, after transferring her crew, guns and stores

—

"Tacony." During the next fortnight the "Tacony" made ten prizes. Here was a Confederate cruiser right upon the coast, burning and to the

sinking coasting vessels with impunity, for not a single United States vessel was to be seen. This was a new style of warfare inaugurated by the Confederacy, without the least expense to them and without any of the difficulties of violating the British Foreign Enlistment Act, or hoodwinking colonial authorities to procure necessary sup-

As to the pay of officers and men, was probably made in Confederate money, the expense was nothing. Read soon tired of the "Tacony." His ideas enlarged as his vessel grew plethoric with spoils, and his prolific brain was at work devising new schemes for Federal discomfiture. The last of his prizes, a vesplies.

as that

"Archer," captured off the capes of Virginia, seemed preferable to the "Tacony," and he accordingly made her into a cruiser and burned the latter. Had sel called the

off shore he would doubtless have made the "Archer's" name as famous as that of her predecessor; but, not satisfied with destroying peaceable

Lieutenant Read kept

merchantmen, he longed for higher distincRead had in him the stuff to make a gallant naval commander. The career of the " Archer " was short. The news of a privateer on the coast of New England was spread far and wide. Several gun-boats were cruising up and down the coast in search ot Maffitt, who was reported tion, for

Nova Scotia but their commanders do not seem to have been aware of Read and his peculiar performances. In the latter part of June, two days after the " Archer" had been commissioned as a cruiser, Read determined to cut out the revenue-cutter "Caleb Cushing," from the harbor of Portland, Maine. In this design he was successful; the vessel was surprised by the boats of the " Archer" and carried by boarding. The people on shore hastily manned and armed several steamers, and followed the " Caleb Cushing "to sea. As Read saw that he must be overtaken, and that he could make no successful resistance, he set fire to the " Cushing " and attempted to escape in his boats, but was captured and imprisoned in Fort Warren. This was a remarkable raid and showed great gallantry on the part of Lieutenant Read, although the presence of a single Federal gun-boat, under an intelligent captain, would have nipped the whole scheme in the bud. As it was, Read's capture was due to the courage of private citizens, who did not know what force the Confederates had outside to back them. After the affair was settled, gun-boats flocked in from the North Atlantic Squadron in pursuit of the raiders, but too late to be of use. After the " Florida's " cruise on the coast of Brazil, she refitted and coaled at Bermuda, and thence sailed for Brest, where she was docked and thoroughly repaired. Maffitt was relieved by Captain Joseph N. Barney, who was in turn succeeded by Captain Charles M. Morris. The " Florida " remained nearly six months at Brest, sailed from that port in February, 1864, and, after cruising for three months against American commerce, put in again at Bermuda, where Captain Morris was allowed to take in coal off

;

and provisions. The Captain announced his intention of proceeding to Mobile, but, instead of doing so, made a cruise of three months on the coast of the United States against Federal merchant vessels, proceeding thence to Teneriffe, and on the 5th of October, 1864, he arrived at Bahia. For a wonder, the U. S. S. " Wachusett" happened to be in Bahia when the "Florida " entered the port and anchored a mile distant, while a Brazilian corvette, in anticipation

OF THE CIVIL WAR. of.

a difficulty between the vessels, took

position near the " Florida." The latter vessel had received permission from the authorities to remain in port forty-eight hours to repair and coal ship, which was twenty-four -hours longer than the usual time allowed these vessels; although Captain Semmes had been allowed to do pretty much as he pleased by the Governor of Bahia, and also by the Governor of Fer-

nando de Noronha. American officers in pursuit of Confederate cruisers were kept in constant excitement by hearing of excesses committed by these " sea-rovers," as the latter were sometimes called, and were greatly disappointed at not falling in

with them, although there

was not one chance in a hundred of their doing so. The Northern press had also indulged in strictures on the Federal Navy for not overtaking the Confederate cruisers, while the Southern newspapers sneered at the Yankee officers, whom they asserted were afraid to meet the Confederate vessels for fear of being captured. All this had its effect,

and Commander Napoleon

Collins, of

" Wachusett," determined that the "Florida" should not do anymore damage Collins thought of if he could prevent it. the violation of neutrality, and dared all the consequences, including the probable the

loss of his

About

2

commission. A.M. the "Wachusett" got un-

bow of the Brazilian corvette, and steered directly for the " Florida," with the intention of running her down and sinking her; but, instead of striking the Confederate ship in the gangway as was intended, the "Wachusett" crashed into the " Florida" on her starboard quarter, derway, crossed the

down her bulwarks and carrying away her mainyard and mizzenmast. The crew of the "Florida" seized what arms cutting

they could lay hold of in the confusion, and fired into the "Wachusett," wounding but, the latter vessel three of her crew pouring in a volley of small arms and discharging two broadside guns at the ConfedSixtyerate ship, the latter surrendered. nine officers and men were captured, but Captain Morris and many of his officers and crew were on shore. The "Florida" was then towed out to sea, the Brazilian man-ofwar offering no opposition, except that an officer was sent to inform Collins that, if he persisted in his attack on the "Florida," the fort and vessels would open fire on him, and one gun was subsequently fired by the corvette. It was afterwards claimed by the Brazilians that Commander Collins had promised to desist from his purpose of capturing the "Florida"; but this seems to be merely an excuse to account for their supineness in taking no steps to prevent ;

•

815

ida" out of the harbor. The fact is, the Brazilians had no intention of proceeding to extremities, fully realizing that the corvette was no match for the " Wachusett." That the capture of the " Florida " was a deliberate violation of the rights of neutrals no one can deny, and it placed the United States Government in a very awkward position. It would have been much better for Commander Collins to have waited outside for the coming of the " Florida," even at the risk of her escaping, than to have so

grossly affronted a nation whose Emperor sympathized with the Union cause. Commander Collins' action was entirely independent of instructions, and he was willing to run the risk of losing his commission in order to put a stop to the "Florida's" career.

The Federal Government at once disavowed Collins' action, and made ample apology, which the Government of Brazil accepted, only stipulating that the "Florida" and those captured in her should be sent back to Bahia. Mr. Secretary Seward did all in his power to make amends for the mistake which had been committed, denouncing it as "an unauthorized, unlawful and indefensible exercise of the naval force of the United States within a foreign country, in defiance of its established and duly recognized Government." The fact of Mr. Seward's disapproval was quite enough to make Mr. Secretary Welles give his sympathy to Commander Collins, and, although the Secretary did not express himself openly, there is little doubt that he would have been glad if all the Confederate cruisers could have been disposed of in the same manner. Collins' action, indeed, met with the popular approval, and it would have been a diffi-

matter to have convicted him had he been brought to trial before a court-martial. The little regard that had been shown by neutral nations, during the civil war, to their obligations, and their favoring the Confederate cruisers, had awakened great indignation in the Northern States, so that the community was little disposed to censure cult

Collins' action in the case of the " Florida." Commander Collins made little effort to defend his course. In his report to the Sec-

retary of the Navy, he says: "I thought it probable that the Brazilian authorities would forbear to interfere, as they had done at Fernando de Noronha, where the ConAlabama was permitfederate steamer ted to take into the anchorage three American ships, and to take coal from the Cora Hatch within musket-shot of the fort, and afterwards, within easy range of their guns, to set on fire those unarmed vessels. I regret, however, to state, that they fired three shotted guns at us while we were tow'

'

'

'

THE NAVAL HISTORY

816

may have taken, it seems to have been extremely mild under the circumstances, for they had certainly a right to compel the " Wachusett " to relinquish her prize if they had had sufficient force to back their demand. The only punishment inflicted on Commander Collins was an order to tak& the " Florida " back to Brazil the Brazilians

with all his prisoners, and deliver the vessel For to the Brazilian Government intact. this purpose the "Florida" was sent to Admiral Porter, at Hampton Roads, that she might be properly prepared for sea.

The expedition against Fort Fisher was thenfittingout, and the Roads were crowded with vessels of every description. While the "Florida" was lying in the stream an army transport came in collision with her, but did her no damage. It was reported that the collision was intentional, and to avoid further accident Admiral Porter directed the " Florida " to be stripped of everything valuable, her guns taken out and tfie vessel moored securely head and stern at Newport News, just at the spot where the " Cumberland

"

was sunk

in

very deep

water. An engineer was placed on board in charge, with two men to assist him in looking after the water-cocks but, strangely enough, although the " Florida" was to all appearances water-tight when she reached Newport News, she sank that night at two o'clock in ten fathoms, and there she lay for some years after the war. This was about the best thing that could have happened to the " Florida," for the Northern people would not have been satisfied to see her sent back to Brazil to continue her depredations on their commerce, and it ;

would have been a most humiliating duty Collins to perform. When the sinking of the vessel was reported to Admiral Porter, he merely said, "Better so"; while the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Navy never asked any questions about the matter, being too well satisfied to get the elephant off their hands. In 1863, after the appearance of the for

Commander

"Alabama" and the "Florida," many attempts were made by the Confederate agents abroad to get cruisers to sea, but these attempts were not always successful, as the British Government was beginning to realize the impolicy of neglecting so completely their neutral obligations, and Mr. Adams, the American minister, lost no opportunity of calling attention numerous violations of the Foreign Enlistment Act which were taking place. In consequence of the determined stand taken by Mr. Adams, several ironclads building by Laird & Co. were seized. to the

The "Alexandria" was released in England, but was subsequently libelled at Nassau, where the courts, having learned some-

thing from the case of the "Florida," detained her until the end of the war. Notwithstanding all the watchfulness of the American minister, the " Georgia" and " Rappahannock " got to sea in 1863. The career of the latter was brief. She had been a dispatch vessel in the Royal Navy, and was sold by the British- Government to persons acting for the Confederacy. She was refitted at Sheerness under the direction of employees of the Royal Dock Yard; but the Government proposing to inspect her, in order to avoid detention she hastily put to sea with but a small portion of her

crew on board, and these had been enlisted by the connivance of the Government official

who

aided in getting the vessel

off.

The " Rappahannock " was commissioned as a Confederate vessel-of-war in the British Channel, and was seized by a French

gun-boat off Calais. The "Georgia," a screw - steamer of seven hundred tons, was launched on the Clyde, and put to sea in April, 1863. A British merchant was her ostensible owner, and her guns and munitions of war were put on board the vessel off Morlaix.

The case of this vessel was no greater violation of the neutrality laws than that of others; but the British Government, wishing perhaps to show that it would be neutral in 1863 if it had not been in 1861, instituted proceedings against the persons concerned in sending the "Georgia" to and upon conviction they were each sentenced to pay the enormous fine of fifty pounds, a penalty not likely to deter British subjects from violating the Foreign Enlistsea,

ment Act. The career

of the "Georgia" was not very exciting, although extending over a period of a year. The "Sumter," "Alabama " and " Florida " had been beforehand with her, and there was little left for the gleaner. Fifteen millions of dollars worth of United States commerce had been swept

from the ocean, and the American vessels had either sought protection under other flags, or were laid up in port until the war should be over. The " Georgia," not being very successful in taking prizes, was finally taken to Liverpool, her crew discharged, and the vessel sold by Captain J. D. Bullock, agent of the Confederate Navy Department, to an English shipowner. This was a questionable transaction, and the transfer was, no doubt, made to prevent the seizure of the " Georgia" by the British aufor the latter, owing to the firm stand taken by Mr. Adams, had begun seriously to refiect on the probable consequences of further trespassing on the patience of the United States Government, as it was evident the collapse of the Confederacy was now not far off. thorities

;

OF THE CIVIL WAR. In -writing of the probability that Laird's to get to sea, Mr. Adams remarks: In the notes which I had the honor to address to your Lordship on the 11th of July and the 14th

rams would be permitted ''

August, I believe I stated the importance attached by my Government to the decision involved in this case, with sufficient distinctness. Since that date I have had the opportunity to receive from the United States a full approbation of their contents. At the same time I feel it my painful duty to make known to your Lordship, that in some respects it has fallen short in expressing the earnestness with which I have been in the iaterval directed to describe the grave nature of the situation in which both countries must be placed, in the event of an act of aggression committed against the Government and people of the United States by either of these formidable vessels." of

This diplomatic remonstrance was easily understood by those who had tampered with the United States to the verge of war, and now that almost all of the American

commerce left afloat had been transferred to the British flag, much to the advantage of Great Britain, they were unwilling to have that commerce depleted by hostilities with the United States, for the Federal Navy was now adding to its forces a class of steamers well adapted, in speed and armament, to repeat against Great Britain the tactics of the Confederate cruisers against the United States. It would have perhaps been better policy for the United States to have declared war with Great Britain than to have submitted longer to open violatioris of neutrality, for the former had little commerce to lose and could have swept the trade of the latter from the ocean. When Mr. Adams heard that the " Georgia " was sold to a British merchant, he informed Commodore Thomas T. Craven, then in command of the U. S. S. '"Niagara," lying in the port of Antwerp, that he must endeavor to intercept and The capture the converted Confederate.

"Georgia" was captured by Commodore Craven off Lisbon, was sent to Boston and condemned by the Admiralty Court, her alleged owner never receiving a penny of the £15,000 he had paid into the Confederate treasury as the price of the vessel. The fate of the "Nashville" has already

been mentioned.

In January and Febru-

were made to destroy her as she lay above Fort McAllister, on the Great Ogeechee River. On the 27th of February, 1863, she was set on fire and blown up by shells from the Monitor " Montauk," Commander John L. Worden. The "Shenandoah," originally called the ary, 1863, several attempts

" Sea King," was the last and the most dangerous of all the Confederate cruisers. She was a full-rigged ship of about eight hundred tons, with so - called auxiliary steam power, and very fast under either Qoil nr stfiam. canable of makiner three hun-

817

dred and twenty miles in twenty- four hours under favorable circumstances, which exceeded the speed of any vessel in the U. S.

Navy.

On the 8th of October, 1864, the "Sea King " cleared from London for Bombay. As she was not equipped for war purposes, there was no question in regard to her; but the same day she sailed, the steamer " Laurel " cleared from Liverpool for Nassau, with several Confederate naval officers and a cargo of cases marked "Machinery," but contaming guns and their equipments. Near Madeira, the " Sea King" received her armament and stores from the "Laurel," and was transferred by her master, who had a power of sale from her owner, to Commander James J. Waddell, of the Confederate Navy, who put her in commission as the "Shenandoah." The plans for the "Shenandoah's" operations had been carefully matured at Richmond by Commander Brooke, of the Confederate Navy, and were based upon the movements of the Pacific whaling fleet. The latter habitually cruised in the neighborhood of the Carolina Islands for sperm whale, going north to the Sea of Ochotsk for right whale, thence to Behring's Straits and the Arctic Ocean. Returnmg from the north, the whalers generally reached the Sandwich Islands in October or November for refreshment. The plan was for the " Shenandoah " to be at these various points simultaneously with the whaling fleet, and thus to sweep it from the sea. There was no longer much opportunity of injuring United States commerce in the ordinary channels of trade, for the " Alabama" and "Florida" had done their work pretty thoroughly, and a number of new and fast cruisers had been sent by the Federal Government to guard what remained. The new cruising-ground mapped out for the "Shenandoah " was, therefore, the most inviting fleld of operations now remaining for a Confederate cruiser. The " Shenandoah" cruised three months in the Atlantic, taking several prizes, and then proceeded to Tristan d'Acunha, where the crews of the captured vessels were landed. She next proceeded to Melbourne, where she was well received and allowed to repair and refit, take in all the coal required in short, do anything that would assist her in her attempt to destroy the American whaling fleet. In violation of the Foreign Enlistment Act, Commander Waddell was here permitted to ship forty-three men as an addition to his crew ; but the Australians had little respect for their obligations as neutrals. Their ruling sentiment was hatred to the United States Government and people. This was shown in the early mining davs of 1852. when the British Government

THE NA VAL UlSU UKr

818

gave American merchant vessels the privilege of trading on the Australian coast on the same terms as were accorded to those but the colonists placed of Great Britain on United States vesrestrictions many so sels, steam-ships especially, that the latter ;

were driven away.

On the 18th February, 1865, the " Shenandoah " proceeded under sail to the vicinity of Behring's Straits, where a large number of whaling vessels were captured and destroved. Until the 28th of June, the ocean was' ablaze with burning ships, whose crews were subjected to very inhuman treatment. Waddell continued his operations for over two months after hostilities between the North and South had terminated, professing that he had no intimation of the surrender of the Confederate armies until the date

above mentioned; but he must have known when he left' Melbourne that the Confederate struggle for independence was pracWhen Waddell was astically at an end. sured that the Confederate Government to exist, instead of surrendering his vessel to the nearest United States authority as he should have done, he proceeded to Li verpool and delivered the " Shenandoah " to the British authorities. This was the last scene in the terrible drama inaugurated by Semmes and finished by Waddell. The story of the Confederate cruisers carries with it a moral which should not be forgotten. The civil war is now remembered as a dreadful episode in our history, bringing death and misery to the North and South; but the ravages of the Confederate commerce-destroyers were inflicted upon men pursuing a peaceful avocation, and were thus of peculiar hard-

had ceased

ship.

The Confederates had in their proceedsome show of justification but, as a mode of canying on warfare, it was lacking in the chivalry upon which Southern ings

oflBcers peculiarly

;

prided themselves.

With

one exception, we do not believe that a Southern officer, engaged in the business of destroying United States merchant vessels, ever boasted after the war of what he had done, or cared to dwell on events that were calculated to leave an unpleasant impression on the mind. The destruction of United States commerce did not fulfill the object desired to benefit the Confederate cause on the contrary, it created great indignation, even among the peace party of the North, and caused Congress to make increased appropriations for the Navy. Indeed, but for

—

—

that circumstance, it is not likely that the the Navy would have been

money allowed

more than enough to maintain the blockade of the Southern coast with such commercial vessels as the Navy Department could pur-

lessons of the civil war will ever the United States is engaged in hostilities with either of the nations that assisted the Confederates in their It is true raid on American commerce. that Great Britain made the amende honorable, after years of discussion, in regard to her part of the business; but, by permitting Confederate cruisers to roam at will over the ocean, the British Government taught her future foes how much mischief could be done by three or four ordinary cruisers against her own commerce, which is spread all over the world, and on which her prestige as a nation so largely depends. Other nations will, doubtless, resort to the " Alabama" mode of warfare, so inexpensive, and so easily carried on, and calculated to do so much injury to the chief commercial nation of the world. As the original "Monitor " changed the system of building vessels of war, so the chase.

not be

The

lost, if

plan inaugurated by Semmes has made an entire change in the class of vessels to be used as cruisers and commerce-destroyers. Such strenuous efforts are put forth by the naval powers in this direction, that there is little difference between them in respect to the perfection of their fast steamers. After years of idle speculation, the United States have at length entered into competition for the best vessels for general war purposes, and we are not likely to forget the lesson ta'Ught us by Captain Semmes, with his carefully-considered plan of operations. Commerce - destroying has always been practiced during war, and, in spite of the

protests of civilization and humanity, it seems likely it will be practiced in the future, since it is too strong a temptation to the weaker powers to permit it to be abolished. It furnishes also a strong inducement for adventurers to enlist in vessels-ofwar, with the hope of excitement and prizemoney ; the latter, a stimulus which will always keep a navy manned in time of war. If it should ever happen that the commerce, of the ocean should be allowed to pass unmolested by belligerents, and that ships-ofwar simply be kept to enter into conflict, with each other or with fortifications, war would become a comparatively uninteresting business, and might be lengthened out interminably, so that, in the long run, there

would be nothing gained by the departure from the old system. The question has never been settled in the popular mind as to whether the Confederate cruisers were properly constituted vessels-of-war. The fact that most of them were fitted out in defiance of the law of the country in which they were built, and that, the aiders and abettors of the scheme were liable to a heavy penalty, would seem to be a bar against their regularity. The fact

OF THE CIVIL WAR. that Great Britain subsequently paid for allowing her laws to be violated to the extent of jeopardizing the peace with a friendly nation, must be taken as additional evidence against the Confederate cruisers. Great Britain, with propriety, might have sent out her ships-of-war and captured the Confederates on the high seas, or held them on entering her ports to refit. The inviolability

which

is

supposed to surround a

national vessel should not shield her for violation of the laws of a neutral nation, especially when she belongs to a government not recognized by any other. Otherwise there would soon be an end to law and order upon the ocean, and every little island that could man a steamer might claim belligerent rights, and prey upon the enemy's commerce after the manner of the Confederate cruisers.

That the success of those vessels was due to the inaction of the British

Government

cannot be doubted, for, if Great Britain had been mindful of her neutral obligations, she would have renapnstrated so emphatically with the Confederate Government against the actions of their' ships-of-war as would soon have put an end to the career of the latter.

Although the Confederate Government claimed that their cruisers were ships-ofwar, that assertion did not make them so and the question arises, were they entitled to the privileges accorded such ships by the usages of nations ? Their position w;as certainly anomalous, being recognized as belligerents, although the State to which they belonged had not been recognized by any Government. The only recognition accorded the Confederates by Great Britain was the Queen's proclamation of neutrality, forbidding either belligerent from taking ;

prizes into British ports.

It is difficult to

how a

nation can concede belligerent rights to another and recognize the seizure of neutral property as did England and other powers and yet main-

understand

—

—

tain no official relations with her. The clearest and most convincing statement of this question is embraced in a work on " The Blockade and the Cruisers," by Provast fessor James R. Soley, U. S. IST. amount of indulgence was shown the Confederate cruisers in every stage of their proceedings, and it is not unlikely, if a similar state of affairs should ever again occur, that neutrals will find it necessary to draw the lines closer than heretofore, in order not to be liable to penalties which are apt to follow so liberal a course as was

A

pursued towards the Confederates, during the American civil war, by certain European governments. So many arguments have been advanced

819

Confederate

Government

cruisers, that

it

how

may not

in fitting out be amiss to inquire

far the said cruisers were justified, in committing the havoc they infiicted on the merchant vessels of the United States. It is well for us to ascertain whether the acts of the Confederates came within the strict limitations of the law of nations, for, in case of war between any mother country and her colonies, the acts of these cruisers, if recognized as legal, would establish injurious precedents. Every government owes it to its citizens to extend every possible safeguard around the commerce of the ocean, for it is the faith which merchants place in their governments to protect them at all hazards, which induces them to embark their property on the high seas therefore, the different powers should combine to establish rules of action binding upon them all. There were a dozen ways in which Great Britain might have prevented her neutrality laws from being violated. Had the authorities adhered to the terms of the ;

Queen's

proclamation,

the

Confederate

have extended their operations beyond the coast of the United States, where their career would have speedily terminated after they had perhaps destroyed a few unimportant vessels. Having issued this proclamation, it was the duty of the British Government, not only to abstain from aiding in the destruction of United States commerce, but to order all cruisers could never

Confederate

cruisers

to

depart at

once

from colonial or home ports and, in case of neglect to obey the order, the Confederates should have been summarily dealt with. No government can afford to remain passive while its laws are being violated, for this would indicate either weakness or ;

duplicity. If the Confederate vessels fitted out in England were sent from English ports in violation of English laws, they were not legally authorized to capture or

destroy an enemy's commerce; and, if captured in their turn, the Confederate officers and men could very properly have been held for trial before the United States courts. That the Confederate cruisers were subject to capture by British vessels-of-war, for violation of British law, there can be This would suggest that the little doubt. proceedings of the Confederate cruisers were not strictly legal. It was natural that the Confederate Government should take advantage of any flaw in British laws to enable them to get their but it was due to British vessels to sea self-respect to be sure that those laws were not violated, and the British Government, should therefore have emphatically remonstrated with the Confederate agents for ;

THE NAVAL HISTORY

'820

No ish as well as international law. better use could have been made of British cruisers had one of these purchased vessels escaped from a British port than to send them in pursuit of the offending

—

—

vessels.

The Confederate

cruisers were British laws of Great Britain, and were commissioned as ships-of-war on the high seas ; and it was supposed that the high seas being common to all nations, their being so commissioned was justifiable. But this would not obliterate the former delinquency the violation of British laws vessels, subject to the

—

enacted to prevent the very course pursued by the Confederate agents. The first steps taken by these agents were so clearly that the consummation of their purpose could not be lawful, and the resultant consequences were so in violation of all law, that it is not strange the Federal Government could never be brought to look upon these vessels as legitimate cruisers. To show the very dubious character of some of the Confederate cruisers, we will mention that it was not uncommon for them to run the blockade under the British flag, with British papers, taking in cargoes of goods and carrying out cotton, and then to figure for a time as vessels-of-war, varying their character to suit circumstances. Of course, such proceedings cannot be justified by any of the usages of war. will quote a few cases mentioned by Professor Soley, who has taken great pains to ascertain the facts, and the reader will be struck with the absurdity of claiming for vessels so irregularly fitted out the character of properly constituted ships - of - war. cannot call them pirates or privateers, but we do say that the Confederate cruisers were not regular ships-of-war, and were acting in violation of the laws of Great Britam as well as those of the United illegal,

We

We

States.

The " Japan," or " Georgia," left the Clyde registered in the name of a British subject, and remained for nearly three months still registered in the name of her ostensible owner, although during this time she was engaged in hostilities against the Federal Government. A year later she returned to Liverpool, was dismantled and sold to a British subject, the bill of sale being signed by Captain James D. Bullock, of the Confederate Navy. The " Eappahannock " left Sheerness in haste as a merchant vessel, with workmen still on board, who were carried off against their will. She assumed the character of a Confederate cruiser while crossing the British Channel, and sought admission into the port of Calais as a shipof-war in distress The case of the " Tuscaloosa," already mentioned, is too glaring to need discussion. !

close of the civil war the Navy List must have presented

Towards the Confederate

a curious aspect, for one day a vessel would figure as a blockade-runner under the British flag, and the next she was a Confederate cruiser; but, strange to say, the British colonial courts could not find any law for interfering with such vessels. The blockaderunner " Edith" escaped from Wilmington, N. C, one night in October, 1864, under the name of the Confederate States steamer "Chickamauga." She was armed with a 64 - pounder and a 33-pounder, and steering north along the coast destroyed several when, her whereunfortunate vessels abouts becoming known, she was compelled to run the gauntlet into Wilmington again, and resumed her former character. What particular object it was proposed to accomplish by such proceedings as those of the "Chickamauga" is hard to conceive, for at that stage of the civil war a cruise against the coasting trade of the North could only ;

show the desperate

straits to which the Confederates were reduced, and was merely an attempt to keep up the semblance of a war on the ocean. The "Atlanta" made two trips to Wilmington as a blockade-runner. She was then converted into a cruiser and named the " Tallahassee." Under this name she left the Cape Fear River early in August, 1864. and on the 19th of that month arrived at Halifax, after capturing and destroying several vessels. Owing to the vigilance of the authorities, who in this instance were upon the alert to prevent a violation of the neutrality laws, the " Tallahassee " was unable to obtain coal or othersupplies, and was obliged to return to Wilmington. In November this vessel made another attempt, under the name of the " Olustee," and took a few prizes, but, returning to Wilmington, assumed her old character of merchant vessel and blockade-runner. She received the ap-

name of "Chameleon," and in December, 1864, went to sea under the command of Captain John Wilkinson, of the Confederate Navy, with the object of returning from Bermuda laden with provisions for the Confederate army. Although the Governor of Bermuda was duly apprised of the character of the "Chameleon," he propriate

expressed himself as satisfied that she had been sufficiently whitewashed to be admitted as a merchant vessel. The cargo was sold, a supply of stores laid in, and the vessel returned to the Confederacv, only to find that Wilmington was in Jederal hands. Wilkinson then tried to get into Charleston; but, failing in his attempt, he proceeded to Nassau, landed his cargo, and the vessel was taken to Liverpool and delivered to Fraser, Trenholm Co., the Confederate agents but as the British au-

&

;

OF THE CIVIL WAR. thorities had now become very particular in regard to the proceedings of these nondescript vessels, the " Chameleon " was seized and ultimately surrendered to the

United States Government. It is only within a late period that we have ascertained anything of the inner life on board the Confederate cruisers, for Captain Semmes' voluminous narrative of the " Sumter" and "Alabama" does not by any means supply this want. The gallant captain represents his vessels as men-of-war, with most able officers and subordinate crews, where affairs were conducted in a manner to meet the approbation of the most hypercritical person. A lately published narrative of life on board the "Alabama," written by one of the crew, represents things very differently from the rose-colored view of the commanding oflScer. According to this account, the usages of civilized nations were not observed by the crew of the Confederate cruiser, who were a riotous and abandoned set of men, who paid little heed to the rules

and regulations of the vessel or the orders of their officers. This is not to be wondered at, when we consider that the men were shipped in illegal fashion and were most of them the lowest class of adventurers. We give a few quotations from this interesting article: " I was pleased to find that I had not an old shipmate aboard. The best man in the port-watch, to which I belonged, was a Scotchman named Grill. He was about forty, very powerful, and could hold an ordinary man at arm's length clear off the deck. He was saturated with Calvinism, and could quote Scripture and sermons by the hour, but was, all the

According same, a daring, dangerous ruffian. to his own account, he had been in numerous mutinies, in one case taking a Spanish brig, killing the officers, beaching her on the Deseada Key, in the Leeward Islands, and getting to This Porto Rico in the launch with the plunder. man's influence was bad, and he was the cause of much of the insubordination that took place on board. " We were now taking prizes rapidly, being not over four hundred miles from New York, in the 'rolling forties,' directly in the track of American commerce. 'The treatment of the prisoners was fairly good, and they were not ill - used on board, but the conduct of the boarding-crews was shameful; the officer in charge of the boat had no control over them, and they rushed below like a gang of pirates, breaking open the sailors' chests, and taking from the persons of the prisoners everj^thing that took their fancy. I never saw them injure prisoners, or use their weapons, except to frighten their victims, but the wanton destruction of the captured sailors was simply This sort of thing seriously affected the morale of the men, and, had we then met an enemy of equal force, but of the usual standard of man-of-war discipline, we should have made a very poor show. The prisoners were of all nationalities, but their officers all seemed to be Americans by birth, and were mostly a fine, gentlemanly lot. The old sea-dog element, so common among English shippers in the East, does not seem to exist among clothes

and

disgraceful.

effects of

821

they might easily be mistaken for clerks or even

Not so the old sailor, in command of the 'tea wagons' and East Indian ships their walk and lingo proclaimed them sailors, and nothing else. One of the mates of a whaling-ship we took and burned was a parson-like man, and preached and prayed to his fellows. He was long and lanky, and two of our roughs began to haze him, but they mistook their calling, and in two minutes were so mauled and man-handled that it was reported aft but the first-officer said it served them right, much to the satisfaction of the honest professors.

—

;

man between decks.

******

" November 18th (1863), we arrived at Martinique and had an ovation the exultation of the French over the disasters to Yankee commerce impressed me. A French corvette lying there gave a dinner to the officers. Gill licked two of the Frenchman's petty officers nearly to death, as his share of the entertainment, and our liberty was stopped in consequence. Forest swam on shore that night, and, eluding sharks and look-outs, was hauled into one of the berth-deck ports, with five gallons of the worst liquor I ever drank. It set the entire watch crazy. Forest kept comparatively sober, but old Gill 'bowsed up his jib until he could scarcely stand. Such an uproar I never heard the lanterns were lit in defiance, and, when the watch was called, the officer of the deck was saluted with all manner of skrim-shander.' The boatswain was knocked down and hurt by a blow from a belaying-pin, and everything loose was fired aft. The officers and marines with the sober portion of the crew now charged forward, and a terrible melee ensued. Gill knocked a gunner's-mate's jaw out of place, and was laid out by a capstan-bar, and finally the '

'

;

'

;

'

*****

drunken men were secured. "

We now

sailed for Jamaica, going into Port Here something Royal, and had a pleasant time. occurred that few knew of. An Irishman called " King-post," from his build, being short and thick, was suspected of giving the' officers information of the plans of Forest and his mates. He was closely watched and he knew it, but was on his guard. He took his liberty with the others, and, of course, got drunk. Seeing Gill and another man leading a third and going towards the suburbs, I followed, and made out the third man to be King-post. I

missed them, and, as I knew that GUI was well acquainted with the port, I at once conjectured that he had seen me following them, and had

changed his course. An hour after, both men came back and I joined them. I asked where the Irishman was. Gill looked at me with his hard gray I dunna know, ladeyes, and significantly said die, but he'll haud his tongue noo and ye had :

'

;

King-post never came back and was supposed to have deserted but, no doubt, he fell a victim to those two The crew broke all bounds here, and ruffians. nearly all the petty officers were disrated, much to their satisfaction, as they had no respect from the crew and were responsible for them to their officers. It was a very common thing for the crew that boarded a prize to Once some fifteen bring liquor back with them. bottles of brandy were smuggled aboard, and all hands partook, A.s usual, there was a terrible time between decks. One petty officer was so badly hurt Many of the that it was thought he would die. men had grape-shot in a netted bag fastened to the wrist by a lanyard, and many a coward blow was given with these." better say naithing, yir a wise fallow

!'

;

*******

Whether such performances as those mentioned above were consistent with the discipline of a vessel-of-war, we must leave to the judgment of our naval readers.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

832

of the Confederate cruisers with the precedents which have governed vessels-of-war in modern times, and their toleration by European governments must be due to the fact that the said governments believed the union of the States was finally dissolved,

to be fitted out in their harbors. At the same time this news was transmitted by British packets to the United States, having its effect there, but not exactly what Semmes wanted. Semmes pursued this course, without attempt at concealment, until his vessel

and that the fragments would have no power to exact reparation for damages. The present condition of our country shows what a mistaken idea prevailed abroad dur-

was sunk by the " Kearsarge."

ing the

civil

war.

is

now

What

chiefly required

by the

United States is an adequate naval establishment such as will command the respect of European powers. Under such circumstances, we would never have to fear a recurrence of such dreadful scenes as were common on board the Confederate cruisers.

In the cruise of

glamour attending the remarkable Semmes, Waddell, in the " Shenan-

doah," has almost been lost sight of. CapSemmes lost no opportunity of advertis; ing himself through the vessels he bonded^ through foreign vessels, or otherwise. His object was to show the people of Europe the dreadful havoc the Confederates were making on American commerce; and, although by this course he ran the risk of being followed and overtaken by the Federal cruisers, yet he was so adroit in his proceedings that he always managed to leave a cruising-ground before the United States Government could get a vessel there. Semmes frequented some of the best-known ports, where there was constant communication with England, so that the Britons were, constantly informed of the effect of their policy in allowing Confederate cruisers tain

Waddell, in the "Shenandoah," pursued

He followed different course. the line of the whale fisheries which was unfrequented by other vessels, and he carried on his work, with little chance of its being found out, until he had destroyed the The actual losses inentire whaling fleet. flicted by the "Alabama"—$6, 547, 609. SBwas only about $60,000 greater than those inflicted by the " Shenandoah," yet the latter was only in commission about one- half as long a time as the "Alabama." Commander Waddell kept his movements concealed, and left no trace behind him by which he could be followed. He eluded the vigilance of the United States cruisers that were in pursuit of him, and, after lightening his vessel of a portion of her cargo, delivered her to the British authorities, and she was at last turned over to the United States Government. An account of the inner life on board the " Shenandoah" has never, to our knowledge, been published, although from the records of the Court of Alabama Claims we know the exact number of vessels Waddell captured and the an entirely

damage committed

;

but,

if

ever an account

published, even in the boastful spirit which characterizes so many Confederate narratives, it will no doubt be found equally interesting with the story of the " Alabama," and quite as disreputable. of this cruise is

CH A PTER LV II THE RAM "STONEWALL." Remarkable Energy and Fidelity of the Confederate Agents Abroad.— The Building, Purchase and Fitting out of Confederate Cruisers.— The Ram " Stonewall " BUILT, sold to the DaNISH AUTHORITIES, AND REPURCHASED BY THE CONFEDERATE Government. — The Ram in Commission.— The Federal Vessels-of-war " Niagara" AND '* Sacramento" Blockaded in the Port of Corunna.— Actions of Commodore Craven.— The Ram Proceeds to Lisbon.— Commodore Craven Court-martialed AND Sentenced. — The Secretary of the Navy Censures the Court, and the Proceedings set aside.— Commodore Craven Restored to Duty. — The Ram ends her Career at Havana, and is finally Surrendered to the United States BY THE Spanish Authorities.

— Remarks.

management of the agents of the Confederate Government abroad in supplying it with cruisers was very remarkable, and shows that the Confederacy was extremely fortunate in the selection of the officers thus employed. The agents not only succeeded in eluding the supposed vigilance of the authorities in England, but were even able to contract for two powerful rams and four corvettes in France to carry the most formidable guns then

THE

known.

One of the cleverest of these officers, and, as far as we know, the best, Captain James D. Bullock, was the principal agent in England for the purchase of vessels, and though the laws were violated in the transaction of building or purchasing, the violation rested principally with the builder or seller. In all his business transactions, it is fair to say of Captain Bullock that the only charge brought against him was too great a fidelity to the cause he had espoused, coupled with the ability he manifested in getting Confederate cruisers afloat. Though it is true that he was the prime-mover in getting these cruisers to sea, it has not been charged that he ever resorted to dishonorIt is said able means to attain his ends. that he made contracts fairly and openly -Mrit.Vi Vinilrlf»rs and left, it with thp.m tn Hp-

such time and place as they thought best. That the latter were adepts in violating their own laws, no one will doubt, and it is not to be supposed that the Confederate agents would hesitate to accept a well-fitted ship in a very irregular manner, as it seemed to the Federal Government, for human nature is too weak on such occasions to resist temptation. Bullock was a man of ability. He never tired in his efforts, and if he met with difficulties at one turn he tried another; and when the British Government, seeing "the handwriting on the wall," realized the importance of not becoming involved in a war with the United States, and suddenly exercised all its power to put a stop to fitting out cruisers, Bullock transferred his talents to France, or, at least, pointed the way to constructing the vessels mentioned in that liver the ships at

country. The career of the cruisers was nearly over; but they had been so successful that the Confederate Government was determined to show that it was able to drive off the large frigates and other vessels before the Southern ports, and raise the blockade all along the coast. Perhaps, had the vessels contracted for in France all got off together, and operated in concert, they might have created some confusion along the coast of the United States.

834

run. iVAVJiJ^

securing joint action with England against Mexico, and, seeing that the Southern rebellion was fast collapsing, felt sure that the first step of the Federal Government would be to march a large army into Mexico to drive out the French troops.

in

That army might possibly have been composed of Federal and Confederate soldiers marching shoulder to shoulder to defeat the common enemy, who, taking advantage of an intestine war, had presumed to establish an Empire right at our doors on the ruins of a sister Republic. The construction of the vessels for the

Confederate Government in France was undertaken by the builders with the tacit understanding that the French authorities would not prevent their delivery on completion. But owing, undoubtedly, to the European apprehensions, when the rams were about ready for sea, peremptory orders were given by the French Government that all the vessels should be sold. The orders were obeyed, and the "Stonewall" (then the "Sphynx") was purchased by Denmark, just as the Schleswig-Holstein war was closing. Delay in the completion and final delivery of the ram to Denmark made that government lukewarm in carrying out the terms of the purchase, as by this time the war was at an end and the ship was not required. When, therefore, a proposition was made by the builder to repurchase the "Sphynx," after delivery at Copenhagen, the Danish authorities accepted it without hesitation, and, as a natural sequence, she passed into the possession of the Confederate agents, was by them put into commis-

and christened the " Stonewall." The history of the four corvettes is not pertinent, as they never came into the possession of the Confederate Government. The "Stonewall" was placed under the command of Captain Thomas Jefferson Page, an able officer, formerly of the United States Navy. She had, we regret to say, an opportunity of inflicting a humiliation upon the American Navy which was hard to bear, considering that its name almost throughout the conflict had been without a stain, and that the reputation it had gained in the war of 1812 had not diminished in the least. The "Stonewall" got to sea January 28th, 1865, having received her stores and crew from another vessel dispatched by Captain Bullock from England, at Quiberon Bay, Belle Isle, France, but, owing to defects in the rudder casing, the " Stonewall " put in to Ferrol, Spain, for repairs, where she arrived February 3d, and fell in with the Federal frigate "Niagara" and sloop-of-war " Sacramento," under the command of Comsion,

modore Thomas T. Craven. The "Niagara" was a large and fast vessel of 4,600 tons displacement, carrying ten 150-pounder Parrott

niaiuKx The " Sacramento " mounted two^ two 9-inch guns and one 60pounder rifle, with some smaller pieces. The "Stonewall" carried one 300-pounder Armstrong rifle in a casemate in the bow and two 70-pounder rifles in a fixed turret, Her sides were armored with 4| inches aft. Such of iron she had also a heavy ram. was the force of the three vessels now conrifles.

11-inch guns,

;

gregated in a Spanish port, the Confederate evidently determined to try consequences with the Federal vessels. The commander of the " Niagara," not wishing to lay in the same port with the Confederate vessel, moved his ship to Corunna, where, when her repairs were completed, she was followed by the " Stone,

wall,"

which remained before the port

blockading the two American ships-of-war, and, as the Commodore expressed it, "flaunting her flags in his face." Captain Page, in fact, did everything he could to provoke an encounter; and it must have been with much mortiflcation that the Union commodore decided to remain at his anchors, and not run the risk of a battle with a foe that was represented as built with impervious sides, and with a battery (though smaller in numbers) very much Unfortunately, the superior to his own. Spaniards looking on could not be made to understand how two large vessels, mounting between them fifteen heavy guns, could decline a contest with a much smaller vessel carrying only three guns, and hence arose some misconstruction as to the existence of that prestige which American ofIt must have ficers claimed for their Navy. required great moral courage in an officer commanding two such ships to refrain from attacking the " Stonewall," on the ground that an engagement would result disastrously for the Union vessels. At the same time, no commander would be held justifiable, merely for the sake of making a reputation for himself, in neglecting other interests and attacking an enemy so superior to him that he would have no chance of success. But the question arises, was the " Stonewall" so superior to the " Niagara " and "Sacramento ? And it was a question that could only be ascertained by a contest at sea, when each vessel would have an opportunity of testing the other's qualities.

As the "Stonewall" was seen by the commander of the " Niagara," who was a capital sailor, she appeared to be a

most

powerful antagonist, and if well handled she would probably have inflicted serious injury upon the two vessels he commanded. He thought, perhaps (and so thought other professional men), that, under certain circumstances, the ram would have sunk the two Federal ships ; while others, who hav»

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

since seen the weak points in the " Stonewall," are of the opinion that she would have been no match for the Union vessels. No results would ever be arrived at, if a commander of a vessel should be unwilling to attack another about which he knew nothing. It is very questionable whether naval actions which are based exclusively on too nice calculations, and where too much consideration is given to the risk to be run in engaging an enemy, are ever followed by any gallant results. There was great excitement in the Navy Department on hearing the conclusion the

commander of the " Niagara "had reached regard to the "Stonewall," and that, in consequence, the Confederate vessel had proceeded to Lisbon, coaled, and continued on her way toward the coast of the United States, without being followed further than that place. The several squadrons on the coast were warned that this formidable vessel was about to attack them, and directed to keep a good look-out for her; but, as a general rule, her advent was not at all apprehended, and, if she had appeared, steps had been taken to dispose of her as all Confederate rams had been disposed of in

before her. It would not be fair for any one to judge harshly of the action of the Federal commander in this matter, unless he had been placed in the same position himself. No officer should be deprived of the discretionary power due to his command, or be trammelled by the opinions of those who have no responsibility resting upon them. It would never do to establish a principle that, for the sake merely of his reputation, an officer under all circumstances should attack an iron-clad with two wooden vesVery little was known of the power sels. of sea-going iron-clads at that time, and the " Stonewall," for all the commander of the " Niagara " knew, might be impervious to shot or shell, and with manoeuvering powers that were unequalled by the two Yet there may ships under his command. have been some justification for censure in the want of judgment in the commodore on the 24th day of May, 1865, in not making some exertion to obtain constant and personal observation of the Confederate ram while at Ferrol, and thus ascertain the truth or falsehood of the received reports There might also be of her character. some cause for reflection on the conduct of the Federal commander in remaming quietly at anchor in the Bay of Corunna, instead of going outside with his two veswater, and there sels in the same neutral " making observations of the " Stonewall's speed power of turning, etc. and he might, with propriety, have consulted with his -innmr commander. Captain Henry Walke, ;

'

835

of the " Sacramento," who had boldly engaged on the Mississippi River a much

— the " Arkansas " in command of the " Carondelet," a inferior vessel — at least, he might

more powerful ram while

much

his consort some plan of This was not done, perhaps for the reason that, as, in his judgment, no engagement should take place, it was useless to form plans he did not propose to under-

have formed with attack.

take.

Some of these ideas were evidently paramount in the mind of the Secretary of the Navy when the commander of the " Niagara " returned to the United States, as he brought him to trial by court-martial on the " Failing to do his utfollowing charge most to overtake and capture or destroy a vessel which it was his duty to encounter." The court was composed of nine of the most distinguished officers of the Navy, with :

Vice- Admiral Farragut as President. The court decided that Commodore Craven had been remiss in his duties, and sentenced him to two years' suspension on leave-pay. This sentence was either inadequate to the offence charged, or it was very unjust, which will be plain to the nautical reader. Secretary Welles seemed to think that, notwithstanding the opinion of nine officers of the Navy, the sentence was inadequate to the offence, and addressed a severe communication to the president of the court in returning the proceedings for revision. Whether he was right or not in doing so depends on the latitude the revising authority is allowed in disapproving the finding of a court of officers who are sworn to do their whole duty in the premises. It would seem to be an attempt to deprive them of that discretionary power which is generally a beneficent feature in a military court-martial. It also detracts from that dignity which properly belongs to such a body, holding, as it does, the power even of life and death. The following is an extract from the Department's letter, returning the record to the court for revision :

"Navy Department, "Washington, December

— The record of the

1,

\

1865.

)

" Sir

proceedings of the court of which you are President, in the case of Commodore Thomas T. Craven, is herewith returned for a revision of the finding, which, in the opinion of the Department, is in conflict with law, and, if approved, would tend to render the provisions of law, which the accused is charged with violating, a

'dead

letter.""

Having received ceeded to revise

this letter, the court pro-

action

its

upon the charge

specifications, and, after more mature deliberation, " doth find the charge j3rot;en, except the words, as it was his duty to have done,' and doth find the accused, Commodore Thomas T. Craven, of the charge, guilty, and doth award the follow-

and

'

THE NAVAL HISTORY

836

ing punishment That the accused, Commodore Thomas T. Craven, be suspended from duty for two years on leave-pay." In :

his final revision of this finding, the reof the Secretary of the Navy are a severe censure on the action of the court, the proceedings were set aside and the accused restored to duty. The above is a very important part of the history of the war, which we would be glad to be able to omit; but there are facts in the case having a very important bearing upon the future actions of officers of the Navy, and it would not be right in a historian to omit that which is unfavorable to the naval service and publish only This case may that which is creditable. be referred to hereafter as a test question, and the finding of the court and the opinion of the revising power may be adduced to show what duties are enjoined on members of courts-martialj and how far the revising power can go in virtually setting aside the sentence of a court when it is not considered to be severe enough, and in censuring a court in an official letter. It is a well-established principle in military or naval law, that when charges are brought against an officer to any one of which the penalty of death is attached, no

marks

The law other sentence can be awarded. courts - martial shall is imperative that adjudge a punishment adequate to the offence committed and only leaves it discretionary with the court to recommend the convicted person to clemency, that clemency to be exercised only by the revising authority. The court has no discretion but to make its finding accord with the law. In the case under consideration, the court may have deemed that the law under which the accused was tried was one of a harsh character, as, no doubt, it was as far as regards the case in question, but it was bound by a solemn obligation to administer it as it stood on the statute-books, and not to

modify

it

to suit their

own views

of jus-

authority to make recommendations to mercy that the revising power would hardly feel justified in disregarding, especially as a similar case had never been presented to a court during the war, and when it was a question whether an officer had any discretionary power in avoiding a combat with a vessel of an entirely different character from his own, and constructed on principles many years in advance of vessels of the class he tice.

They had

full

commanded. The great mistake the court made was in endeavoring to modify the charge of which the accused was or was not guilty. They had either to say one thing or another, and that in accordance with their opinion such was the case, and the revising power could

say no more. No ill results followed the " flaunting" of the " Stonewall's " flag, and it was in some respects a very doubtful Three of the officers of the court, case. Vice - Admiral Farragut, Rear - Admiral Davis and Captain Melancton Snaith, had had some rough experiences with iron-clad rams, and, under the circumstances, were, no doubt, disposed to judge leniently, and willing to allow the commander of the "Niagara" discretionary rights in regard to attacking the " Stonewall." The court made a grave mistake in not more carefully considering this matter, and in not inquiring more closely into the points of law and for this reason it may be said that the court jeopardized, in a measure, the interests of the accused by finding him guilty of that which was not proved inasmuch as they declared by implication that it was not his duty to have attacked the "Stonewall," the finding being as follows: " Specification of the charge proven, except in so far as the words, as it was his duty to have done,' declare it to have been the imperative duty of the accused to join battle with the Stonewall on the 34th day ;

;

'

'

of

'

March"— (1865).

How, under the finding of the court, the commander of the "Niagara" could be censured for " want of zeal and exertion in not making constant and personal observation of the

'

Stonewall

'

while at Ferrol,

and thereby endeavoring

to ascertain the truth or falsehood of the various reports of her character," does not appear for, while qualifying their finding, they reflect upon him in three several instances First, in second, " on the the words just quoted conduct of the accused in remaining quietly at anchor in the bay of Corunna while the Stonewall was parading about in neutral waters, flaunting her flags," etc and, third, in that no plans were formed for concerted action between the "Niagara" and " Sacramento " by the accused. Under the circumstances, and considering the inconsistency of the court, the revising power found it impossible to determine whether the accused was guilty or not, the finding on the charge declaring him guilty, but that on the specification, not guilty. As the court adhered to its finding when the proceedings were returned for revision, the Secretary of the Navy concluded to set the proceedings aside, and restore the commander of the " Niagara " to duty. As this case ended, the matter is left in abeyance, and it may yet happen that an officer may be tried under the same circumstances which present the simple question, Shall an officer be allowed any discretionary power in deciding whether or not to join battle with an enemy's ships or with an enemy's forts ? for the principle applies to ;

:

;

'

'

;

—

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

In the light of later events, the leniency of the court at that time is generally

"both.

approved, and, taking into consideration the high character of the officers who composed it, it would have been but courteous to them had the revising power yielded to their opinion, which was, without doubt, the result of their honest convictions. It has been conceded that Admiral Byng, of the British Navy, was unjustly shot, to satisfy public opinion. There was no necessity on No this occasion for such an example. man could know whether or not the affair at Corunna was an error of judgment in

—

837

no one could tell whether it was not the right course to pursue. Any officer commanding two wooden ships of the same kind to-day could feel perfectly justified in avoiding a battle with a modern iron-clad ram whether the cases are analagous, the reader must be the judge. After all the trouble and excitement created by the " Stonewall," she never succeeded in getting beyond Havana, where, at the termination of the war, she was given up to the Spanisli Government by her fact,

—

in an honorable manner and surrendered to the United States.

commander

CHAPTER

LVIII.

CONCLUSIOK

WHEN

the war ended, the United States had attained a position as a Naval power never before reached by the Republic, and could claim to b6 able to meet either France or England upon the ocean. Both of these nations had looked on with surprise at the rapid manner in which the Federal Government was adding to its Navy. If not anxious for the dissolution of the United States, both France and England

were quick to throw their weight against it by proclamations, giving to the Confederates a character that did much to strengthen their cause, by offering them most substantial aid, and in permitting them to build, arm and equip vessels-of-war in their ports for the destruction of American commerce. Even at a time when the Federal armies had advanced so far in the enemy's country that the final result was apparent to the most indifferent observer, the Confederate sympathizers in France and England declared that the Federal Government was making no progress in subduing the Confederacy, and insisted that the Navy, in particular, was incapable of putting down the few cruisers that were destroying American commerce at their pleasure. France, the ancient ally of the United States, that had stood by the young Republic in its hour of need, and who had always been bound to it in the closest ties of amity, under the avaricious policy of her emperor, who had his eyes fixed on Mexico,

went over

to England and supported her in the proclamations issued in the Queen's name, but dictated by Earl Russell. The

emperor hoped to persuade England to embark in a scheme that was to benefit France only in the subjection of Mexico to French rule, and to add to the French crown that jewel which would enrich and strengthen any nation that possessed it. In his insane desire to obtain possession of that beauti-

ful country, the French emperor beheld in the supposed waning power of the United States the opportunity he sought to enable him to plant his foot firmly on the soil of the Montezumas, thinking that, once the City of Mexico was occupied by his troops, the United States would never again be in a condition to offer any obstacles to the permanent establishment of French authority. It was this ambitious project only that induced France to abandon her old friendship for the United States, and uphold England in her questionable policy of permitting the construction of Confederate cruisers in her ports. Had France

remained

strictly neutral,

and shown Eng-

land that she did not approve of the pretended neutrality the latter was practicing, the moral effect of her course would have been to prevent England from assisting the Confederates. When the "Trent" affair took place (which did not in the least concern France), and when the British Government had taken such precipitate measures to humiliate the Federal Government not giving it time even to make an explanation the French emperor, through his minister in Washington, entered an entirely uncalled-for protest against the action of the United States vessel-of-war " San Jacinto," stating that such a course was as offensive to France as to England, and, in fact, to all European governments and announcing in his dispatch the course France would pursue under like circumstances his real policy being to urge England into a war with the United States,

—

—

;

—

which would further French views in regard to Mexico. This shows the animus actuating the emperor; though the Federal Administration had its hands full at that time, his object was apparent, while the sincerity of England was strongly suspected. The first step of the Navy Department, when it could command the money, was to i«m

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

Navy not only for the purpose blockading the Southern coast, but to Krotect our shores from foreign foes, and old their own iipon the ocean with the cruisers of either France or England. We have shown how inadequate the Navy was at the breaking out of the rebellion even to blockade the Confederate ports, much less to offer resistance to a powerful naval antagonist ; but even the first year of the war was one of wonderful development for the Navy, not only in establishing a complete blockade, but in the usefulness of naval vessels in assisting the Army to carry out plans of conquest that it could never have achieved alone. In a very short time after the Confederacy was established, all the great rivers of the West and their tributaries were in Confederate hands, and the most inaccessible points therein armed with ponderous guns,

construct a of

manned by an excited soldiery. The Potomac River was blockaded almost from Alexandria to the Chesapeake; the Sounds North Carolina were filled with powerful batteries, and the channels closed by sunken obstructions. Every port on the Southern coast was protected by well-constructed forts, and closed against the few of

vessels the Government owned, and for a time the Federal cause looked so hopeless that Europeon despots might well be excused for supposing that it would be an impossible task to recover the lost domain, unprovided as the Federal Government was with ships of a character to contend with all the peculiar difficulties of navigation in the inland waters. The difficulties to be overcome have only been described in this work in a partial way, for no description could give an adequate idea of all that was done by the Navy and how it was done. Compare the results of this great war in matters connected with the Navy alone with those of any other scene of action in Europe or elsewhere, and it will be seen that history of-

no example where so much was accomplished in so short a time, or where so many events were crowded into the space of four years, in which the Navy was employed subduing a coast over four thousand miles in length, and recapturing a river-coast of more than five thousand miles. Let us compare the operations of England fers

in the Crimea with those on coast, and note the results. These two nations had but a small amount of territory to subdue four hundred square miles at the most; the two great navies of the world were at their command, with a much larger proportion of troops than ever cooperated with the Federal naval forces durino- t.ho war of the rebellion : thev started

and France our

own

—

839

with the greatest armada the world ever saw sixty or seventy ships of the line, and

—

numerous other

vessels-of-war, transports

with troops), that almost covered the sea and still they were months making any impression upon the Russian strong(filled ;

which did not in any way compare with Vicksburg. The Federal Government commenced with four small vessels (carrying in all twenty -five guns), the duty of capturing or blockading the South Atlantic coast. In the Gulf of Mexico were eight more ships; in the Mediterranean, three more; seven were on the coast of Africa; two on that of Brazil; three were in the East Indies, and hold,

—

eight in the Pacific scattered, in fact, all over the world and these had to be collected to satisfy England and France that a perfect blockade could be established. They naturally ridiculed the attempt, yet in less than a year the blockade was accomplished, so that the most hypercritical sovereign could not object to it, and every foreign government acknowledged that it was the great feat of the war. All the skill and capital of England could not keep this blockade open, though they might at times succeed in getting their vessels into Southern ports to supply the Confederate armies with the means of carrying on the war. The Navy was so watchful that multitudes of English vessels were captured; the coasts of the South were strewn with the wrecks of English clipper-steamers which were chased on shore in calm and in storm by officers who seldom slept, and were scanning the horizon night and day for the sight of an incoming blockade-runner. This was but a small part of the naval service performed. The Navy was called upon to help open the Potomac, and guard the capital; directed to capture the Hatteras forts, and the fortifications in the sounds and rivers of North Carolina. The forts at Hilton Head defied them, but naval officers, with their wooden vessels, dismantled them with shell. Forts Jackson and St. Philip, which French and English officers said would sink the whole Federal Navy, barred the way to New Orleans the guns of the Navy opened the gates and laid New Orleans captive at the conqueror's feet. Then came the demand that the Navy should open the Mississippi from the Ohio River to the sea, clear out the obstructions in the shape of four hundred guns, and restore the different towns on the banks of that great river to the control of the With what United States Government. ;

;

was

to be done ? Could their frail improvised from river-boats and a few thin-plated vessels, be able to force the barriers that were placed on every elis-ible site ? Yet. with the aid of the it all

vessels,

THE NAVAL HISTORY

830

Army, a little over two years after the war began, the Mississippi was open to the sea. The ideas of the Navy Department grew with the success of the Navy afloat, and the work-shops of the country teemed with mechanics who entered heaf t and soul into the business of building iron-clads that could not only cope successfully with the heavy forts of the enemy, but could remind unfriendly nations that the more severely this nation was tested, the more she would rise in her strength. The State of Tennessee, the great prize and battle-ground (upon which the enemy expended a large portion of their resources, and through which they hoped to attack the northwestern States), was under the control of the gun-boats, and the Army was placed by their aid securely in the heart of the State. From the time a naval force was placed on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, the stay of the Confederate forces was very problematical, and it cannot escape the attention of the reader how persistent were the naval officers who commanded the Western Squadron in keeping open two rivers, which were in all cases the keys to the situation. Only two important points on the seacoast had been maintained by the enemy Charleston and Wilmington but, though they flourished for a time, afforded great assistance to the Confederate cause, and kept up the drooping spirits of the infatuated Confederacy, the rebellion received its death-blow on July 4th, 1863. Its afterstruggles were only like those of the dying lion, that for a short time exhibits his greatest strength without power to do any injury in his dying throes, no matter how

—

much

prolonged.

At the end of the war the United States Government had just begun to realize its strength, and those who had the direction of its affairs might well feel proud of the great Army and Navy which stood ready,

now that the intestine troubles were over, to take in hand those who had so insolently interfered with the Federal Government, not from any real sympathy with the Southern cause, but from a desire to see the free institutions of this country overthrown, and the whole land become a scene of

fit

—

to show that man for self-government.

anarchy

place

was

in

no

What the Navy Department and the war did towards building up a Navy, and a Navy altogether of a new type, can only be judged by a reference to the tables anne'xed to this chapter, which give a correct exhibit of the ships built, building, and altered, during the four years' war a feat only one other nation (Great Britain) could have accomplished in the same space of time. All of this Navy that is known in his-

—

tory as having performed the greatest feat in the war (the most complete blockade of a coast ever established), is among the things of the past. Its dissolution was even It was more rapid than its creation.

allowed to dwindle away without an effort to replace those ships, that had fallen victims to decay, with others of a' suitable The vessels were sold "under character. the hammer," as no longer suitable for the purposes of war, which had changed its character entirely since the beginning of few old vessels the American contest. still remain to attest the uselessness of a branch of the service on which the Government must depend for protection in time of war with a foreign nation, or to keep the peace at home against insurrectionists of whatever character that may

A

present themselves. It is no compliment to the intelligence of sixty millions of people to have it said, that the United States has not one ironclad to defend her coast ; not a perfectly equipped cruiser of steel to carry her flag' upon the ocean ; not a single gun in her coast defences that could pierce the shield of a foreign iron-clad, and not a fortification that could resist the attack of two or may be three foreign-built iron-clads. said to be a great nation of people, but certainly not a nation of great people ; for, who will call us the latter, when there seems to be such a love of accumulating wealth, without the manly desire to have the means of defending it against the aggressions of any power that may choose to

We

make war upon us ? The Government of the United States cannot defend themselves against the weakest naval power, much less against a strong one, and we must, perforce, rely on that old system, so much in vogue in Thomas Jefferson's time, of paying tribute, as we did from 1804 to 1815 to the Barbary powers, to prevent them from preying on our commerce and carrying our citizens to captivity.

We

had experience enough during the

war

of the rebellion to satisfy us that there were certain European governments that desired the downfall of the American Union, and it was only by means of an abject compliance with their demands that

we escaped war, which would have been the signal of the complete triumph of the South and the dissolution of the Union which our forefathers exercised so much wisdom in building up. What a noble sight it would have been, after the settlement of our difficulties at home, to see the American people set to work and build a Navy that would bid defiance to any naval power in the world to rebuild the commerce that had been driven from the sea by the "Alabamas" and " Floridas," and

—

OF THE

CIVIL WAR.

which was once the pride and wealth of the nation to give an exhibition of our wealth and resources and our indomitable will, that no nation should oppose us, or interfere with our domestic affairs. But,

—

.

instead of this we stood still, while other nations worked on, and taking advantage of our lethargy robbed us of our commerce, took the carrying trade all in their own hands, and now laugh at our inane attempts to build up a Navy, which, if it ever reaches a reputable standard, will show that we are so deficient in the elementary science of naval construction that we cannot keep pace even with the modern examples that have been set us by European

powers.

We can be no more exempt from war than others; indeed, our weak condition is so well understood by all the world that it only invites aggression and, if we would not desire to rest under the imputation of being the poorest government under the sun, and unfit to take care of the interests ;

of sixty millions of people, we must shortly awake from an apathy that would disgrace any country, and begin to provide for the

national defence. In the war of the rebellion the people on both sides exhibited the greatest examples of courage, resources and perseverance, showing what we could do were our shores to be invaded for which, no doubt, in the opinion of the world, we have gained that reputation which generally follows heroic deeds. But all that credit would disappear to-morrow if we were involved in a foreign war our coasts would be devastated, our harbors sealed up by a foreign foe, and we would again be obliged to pay tribute as we did to the Barbary powers of old. Taking into consideration the situation of the United States at the present time, it looks as if the rebellion had taught us nothing, and that we are giving wild theorists of the past and present some show of reason to assert that republican forms of government are unnecessarily expensive, revolutionary, and deficient in the elements for the maintenance of a proper protection from an outside enemy or intestine foe. government which maintains no army or navy for the preservation of law and order simply runs an even race with anarchy and rebellion. This is true of us in a tenfold degree, for we give our enemies in all quarters the opportunity of getting their forces first into the field. This applies more particularly to the Navy of the United States, which never seems to attract the attention of those who have charge of the national defence. They never for a moment think that, if the dreadful reality of war was sprung upon us, not only could any of the greater powers witViin twentv davs lav our laree sea-coast ;

:

A

831

and exact any amount of tribbute they might think proper, but even the smallest States, with any pretensions as naval powers, could humiliate us to any extent. This is a terrible confession to make, but it is nevertheless true, and, unless those who have these matters in charge rise to a proper conception of their duty, they may live to "reap of the whirlwind," and receive the condemnation of the sixty millions of people who now depend on them for that protection every government owes cities in ashes,

its citizens.

The people of the United States can readily dispose of their anarchists on the land, and provide against all their revolutionary ideas by the bullet or bayonet, when they become tired of listening to these wild theorists who would upset, if they could, any government, no matter how desirable. But they are helpless when it comes to de-

fending themselves against the attacks of heavy ironclads, which can only be met by great vessels-of-war designed for the purpose which we do not possess, and which there seems very little prospect of our ob;

taining.

There is but one remedy for the evils under which we are resting, and that is, for the people to take the matter in hand and demand a Navy that will help put down

home at its first inception, and bid defiance to those abroad who would commit aggressions upon our commerce, or treat our citizens unjustly in any part of the world. Let us not forget that something akin to Barbary powers still exists, though in the garb of Christian civilization, and that they are not as limited in number as they were in 1804. They may have the strongest treaties binding them to us in terms of amity, but they are ever ready, like the Algerines of old, to take advantage of our rebellion at

weakness.

We might naturally be

supposed to have some bitter feelings against England and France on account of the unfriendliness they exhibited when we were retained

passing through the greatest struggle of our history as a nation, but, though we might very properly be so influenced, this idea has no foundation in fact though it might well be impressed upon the consciences of many of the British people who do not remember with complacency the course England (as a nation) pursued, considering her intimate relations with the United States. But the Americans are a forgiving people, and forget injuries, only to have them repeated even when they know they were intended to be fatal. found no sympathy in our great revolution, which became a struggle for our actual ex;

We

istence: least of

all

did w^e find

it

whfirfi -wa

THE NAVAL HISTORY

832

—

had a right to expect it in free England, who had taken the first broad step towards the emancipation of the slave. But our disappointment in finding a foe where we should have found a friend only added a

We

found ourselves vigor to our action. strong enough to fight our way to victory. could well afford to do without the sj'mpathy of either England or France; for, though the task became harder, owing to their opposition, we were perfectly conscious from the first that their aid was not needed, and that their opposition would be

We

futile.

adventurous Napoleon III., who an empire on the acquisition of Mexico by the downfall of the United States, has long since paid the penalty of

The

staked

his treachery in his opposition to the great

Eepublic, once the ally of France. Even his descendants, to the last generation, have disappeared from the face of the earth, vtrhile, in his old age, he was deprived of all he held dear— power and wealth. There seems to be a Nemesis at work in all such matters, bringing retribution where it is most deserved. England prospers, and extends her dominions, spreading freedom to all parts of the earth, and, apparently, strengthening her power; but she will live to see her colonies, one after another, going from her, each one seeking in turn to attain a larger degree of autonomy than they now possess, and she may find arrayed against her the very element on which she depended to increase her prestige, and may then miss some of that sympathy she denied us in our hour of need.

CHAPTER LIX Prizes Adjudicated from the

Commencement op the Rebellion to November 1, 1865, WITH THE Names op Vessels or Other Material Captured, and the Names op Vessels Entitled to Share in Distribution op Proceeds.

Gross pro-

Name.

ceeds.

Sch. Anna Belle Sch. Adeline Sch. Aristides* Sch. Agnes Sch. Ariel Sch, Avenger Sch. Agnes Sch. Adventure

Alma Sloop Ann Squires Sch.

American CoaBter

Sch.

74

$1.3.55

87

67 88 18 72 71 67 00 86 38 28

1,244 82 67 37 1,761 96 739 25 233 70 165 17 621 63 676 89 886 32 345 69 119 27 16,708 32 6,671 10 2,077 85 1,618 61 1,064 56 1,877 90 1,277 96 1,506 22 267 86 1,116 91 2,227 96 2,771 26

600 00 16,990 00

249 36 617 06

$6,743 4,086 125 24,162 8,633 1,190 436 2,046 139.202 3,748 2,118 360

Brig Amy Warwick

.

Costs and expenses.

00 76 64 01 00 97

08 06 11

00

Ship Ameliat

30,446 32

Sch. Albion Brig Ariel

9.664 5,249 3,136 30,104 20,136 6,741 1,100 1,966 16,262 19,675

1 i

Sch Active Sch. Aqullla

SloopAurelia Sch. Alert Str. Alicet Sch. Albion Sch. A. J. View Sch. Agnes H. Ward . Sch. Albemarle Str. Albemarle, schs. North State, Susan

Ann

Howard, and sloop

Jeff.

Old

Am 'tfor dis-

Where adjudi- Sent

tribution.

to 4th Auditor for

cated.

$5,388 37 Key West . ...do 2,844 05 ...do 57 63 ...do 22.400 80 .. do 7,794 29 ...do 966 31 ..do 269 83 ...do 34 1,625 138,026 13 Boston. ... ..do 2,862 74 1,772 52 Washington do. 230 73

.37

1

18,066 90

72 27 6! 82 75 45 15 850 95 14,034 43 16,904 02 260 66 16,372 96 7,486 3,631 2,071 28,226 18,858 6,235 832

July

do

....do.. ..

Pursuit. Connecticut.

Feb.

1863 1863 1863 1863 1863 July 14, 1863 Nov. 6. 1863 Oct. 19, 1863 Oct. 19, 1863

Huntsville. Huntsville.

Dec.

Yandalia, Flag.

July July July

-

do

May May

....do

...do

17, 14, 17, 24, 17,

3,

1862

17,

1863 1863 1863 1863 1863 1863

17, 18, 19, 1,

Sept. 16,

...do..

New

12, 1802 Oct. 16, 1662

Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct.

Philadelphia. ...

York,

Nov. Nov. Feb. Nov. Dec.

...do ...do ....do ...do.. ....do..

Str.

Sch.

Anna Annie Dees

Str. Anglia..

Sch. Aigburth Sch. Antelope Sch. Annie Sch. Active Sch. Alma Sch. Annie B Sch. Ascension Sch. Avon

,

Sloop Angelina Str.

Ann

Boat Alligator Boat Anna Maria Sch. A. J. Hodge Sch. Arctic Sch. Albert Sch. Anna Sch. Ann Sch. Alabama

Ann Ann

Sloop Sch.

—

Henry Jones, Kensington, Rachel Seaman. Quaker

City.

Perry.

William Bacon. Currituck.

Roanoke, Seminole.

Gemsbok. Flambeau. Huron, Augusta. Arizona. Bienville. Ceres.

Penguin, Alabama.

1863 1863 1863 20, 1863

R. R. Cuyler, New London, MassachusettH. Northern Light. Delaware, Delaware, Stars and Stripes, Louisiana, Commodore Perry, Valley City, Underwriter,

6,

11, 25,

Morse.

10,677 1,629 600 18,423 18,637

Sch. Annie Sophia Sch. Advocate

Sagamore. Sagamore.

25, 1863

Davis Sloop Annie

Vessels entitled to share.

distribution.

22 92 00 82 09

1,626 38 795 71

240 86 3.139 28 2,027 89

21 64 79 00 00 60 98 93 261 11 ,793 15

10,260 1,784 670 1,074 483 695 621 716 860

,071 12

6,736 118

,110 ,106 ,346 ,406 ,410 ,232 ,647 ,448

119 90 ,002 12 120 39 ,410 00 ,434 08 ,630 67 ,299 40 ,867 38 50 00 322 61

905

31 74 63 97

40 86 08 89 37 23 95 35 21

662 327 57 183 46 3.237 02 351 80 308 22 1,291 66 60 16 147 21

9,051 84 834 21 359 15 16,282 44 14,609 20

84,849 1,321 2,776 1,330 2,926 3,136 3,926 4,732 3,400 1,887 47,334

90 80 26 03 60 75 90 04 74 92 17

1 56

4,339 1,792 2,926 8,197 2,178 2.991 8,575

91 82 60 00 87 18 82

...do.. ...do.. ...do.. ...do.. ...do..

July Mar. July

17,

Dec.

8,

1863

.do .do .do do

Nov.

5,

2,

1863

21, 1863 .Tuly 21, 1863

Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb.

29, 29, 29,

1863 1863 1863 1864 1864 1864 1864 1804 1864 1864 1864

Feb.

1864 1864 1864 1864 1864 1864

Deo. Dec.

Washington. do Key West. .

....do ...do

New

York... do Key West... .

...do

Feb. Feb.

July

June

2,

17, 29,

29, 28, 4, 29,

...do

do

Mar.

29, 17, 29, 17, 17, 17, 17,

Mar.

29, 1864

.

New

York...

Key West ...

..

No proceeds ..do 176 40

....do

Southfield,

R. R. Cuyler.

New London, R. B. Cuyler, Massachusetts. New London, R. R. Cuyler, Massachusetts.

Seneca, G. W. Blunt, Canandaigua, Flag, Mem phis, Powhatan, Housatonic, Marblehead, Mercedita, Flambeau, Keystone State. Restless, Flag. Jamest ^wn. Memphis, America. State of Georgia. -

Ladona. 8eneca.

Wanderer. Huntsville.

Tioga Courier.

Susquehanna, Kanawha, Preble. Tahoma. Julia. 1864 Port Henry.

Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Mar.

do Washington.

Commodore Barney,

Hunchback, Philadelphia, Henry Brincker, Lock wood. 1863 Kanawba.

Huntsville.

Ladona. Huron. Fort Henry. Restless.

Susquehanna.

Gem

of the Sea.

THE NA VAL HISTORY

834

Gross pro-

Name.

ceeds.

Str. Aries Str. Antona Str. Atlanta

Boat Alice* Str. AIODzo Childs

......

Sell. Anita Sells. Active

Str.

and Blue Alabama

Bell

131 ,,964 237,300 26,041 3,631 74,361

Str. Alice Vivian Str, Alliance

Sch. Alma Sch. Agnes etc., from Queen of the Wave.

Anchors, Str. A.

Sch. Artist Sch. Annie Verden Sch. Albert Edward Str.

Armstrong

Sloop Annie Thompson Sch. Ann Louisa Sch. Anna Sophia Str.

.

Annie

Sch. Aufiusta

Kam Albemarle Sloop Annie Sch. British Empire Sch. British Queen Boats, 3 sail, and cargoes.

Schooner Blossom

.

Boat, llife Boat. 1 yawl Boat, aflat-bottomed Str. Britannia Sch. Beauregardt Sch. By-George Sch. Brave Sch. Bettie Kratzer Sloop Bright Sch. Brothers Boat, sloop, name unknown .

.

Boat Buckshot Sloop B!azer

Boston Banshee

Sch. Badger

Boat and sundries Boat, no name Sch. Baigorry Schs. Comet, J. J. CritteU' den, and sloop America. .

Calypso Cotton, 28 bales

Str.

Cotton, 30 bales.

Cargo of

4 canoesi

Sloop Clara Ann Sch. Charlotte Sch. Oubair Sch. Curlew

.

.

.

..

Pocahontas.

63 78 86 37 48 73

Philadelphia

13,208 6,960 24,900 329,311

46 95 21 74

Philadelphia

5,237 77,298 83 3,423 1,108 1,186

68 70 16

746 3,822

49 42 68 82 26

6,047 1,421 2,698 4,183 7,321

14,847 7,437 29,146 358,951

96 67 09 71

1,639 60

6,561 79,944 192 3,929 2,108 1,463

28 00 05 73 31 89 8S 95 70 79 56 67 76 18 00 85 38 78 05 66

270 1,106 682 387 173,670 2,146 512 893 4,642 5,672 7,641

633

00 00 31

55 15 76 67

95 03 65 86 25 2,700 00

71

64 31 34 63

476 92 4,245 48 24,639 97 313 2,645 108 604 999 277 86 273 168 119 3,974 291 209

196 1,081

614 1,675

144 294 884 32 866

70 30 89 76 90 00 81 79 36 11 83 76 45 85 28 96 78 04 77 69 01

42 123 32 678 85 221 71 361 65

Key West

...

Springiield

Mar.

,

New Orleans

April 12, April 12, April 23, April 12,

....do ...do

Key West

.

29,

Weehawken, Nahant, Cimarron. Annie Williams. 1864 Baron De Kalb.

. .

Boston

New Orleans

,

...do

1864 1864 1864 1864 July 21, 1864 July 28, 1864 Oct. 7, 1864

Granite City. Owasco, Cayuga.

San Jacinto, Eugene, Tennessee.

De

Soto.

South Carolina, T.

A.

Ward.

Virginia.

Chocura.

.

10,834 194 891 61,568

32 22 67 43

Jan. 19, Feb. 21, Feb. 14, Aprll20,

New

68 68 46 84 60

Orleans

...do.. .

.

May

Key West

Key West .

...do

. .

Key West

1862 1863 1863 5, 1865 26, 1863

.

16, 19, 19,

Oct! 24,' 1863 Oct. 24, 1863 18, 1864 29, 1864 June 4, 1864 Dec. 19, 1864 Mar. 29, 1864 Mar. 29, 1864

.

do

..do ..do ..do

.do.. Orleans

(Waiting for prize Santiago do Cuba.

list.)

Bermuda. Mobile. Katahdi'n. R. R. Cuyler, Gettysburg,

Mackinaw, Mont-

gomery. Fernandina. Proteus. Bienville, Princess Royal,

Niphon, Wilderness, Alabama, Kansas, Howquah. Honeysuckle.

Lieutenant-Commander Cushing and party. Hibiscus. Isiac Smith.

Mount Vernon. Reliance. (Waiting for prize list.) Reliance, Anacostia, Thomas Freeborn.

Jacob Bell. Freeborn, Eureka. Dan. Smith. Santiago de Cuba. W. G. Anderson. Sagamore. Oetorara.

Flambeau.

De Soto. Tioga. Restless. San Jacinto.

Brooklyn. Ariel.

New

,

...do

Aprill2,1864 April 12, 1864 April26, 1866

Antona. Cayuga. Potomska. Corypheus. CorypheuB.

June

Commodore.

Aprill2,' 1864

Aprill2, 1864

New York New Orleans . .

do.

Aug.

Feb. Feb.

Philadelphia.

...

20, 1863 26, 1862

.

do

....do.

.

Nov. Nov. Oci. Oct. Oct. Oct.

.. do Boston

..

13,

16, 1866 28, 1866 Sept. 29, 1866

....do ....do

Key West

1864 1866 1865 1865 1866

Aug, Aug.

Washington Key West New York do Washington. .

17,

1865 Aug. 25, 1866 June 26, 1865 June 22, 1865

New Orleans New York

No proceeds

.

6,268 17 2,416 37 201 78

261 46 3,430 19 3,666 77

947 90 123 4,316

218 38 New Orleans 260 66 Springfield... 20,727 54 Boston. 104,948 48 New York 10,912 48 Philadelphia 188 47 New Orleans 2,438 66 ....do. 1,700 00 ...do. 23,166 25 .. do. 62,122 45 New York ,

103 40 768 06 57,272 68

3,600 00

322 86

2,27T 15

60 82 00 05

289 60 6,192 22 2,118 II, 994 04

1,098 00 45,824 60 43,412 4il 6,101 01

191,424 64 80,265 0:i 2,212 16

12,383 4,930 10 446 92

179.040 98 75,334 93 1,765 24

6,276 05

869 25

6,416 80

m

.

,

,

89 82 61 65

1,387 61,016 45,631 6.096

Not.

Philadelphia.

New York

97 41 89 184 07 833 16 514 34 268 68 169,696 72 1,864 92 303 31 696 33 3,660 72 6,067 90 6,065 60 389 74 1,623 28 7,962 06

834 69 760 230 706

Conemaugh.

New York

No proceeds Washington. 274 19 96 39 2,308 49

and part of

cargo

Ftettin.

10, 1864

April 23, 1864

317 283,238 4,994 22,847 40,278 244,060

00 30

26,686 74 66,778 22

Blenheim

Str. Calhoun Str. Oatalina Str. Cambria

22, 1864

May

428 42

81 96

Bloomer

Sch, Belle

Sch. Captain Speddeng Sch. Crenshaw

Mar.

Boston

98 42 96 96 09 29 39 60 63 74 86 66

96

183 1,439 462 1,078 29 492 365 23.036 111,216 13,328 390

Boats, 2, and 4 bales of cotton Str.

Boston

New York

$143,971 131,676 350.039 463 4,724 69,839 702 120,961 217,060 23,281 2,786 70,538

746 288,286 6,416 26,445 44,461 261,382

1,7(10

Sloop Buffalo Boat and cargo

Str.

distribution

48 60 30 66 91 70 71 60 28 22 14 74

$3,036 4,626 789 143 275 6,660 172 10,412 20,240 1,760

1,918 8,836 31 75

Boat, name unknown Sch. Betsey Brandy, 29 cases of, etc Sch. Belle Boat, sail, 1 Boats, sail, 3 Boat and cargo, 1 Boats and cargoes, 4 Boots, 1 case, etc X Str. Str.

40 02 26 62 00 99 10 10

Vessels entitled to share.

for

cated.

the ..

Vance

1).

$147,008 136,202 360,829 697 6,000 76,489 876

to 4th Where adjudi. Sent Auditor

Costs and Am'tfordiS' expenses. tribution.

9,886 43

4,

1864

Oct. 10. 1864 Oct. 25,1864 Nov. 23, 1864 Feb. 2. 1865

Mar.

27, 1865

Oct. 3, 1865 April 20, 1865 June 19, 1865

Key West

June 29, 1866

....do ....do ....do

Aug. Aug.

New York

Oct. 22, 1863

...

Alfred Robb. Fort Jackson. Fulton. Grand Gulf. Braziliera.

Tallahatchie.

Commodore. Potomac. Virginia.

Tristam Shandy, Lillian, Britannia, Osceola. Gettysburg. Adela.

San Jacinto. 1865 16, 1866 16,

;

Waiting for prize

list.)

Ino.

Bainbridge.

Commodore Perry, Morse, Underwriter, General Putnam, Whitehead. Henry Lewis, New London, Water Witch.

do. do.

Philadelphia

Dec. Dec.

....do..

May

....do.. ....do.. ...do..

May Jan. Jan,

2,

1863 1863 1863

2,

1863

2, 1,

19, 1864 4,

1864

4,

1864

Star (now Monticello). Samuel Rotan, Colorado, Rachel Seaman.

Alabama, Keystone State.

Huron, Augusta. Florida. Stars and Stripes, Louisiana, Hetzel, Delaware, Commodore Perry, Philadelphia, Valley City, Underwriter, Commodore Barney, Southfield, Morse, Hunchback, Lock-

wood.

676 00

301 40

76 19 49 00

308 12 1,425 93 1,390 39 1,540 46

1,300 31,369 2,811 6,902

273 992 29,943 1,121 6,366

60 63 26 10 65

* Waiting for prize list of Annie Williams. t Distributed under acts of March 3, 1819, and August \ Waiting for prize list of the Robb.

..do...

Jan,

Washington ....do

Jan. 11, 1804 Jan. 12, 1863

Boston ...do..

...

Key West

Nov.

.

26,

1862

Stars and Stripes, Louisiana, Hetzel, Underwriter, Morse, Commodore Perry, Southfleld, H. Brincker, Delaware, Lookwood, Commodore Barney, Valley City, Hunchback, Philadelphia.

Currituck. Yankee.

Kanawha. Kanawha. Somerset.

Waiting for prize list of the Water Witch. Waiting tor prize list of the Currituck. IF Part of cargo taken for use of army not paid 8

5,

1861.

II

for.

OF THE Gross pro-

Name.

ceeds.

Sch. Corelia

Columbia

Str,

Sch. Courier Sch. Oanuita Cargo of 9 boats and sloop Queen of the Fleet. Canoe, 1; flatboat, 1*.. Sch. Cora Cotton, 208 bales Cotton, 62^ bales Cotton, 37 "^ bales.... Cotton, 282 bales, 222 barrels rosin, and 2,000

staves

Cotton, Cotton, Cotton, Cotton, Cotton,

27 bales 42 bales, etc 5 bales 17 bales 55 bales.

Canoe and cargo Cotton, 12 bales Cotton, 20 bales Sch. Charleston

Cronstadt Cherokee

Str. Str.

Cotton, 39 bales Cotton, cargo of Emma, 120 bales Sch, Caroline and Virginia.

Caroline

Str.

Charmert Sloop Clara Louisa

3,105 79 1,101 41 624 60 28,922 90 14,037 90 8,642 26

674 83 279 14 626 90 1,784 30 276 25 207 19

62,179 36

13,680 90

106,008 11

6,853 85 129 00 90 11 762 39 253 00 744 71 490 84

99,154 671 62 6,771 1,104 3,163 1,361

26 00 89 47 06

54

649 3,003 1,775 3,336 85,633 39,629 4,733

20 20 76 74 26 77 41 49 45 71 51

7.533 1,367 3,898 1,842

t.

Cotton, 14 bagsg

Cotton, 13 bales Sch. Charm Corn, 250 bushels Cotton, 27 bales, cargo of sch.

Mary Ann

Cotton,

3

bales

and

Cotton. 179 bales. Cotton, 10 bales Sch. Corse Cotton, 10"^ bales Cotton, 64 bales Cotton, 154 bales, and 5

hogsheads sugar Cotton, 6 bales Cotton, 10 bales Cotton, 3 balesll Cotton, 4 bales** Cotton, 8 bales Cotton, 14 bales Cotton, 3 bales and 2 pieces of bales Cotton, 2,129 bales, 28 barrels molasses. 18 bales ,

wool

Sob. Cecilia D Sch. Cassandra 1; 1

box tobacco. .

* Waiting for prize + Waiting for prize

778 84 06 66 42 93 13 73 13 24 26 00

3,669 2,289 3,727 39,192 42,459 6,461 199 2,694 9,756 62

•

2,646 7,675 4,732

604

129 665 513 390 3,569

86 90

68

67 2,829 36

728 83 334 1,017

32 64 79 64 6 49

115 2,369 8,738 1

55 71

8,910 75

978 07

7,932 68

1,095 22 38,312 98 2,351 62

238 69 1,866 85 231 66 764 51 394 60 1,735 06

856 63 36,446 13 2,119 86 5,096 16

6,860 66 2,735 11 16,867 72

list list

2,340 51 15,132 66

13 86 36 06 01 31

25,984 64 1,304 84 2,033 62 227 21 383 97 1,364 97 2,921 47

667 30

115 83

641 47

465,234 96

13,732 79

451,602 16

5,399 88

1,009 96

33,901 53 l,a4 97 2,202 48 334 56

498 02 1,609 98 3,124 78

7,916 89

140 168 107 114 146 203

Vessels entitled to share.

18, 1863 Oct. 6, 1863 Oct. 14. 1363 Oct, 17, 1863

James

....do ....do ...do

Washington,

Nov.

20,

Currituck. Jacob Bell, Yankee,

Nov.

25, 1862

July

. .

1863

do.

Philadelphia. Springfield.. ....do

Oct. 16,1863 Nov. 9, 1863 Nov. 6, 1863

New

Dec.

Boston

York.

31, 1863

Springfield.

June 11,

...do.. ...do.., ....do.., -do..,

Dec. 3, 1864 April 12, 1864

1864

S.

Chambers.

Santiago de Cuba. Huntsville. Magnolia.

Satellite.

Keystone State. Baron de Kalb. Octorara. Tioga.

and Stripes, Louisiana, Hetzel, Commodore Barney, Valley City, Underwriter, Commodore Perry, Southfield, Hunchback, Philadelphia, Morse, H. Brincker, Lockwood, Delaware, George Maugham. Gonestoga. Linden. Stars

Pittsburg.

June 4, 1864 Pittsburg. June 11, 1864 Conestoga.

Washington.

Nov.

Springfield.

April

June

..do..

17, 1864 12, 1864 11, 1864

Philadelphia Boston. ..do

Feb. 29, 1864 Jan. 28, 1864 Feb. 9, 1864

Key West

Mar.

Philadelphia ...do

Jan. 23, 1864 Jan. 27, 1864

.

.do

,

Feb.

29, 1864

29, 1864

Key West

.do

,

..do ..do ..do Philadelphia.

,

Key West

.

.

...do ...do ...do ...do ...do;

...do Springfield..

Key West

Feb. 29,1864 Feb. 29, 1864 Mar. 12, 1864

Mar.

17, 1864

Mar. 29, 1864 Mar. 29, 1864 Mar. 29, 1864 Mar. 29, 1864 Mar. 29, 1864 Mar. 29, 1864 Mar. 29, 1864

...do ....do

Mar. Mar. Mar.

New

April 23, 1864

.

.

Orleans

29, 1864 29, 1864 29, 1864

George Maugham. Lexington. Conestoga. Seminole.

Rhode

Island.

Oanandaigua. Fort Henry. Kittatinny. Stars and Stripes, Delaware, Louisiana, Commodore Perry. Hetzel, Valley City, Underwriter, Hunchback, Commodore Barney, Philadelphia. Southfield, Morse, H. Brincker, Lockwood. Montgomery.

Sagamore, Oleander, Beauregard, Para. Sagamore. McLellan.

Tahoma. Kanawha. Powhatan, Newlronsides, Canandaigua, Housatonic, Paul Jones, Huron, Unadilla, Marblehead, Wamsutta, Augusta, Lodona, Stettin, Dandelion, Para, South Carolina.

De Soto. Kanawha. De Soto. Fort Henry.

Hendrick Hudson.

De

Soto.

Santiago de Cuba. General Sterhng Price. Port Koyal. Sagamore, Gem of the Sea. Fort Henry.

Antona.

4,389 93

Granite City.

.do Springfield.

Boston Key West.. ..do ..do

April 23, 1864 April 23, 1864 Jan. 7, 1865 June 1, 1864 June 2, 1864

Osage.

Niphon. Rachel Seaman, Kensington. Roebuck.

James L, Davis.

May

19,

.do .do .do ..do ..do ..do

Jan.

6,

Mar.

1,

Nov.

19, 1864 26, 1864

.do

May

19,

1864

Tuscumbia.

...do..

Mar.

1,

1865

Springfield.

New

Orleans

1864 1866 1865

Conestoga. Pittsburg. Osage, Choctaw, Champion. Fort Juliet, Great Western, Rattler.

903 22 2.782 99 841 60

of the Jacob Bell. of the Oleander.

3,619 16 30,177 90 6,412 69

New

Orleans

...do

New § li

York...

Hindman.

Lexington

May

Champion. Kenwood.

May

21, 1864

Black Hawk, Eastport, Lafayette, Neosha, Ozark, Choctaw, Osage, Chillicothe, Louisville, Carondelet, Fort Hindman. Benton, Pittsburg, Mound City, Essex, Lexington, Ouachita, Cricket, GazeUe, General Price, W. H. Brown. [718 bales of cotton still pending.] Antona.

Nov.

26, 1864

Potomac.

No proceeds Washington. No proceeds ...do

40 00 27 30 4,622 37 32,960 89 7,254 19

Sch. Champion Sch. Camille Cotton, 50 bales .

86 05 26 66

4th

2

cratesll

Canoe,

48,498 46

29,205 69 2,042 63

41

72 70 49 60 02 09

Key West

27

2,294 01 1,007 47

. .

Comet

96 60 60 65 07

31,499 60 3,060 00

Str.

Str.

2,630 822 97 27,138 13,761 8,336

6,169 72 13,076 64 879 16 3,274 62 14,716 89 161 94 3,306 94 4,676 60 11,225 84 294,264 68 147.774 56 7,318 34

700 00 153 00

Cuba, cargo of Sch^ Comet, No. 8 Sch. Clarita Cotton, 22 bales Cotton, 139 bales Cotton, 114 bales

406 708 138 268 717 130 246 296

$936 66 136,103 38 3,033 48 1,928 06

43 98 66 12 63 47 78 20 66 92 47 76

15 62 72 64 52

835

for distribution.

$494 96 16,419 82 613 62 498 92

Sch.

Sloop Clotilda Sch. Crazy Jane Sch. Clara Sloop C. Bonterean

Sent to Costs and Am'tfordis- Where adjudiAuditor tribution. expenses. cated.

$1,430 02 151,623 20 3,647 10 2,426 98

6,676 13,784 1,017 3,542 16,434 292 3,662 4,971 13,872 301,940 162,607 7,923

WAR.

CIVIL

Oct.

May,

7,

1864 1864

Virginia.

Vanderbilt.

Waiting for prize list of the General Sterling Price, Waiting for prize list of the Granite City. __

THE NAVAL HISTORY

836

Gross pro-

Name.

ceeds.

Cotton, 12 bales and 14 bags Cotton, 11 bales* Cotton, 1 balet Cotton, 207 bales

$2,831 69 3,023 34 340 90 80,777 86

Costs and Am'tfordis tribution. expenses.

$524 19 287 21 107 93 3,767 04

$2,310 2,736 232 77,010

60 13 97 82

2,386 2,700 3,848 7,076 13,610 7,790

88 83 33 75 64 60

37 89 70 08 00 71

197 49

Cotton, 75 balesi! Cotton, 63 bales Cotton, 5 bales,.

497 00 36,391 08 2,169 35

192 87 2,651 30 290 64

304 13 33.739 78 1,878 81

Cotton, VS% bales.

2,397 28 17,200 00

634 28 935 49

1.863 00 16,264 61

Cotton, 8 bales Cotton, 8 bales? Cotton, 10 bales Cotton, 16 bales§ Scb. Calhoun Cotton, 2i bales

2,i)84

2,910 4,116 7,479 14,600 8,126

Str. Ceres

Canoes, Str. Str.

25,

and cargoes.

33 36 21

249 93

00

1,149 28

1,385 62 14,659 47

680 94 634 76

13,3.53

Calhoun

8cb. Carmita Coffee, 80 bags Cotton, 22 bales Cotton, 88 bales Cotton, 61 r.^ bales Cotton, 236 bdles, etc. Cotton, 19 bales Cotton, 10 bales Scb. Cora Smyser Cotton, 60 bales and 2 bags Cotton, 38 bales Cotton, 83 bales Cotton, 67 bales Scb. Caroline and Gertrude. Coffee, Whiskey, etc Str. Cu tnberland

Sloop Caroline Sch. Cora Str.

06 37

929 40

.

Caledonia

210 267 403 889 335

Chatham

Cotton, 5 bales, 9 bags, etc. Cotton, 31 bales Sch. Carrie Mair Sloop Caroline, No. 2 Cotton, 12 bales; 8 barrels turpentine Cotton, 4 bales Cotton, 42 bales and 11

Cotton, 50 bales Cotton, 89 bales Cotton, 78 bales Cotton, 4 bales Cotton, 44 bales Cotton, 90 bales Str. Cora Cotton, 35 bales Cotton, 156 sacks, Sch. Com us Sch. Cora Str. Circassian Cotton, 80 bales Cotton, 52 bales Cotton, 82 bales

6,227 29 2,138 00 0,877 92

27,034 16,437 773 163,461 306 46,064 81,684 3,033

89 87 66 29 07 97 78 64

6,363 65

211 05

907 48 638 90 1,073 12

2,270 83 1,219 33 172 06 '18,943 50

124 23 6,402 67 6,036 38 265 76 1,109 49 163 71

2,077 91

6,166 62 32.697 63 352,313 65

700 81 3,167 78 86,942 20

23.652 63 67,210 33

1,826 68 2,984 08

192 46 608 15 3,767 78 861 03

etc..

Gated

Key West

...do .

37 38 10 9D 85 90 97

20 0) 71 75 39 76 95 65

1866

Louisville, 1100160, Petrel, Prairie Bird, Ex-

July

1864

Cricket.

July

2!),

change, Marmora.

25. 1864

Springtield

,

June

20, 1865

Oct.

1864 12, 1864

Orleans

Springfield. ..do

Oct, 12. 1804 Nov. 12, 1864

.do

Feb.

.do

...do

Orleans

.

Key West New Orleans .

.

7,

AprU

Washington

New

Osage.

H Brown, Samuel Eotan, Colorado, Kaohel Seaman. Black Hawk, Fort Hindman, Cricket, EastW.

Deo. "i, 1864

Orleans

New

Port Eoyal. Somerset. Lexington.

Marmora.

...do ...do

New

Vessels entitled to share.

June 19,

do

,

64

21, 1864

Dec.

.

.do

679 47

24,216 1,939 3,610 43,548 2,603 19,975 63,187 5,278 17,676 15.150 4.466 29 539 315,371 32,037 21.725 64,226

to 4tb Auditor for distribution.

Sent

..do Springfleia.

11,903 72 Boston 28,636 95 Philadelphia ..do 65,698 21 ...do 804 68 14,024 72 Boston 17,465 63 Philadelphia ...do.. 20,823 45 .. do 69,239 66 6,319 84 New Orleans ...do 1,499 10 ...do 5.864 80 ...do 12,655 66 ...do 8,487 62 .. do 16,383 07 24,764 08 Key West. .. 16,218 64 ....do 601 60 New Orleans. 134,617 79 Key West .. .. do 181 84 40,252 40 New Orleans. .do 76,048 40 2,767 88 Philadelphia, 953 78 New Orleans. ...do 5,254 16 42 34 Key West 3,269 25 46 40

45,626 01 2,701 44 20,484 00 00,955 68 6,140 00

Where adjudi.

.

16, 1866

Nov. 4,1804 Feb. 29, 1864 Nov. 12, 1864

W. H. Brown. Narcissus, Cowslip. Black Hawk. Black Hawk, Fort Hindman, Cricket, Eastport, Lafayette. Neosha, Ozark, Choctaw, Osage, Chillicothe, Louisville, Oarondelet, Benton, Pittsburg, Mound City, Essex, Lexington, Ouachita, Gazelle, General Price, W. H. Brown, Juliet. Cimarron. Violet, Aries, Connecticut, Maratanza, Mercedita, Montgomery.

Eureka, Yankee, Freeborn, Currituck, Commodore Read, Teazer, Fuchsia, Jacob Bell.

Keystone State, Massachusetts. Samuel Botan, Colorado, Eachel Seaman.

Bermuda.

Oct.

6,

1865 1864 Jan. 7, 1866 Jan. 7, 1863 Jan. 7, 1866 Mar. 23, 1865 Mar. 23, 1866 April 22, 1866 Feb. 21, 1865 Feb. 21, 1866 Feb. 21, 1865 Mar. 22,1865 Mar. 22, 1866 Oct. 4, 1866 April 21, 1865 April 21, 1865 May 9, 1866 May 9, 1866

Bienville.

Dec.

2,

Mount Vernon.

1806 Aug. 21, 1866

Chocura.

Aug.

Magnolia. Cayuga.

Sept.

1,

Keystone State. Keystone State. Keystone State. Tallahatchie. Tallahatchie. Sciota.

Mobile. Arostook. Sciota.

Clyde. Stars and Stripes, Elk.

De

Soto.

Roebuck. Princess Royal. Huron, Dan Smith. Kanawha. (Waiting for prize

Sept.

Aug. Sept. Sept.

1,

1866 1865

25, 1805 1,

1,

.

.

list.)

Itasca.

Union. 25,

1805 1865 Boston Aug. 9, 1866 ...do Aug. 16, 1866 do. Aug. 16, 1866 Philadelphia., Aug. 21, 1865 New Orleans., Aug. 21, 1865 New York Sept. 1, 1866 ...do.. Sept. 1, 1866 Key West Sept. 1, 1866 ..do Sept. 1, 1865 ...do Sept. 8, 1865 Philadelphia. Sept. 22, 1865 ...do Sept. 29, 1865 ,...do Sept. 29, 1863

.do

port, Lafayette, Neosha, Ozark, Choctaw, Osage, Chillicothe, Louisville, Oarondelet, Benton, Pittsburg, Mound City, Essex, Lexington, Oaachita, Gazelle, General Price,

(Waiting for prize

list.

Clyde. Gertrude. Cornubia. Vicksburg.

Keystone State. Quaker City. Connecticut, Keystone State. Quaker City. Governor Buckingham, Niphon. Gettysburg. luka. Panola.

Somerset Gettysburff, KeystoneState, $620 counsel fees R. E. Cuyler. Aries. S500 counsel fee deducted from cap(

tor's s'hare,)

Cotton, 45 bales Sch. Delight Brig Delta Sch. Dixie Sch. Defiance Sch. Director Str.

,977 77

600 00 628 00 ,950 87 ,773 78

286 10

Diamond

,683 10

Sch. Dart

:a0 84 462 73 117 97 2ri8 22 ,641 73 465 4.1 473 03 000 00 310 78

Sch. David Crockett. Sloop, D. Sargent. Sch. Dart, No. 2 .... Str. Dolphin ,

Dry Goods, lot Sch. Defy Str. Str.

.

of.

Donegal

Don * ^

Waiting for prize Waiting for prize

list of

list of

1,623 27 261 65' 6,931 18 2,429 64 1,073 40

128 99 1,958 08 SCO 95 1,389 77 1,094 91

493

1(1

8.382 169 197 4,047 3,438

88 51 37 10 13

20.364 60 348 25 4,096 82 28.521 23 2,700 38 1.56 11 27,725 02 1,869 89 13,072 90 4,323 06 2,765 12 28,161 85

295 275 135,962 94,878

94 68 90 05

.do

New York

I

do Washington. do Key West ,

.

Philadelphia.

New York, Key West ... .

.do

Washington. do Philadelphia,

Boston.

..

X )

Waiting for prize

.

do.

Philadelphia

the Somerset. the Lexington. lists

1865 Santiago de Cuba July 21, 1863 New London, R. R Cuyler, Massachusetts. Nov. 25, 1803 Santee. Mar 13, 1863 Keystone State, Gem of the Sea. Mar. 11, 1803 Braziliei-a. May 4, 1862 Corwin, Currituck. Jan. 11, 1861 Stettin. Oct. 21, 1863 Kensington, Rachel Seaman. America. Flag, Canandaigua. Flambeau. Oct. 6, 18S6 Feb. 29, 1864 Kittatinny. Feb. 29, 1864 Kanawha. Mar. 17. 1864 Wachusett. Jan. 11. 1864 Oceur de Lion. Oct. 12, 1864 Midnight. Oct, 27, 1864 Metacomet. Nov. 19, 1864 Pequot. Oct.

6,

Waiting for prize list of the Marmora, Waiting forprize list of the W. H. Browi^and Cowslip.

of Narcissus

OF THE CIVIL WAR. Gross pro-

Name.

ceeds.

Sch. Delia Sell.

$6,450 16 29,061 42 13,:f62 62 2,90i 36 21,7P1 63 235 00 841 12

Eugenie

Emma

Sch. Sch. Eugeuie Smith Sch. EliasReed Sloop Ellen Sloop Elizabeth Sch. Emily Str.

Eureka

Boh. Emily Murray Sch. E. J. Waterman

Sloop Express

Edward Barnard Str. Ellis and armament Sch.

Sloop Expro'^s. Sloop Emeline Str.

Sch.

Elmira

Emma

Boat Emma Boat Enterprise Str. Eagle

,

Str. Eugenie Str. Eureka Str. Elizabeth

Sch. Exchange Sch. Ellen Sch. Edward Sch. Excelsior Str.

Sch.

Emilie

Experiment and cargo

Str. Elsie

Emma Str. Ella and Annie Str. Emma Henry Sch.

Sch. Eliza

Sch.BzUda Brig Eco Sch. Plash Brig Falcon... Sch. Florida Sch. Pairwind Sch. Falrplay Sch. Fannie Laurie Sch. F.J. Capron

Sloop Flying Cloud Sch. Fashion

••

Sch. Frances.

Sloop Flying Fish Sch. Fannie Lee

Sloop Florida Sch.Frolic Sch. Fashion, No. 2 Sch. Five Brothers Sch. Floren ce Nightingale. Sloop Fashion Sch. Friendship Sch. Fanny Sch. Frederick 2d

,

Sloop Fortunate Sch. Forest King Sloop Florida Sch. Fly Sch. Flash Str. Florida Sch. Fannie McEae Sch. Florida Sloop Florida Sch. Grace E. Baker Sloop Good Luck

Goods.lot oft. Goods, lot of.

Schooner Gold Leaf Goods and money,

lot of

Ship General Parkhill Sch. Sch. Sch. Sch. Sch,

George G. Baker Guide Glide

Garonne Gipsy

Sch Granite City Str. Gertrude Sch. George Chisholm

91 75 00

600 6,880 8,038 1,486 98

00 33 30 15 12 00 33 88 62 39 64 67 88 92 87 23 64 88 97 18 79 15 01 01 41 07 21 61 93 00 00 65 77 00 00 UU 88

872 35,476 102,709 3,649 2,174

Str. Ella Warley Sch. Emma Amelia

Sloop Elisha Beckwith.. Sch. Emma Tuttle

15,406 293 600 8,222 859 32,068 18,000

6,ll33

24,239 27,273 83,112 6,052 6,657 2,343 2,630 28,305 20,786 216,619 32,122 186,600 294,869 6,745 3,416 4,281 2,486 3,655 1,865 2,250 2,208 15,627 910 •£1.0 226 231

96 25 74 00

Costs and Am'tfordisexpenses. tributiou.

837

THE NAVAL HISTORY

838

Gross pro-

Name.

ceeds.

Sloop Gophen Sell.

$113 62

Gipsy

Sloop G. L. Brockenborougli Sch. General Taylor Sell. General Prim Goods, lot of* Str. General Sigel, 4 boxes bitters, 12 boxes wine, 2J4 barrels brandy,

Costs and Atn'tfordis Whereadjuditribution, cated. expenses.

6^

$43 40

$70 22 469 49

274 9,410 5,159 16,775

74 40 00 26 490 86

Sey West

.

23 69 21 26 08

183 497,868 6,424 3,661 61,982

60 65 60 05 62

67 12,896 653 414 6,467

37,337 2,470 8,626 24,607 13,466 269,319

76 26 00 05 37 27

4,041 62 932 81 1,217 47 4,394 59 1,997 62 29,616 56

1,718 63 2,770 36 16,031 31

824 68

893 85

Philadelphia

1,500 28 1,108 28

1,270 08 13,923 03

do Washington.

200 08 6,686 42 7,643 76 27,621 (16 64,399 30 12,658 10

87 72 684 80 1,142 61 4,019 90 6,247 67 1,142 23

112 4,901 6,506 23,601 69,161 11,516

2,584 72 6,556 86 979 06 2,647 73 87,866 77

377 646 326 350 3,483 376 922

30 46 38 86 97 75 02 42 40 62 00 67 28 38 16 10 43 16 68 32 77 75 31

2,207 4,911 662 2,296 84,382

211 23

,

.do..

Nov. Mar.

Philadelphia

Key West

.

.

Vessels entitled to share.

distribution.

Dec. Feb. Feb.

.

....do

744 12,128 7,180 17,302 702

2,718 19 2,021 21 1,627 00

Sent to 4th Auditor for

19, 1864 29, 1864 29, 1864 12, 1864 9,

1864

Washington

Roebuck. Ethan Allen. Sagamore, Fort Henry. Crusader, Mahaska, Samuel Kotan.

De

Soto.

Primrose, Cceur de Lion.

bar-

rels whiskey t Str. Greyhound

Sloop Garibaldi Sloop General Finuegan BrigH. C. Brooks

. .

Henry Lewis Sch. Hanna M. Johnson Str.

Sch. Hallie Jackson Sch. Henry Middleton.. Seh. Hettiwan

Bark Hiawatha

07 64 80 37 83

116 63 484,962 01 4,770 80 3,246 68 46,614 69 33,296 1,537 2,407 20,212 11,457 239,703

.Springfield.

May

Boston

Aug, Mar,

Key West

..do New York..

14 46 63 46 86 71

19,

24, 14, June 29, July 18,

.

Nov. Nov. July

...do.. ...do.. ...do., ...do., ...do.. ...do..

1864 1864 1865 1865 1863

26, 1863 26, 1863 12, 1862

Jan. 2, 1363 Feb. 29, 1864 Feb. 6, 1864

Fairplay.

Conneetieut. Beauregard.

San Jacinto. Harriet Lane, Minnesota, Wabash, Cumberland, Susquehanna, Monticello, Pawnee.R, E. Cuyler, Massachusetts, New London. Perry.

Union. Vandalia.

Ottowa, Housatonic, Flambeau, Minnesota, Cumberland, Perry, Keystone State, Star

Seh. Harriet Byan Sch. Havelock Sch. Harvest

Hoop

Sch. Hampton Sch, Henry Travers Sch. Hermosa Sch. Hattie Sch. Hunter

...'.'.'.'.

Seh. Herald Sch. Harriet Sen. Handy Sch. Horteuse

\\ '.'.'..'..

Herald Bark H M. McGuinnt Sch. Helena Str.

.'.

700 00

.

'.

Hope Sloop Hannah Str.

W'^.

Sloop Hancock Sloop Hope Sloop Henrietta Seh. Isabel or Seh. Ida

861

722 7,896

123 107 937 768 480 455 1,866 230 66 751 1,204

339 60 62 47 96 87 784 15 8,874 90 486 74 76 87 1,600 00 3,467 08 6,942 62 10,717 30 239 6,299 8,961 4,672

W. E. King. ..'

Briglntended

\,

Seh. Ida

Sloop Isabella

Seh Independence .

Iron, railroad, 1,200 barsj Iron, railroad, 658 barsg Sch. Island Belle

Str.Ida Sch. John

51 4,434 56 18,000 00 271,192 36 6,.595

Sch. Henry Colthirst Str.Hattie

1,734 1,865

323 4,673 3,583 17,277 263,296

216 132 5,362 8,193 4,192

329 7,009

266 11 848 2,262 4,207 8,861 36.237

and Nathaniel

Taylor Seh. J. W. Wilder Sch. Joana Ward Sch. J. G. McNeil Sch. James Norcomll Sch. Julia Worden Sch .Julia Sloop Julia Sch. Julia

.'.'.'

Juno

Sloop John Wesley Sloop Jane Adelie Sloop Julia Sloop Juatina Sch. Juniper Sch. Joe Planner.,..

.

Str. Jeff Davisir

James Battle Sch. John Seott Seh. J.T. Davis Sch. John Douglas. Sch. Jupiter Seh. Judeon Str. Jupiter Sch. James Williams... Sch. J. C. McCabe Sch. John Str.

Sloop Josephine Sch Joseph H. Toone. Sch. Julia Sch. Josephine Sch. John Hale Str. Julia

1,700 24,618 7,503 e,536 2,200 3,090 17,347

571 9,942 135,102 1,875 6,699 15,428 1,720 2,228 11,747 600 240, 896 37, 723 9 ,926 41 ,011 35,,982 23,,495 ,331

00 44 00 90 00 34 96 39 50 00 90 71 96 53 69 21 00 62 84 00 62

40 74 73

,610 15 452 11

514 71 77 15,1606 48 6, 468 81 16, 046 81 14, 032 46 159, 129 41 32,

1,1821)

294 85 3,431 26 1,996 14 1,306 92 319 85 986 54 1,419 22 181 24 1,572 65 4,608 44 244 21 667 24 1,602 43 464 68 502 32 1,466 52 47 46 17,651 3,110 1,465 3,402 3,299 1,896 1,482

749 168 3,041 333 3,490 1,215 3,048 599

16 22

04 52 80 33 99 77

03 49 97 44 93 49 00 4,807 54

1,406 21,187 6,507 5,229 1,880 2,103 16,928

390 8,369 130,393 1,631 6,032 13,926 1,165 1,726 10,280

452 223,244 34,618 8,469 37,609 32,682 21,600 6,848 4,760 284 29,470 1,492 12,116 4,252 12,998 13,433 164,321

* Waiting for prize list of Ooeur de Lion. t

}

called Monticello).

Pawnee. Jamestown.

May

Island Belle, Anacostia. Currituck. Bohio. Connecticut. Florida. Kanawha, Colorado, Lackawanna, Pocahontas, Aroostook, Kennebec, E. B. Cuyler. Calypso.

Juniata.

Skirts, 2 boxes whis-

key, etc

Str.

(now

Oct. 17,1862 July 22, 1863 Oct. 19, 1863

Vessel not included. Waiting lor prize lists of the Vincennes and Clifton.

26 62

.do

17, 1862 Jan. 11, 1864

....do..

Key West.

IS 16 63 87

..

.do

New York

,

Feb.

6,

Oct.

8,

1863 1863

Feb. 18, 1864 Feb. 18, 1864

.

Philadelphia

42 Washington . Feb. 18, 1864 40 Key West . . Mar. 12, 1864 68 .do Mar. 17, 1864 87 .do Mar, 17, 1864 80 Boston April 12 1864 25 New Orleans 49 ..do May '21,' 1864' 14 ..do June 8,1864 60 St. Augustine Nov. 4, 1864 83 Boston Feb. 24, 1866 60 Key West... Mar, 22, 1866 OS .. do April 21, 1865 19 ...do April 21, 1865 58 ...do Aug. 25, 1865 72 .. do Oct. 16, 1862 05 ...do Feb. 17, 1863 42 Philadelphia.. Feb. 17, 1863 58 Key West Mar. 17, 1864 29 Mar. 29, 1864 68 New Orleans Nov. 26, 1864 31 Philadelphia, 87 ....do 99 ....do Nov. 17, 1864 06 ,...do AprU18,1866 .

.

16 New Tork. 18 ....do 86 ....do 98 ....do 15 do.. 80 Philadelphia. 74 Key West .... 16 .do 91 Boston 67 ..do 69 Key West .... 47 ....do 54 .do 85 .do 27 .do 69 do 56 Springfield.

Dec. 1. 1863 Jan. 31, 1863 Oct. 20, 1803

Octorara.

Tioga.

Vincennes, Clifton. Virginia.

Pawnee, Columbine. Eolus.

Beauregard. Sunflower. Beauregard. Merrimac.

Montgomery. Mercedita.

Jamestown. James 8. Chambers. Fort Henry. Potomac. Mohican, Potomska, Pocahontas. Mohican, Potomska, Pocahontas. Augusta.

Sonoma.

Commodore Perry, Underwriter, Whitehead. E. R. Cuyler. Harriet Lane. Arthur. Sbawsheen.

Dee.

1, 1863 Oct. 10, 1863 Oct. 17, 1863 April 27, 18 3 Jan. 30, 1864 Mar. 17, 1864 Mar. 9, 1864 Mar. S), 1864 Mar. 17, 1^64 Mar. 17, 1864 Mar. 29, 1864

.

Restless,

Kittatinny.

Sagamore. Cambridge. Connecticut. Circassian. De Soto. Tioga. Tiogo.

Kennebec. Pembina. Benton, St. Louis, Louisville, Carondelet, Cairo.

Key West New Orleans

46 62 98 10 60

Tahoma. Somerset.

April 12, 1864 De Soto. April 23, 1804 Kennebec. .do May 21, 1864 Cayuga. .do June 18, 1864 Penobscot. Philadelphia. Oct. 11, 1864 Cimarron, Nantucket. New Orleans. Oct. 7, 1804 Conemaugh. Boston Oct. 11, 1804 Proteus New Orleans. Oct. 12, 1864 Penobscot. Washington., Oct. 19, 1863 Zouave. New Orleans Mar. 22. 1865 Augusta Dinsmore. Key West April 22, 1865 Sunflower. New York April 21, 1865 South Carolina. New Orleans.. June 3, 1865 Chocura.

41 74 38 08 22 80 44 88 32 40 87

do

June

Key West

Aug. Aug.

do § II

IT

26, 1865 12, 1865 16, 1865

Seminole.

Matthew Vassar. Acacia.

Waiting for prize lists of Mohican, Potomska, and Pocahontas Waiting for prize list of Shawsheen. Waiting for prize lists of Benton, St. Louis, Louisville, Carondelet

Cairo

OF THE Gross pro-

Name.

ceeds.

Soh. Kate: Sch. Kate, cargo of. Str. Kate Dale

KaskaBkia Kate

Str. Str.

Sloop Kate Sloop Kate* Soh. La CrioUa.

3,672 711 2,828 246,651 4,935 1,813 1,468 8,573 9,580 6,189 7,000

,

Lodona

titr.

Hoh. Lion Sch. Ladies' Delight.

£ch. Lookout

,

Sch. Lion

Sch. Lavinia Sch. Lily fich.

Ly nnhaTon

Soh. Lovely Belief.

2,200 1,106 76,286 29,745 46,053 12,244 1,977 2,022 2,864 2,693 30,646 18,361

.

Sch. Louisa Agnes Sch. Lizzie Weston.

.

Sch. Lucy C. Holmes. Sch. Louise Str. Lizzie Sch. Louisa Sch. Linnet

Sch. Lydia and Mary.

Sloop Louisa Dud.ey. Sch. Lady Maria Str. Lizzie Dayis Sch. Locadie Sch. Lida Sch. Louisa Sloop Last Trial

1,997

9,753 6,611 109

Sch. Lily Soh. Lynchburg

6,996 11,449 9,019 6,843 44,489 609,354 6,491

Sch.LUy Laura Str. Little Ada Str. Lady SterliD g ... Sch.

Lucy

Str.

Sch. Leartad Sch. Linda Sch.

,

Lowood Laura

Str.

Sloop Lydia Sch. Lily Sloop Last Resort Sloop Lauretta Sch. Lucy Brig Lilla Sch. Late Hurley Sch. Mars Sch. Major Barbour.

Sloop Mercury X Sch. Maria

Brig Minna Sch. Maria Bishop .

Sch.

Mary Jane

Str.

Magnolia

. .

Sloop Margaret Sch.

MagnoUa

Sch. Margaret Sch. Martha Ann §

Bark Meaco Soh. Mabel Sch. Morning Star Sch.

Mary Wood

Str.

II

Memphis

Merrimack

Sch. Mississippian * +

14,910 27 376 56 1,890 42

442 22 126 27 871 83 14,944 84 1,350 70 287 32 264 00

00 GO 67 62 49 73

312 16 837 10 543,495 15 2.50 80 2,589 70 661 25 4,583 26 202,741 16 34,981 94

3,130 00

685 54 1,956 231,706 3,584 1,526 1,214

81 48

87

51

966 68

723 6,534 4.380 171 6.948 1,589 224 625

290 52 341 3.929 1,246 1,1.57

8,278 646 2.048 1.381 2,667 1,033 6,651

27 50 94 69 35 36 69 72 79 50 70 90 76 04 16 63 52 46 75 04 68 99 62 10 80 74 61

234 47 3,199 02 722 26

160 714 166 a30,166

1,880 16

No proceeds 67,467 26.793 43,082 10,408 898 1,634 1.946 2,072 28,418 15,910 1,340 8,379 4,489 1

5,028 7,012 7,945 6,971 42,909 494,891 4,264 1,908 262,413 38,880 1,066 28,606 34,463 1,077 476 1,697

76 52 98 69 65 25

Vessels entitled to share.

...do

New

York...

....do ....do ....do ....do

Philadelphia ...do

Key West

.

.

.

.

New

Key West

New Orleans New York New Orleans

26 29 13 01

Boston.

,

.do

No proceeds 36,289 08 1,002 21 1,351 40 969 01 1,872 15 697 65 167,404 16 51 59 12 78 68

...do

.do

28, 28, 28, 16, 7,

9,

2,

1864 1864 1864 1864 1805 1865 1865 1866 1866 1865 1865 1866 18C5 1865 1866 1865

Aug.

26,

Aug,

12, 1865

,

do Boston

June 20,

New Orleans. Aug. New York

1865

22, 1865

Jan. 30, 1803

...do ...do ...do

1863 Nov. 1S63 Dec. 24, 1863 Deo. 9, 1863 Oct. 16, 1862

,.,do ...do ...do

Key West ..do ...do ...do .do

Washington.,

"i. 20,

Oct. 16, 1862 Oct. 8,1863 Oct. 17, 1863 Oct. 6, 1862 Oct, 1, 1863

.do

Mar.

Philadelphia.

do.

.

do

.

.

^

..do

,

Boston Washington, New York Washington, .

Key West,.. York. Key West.

11, 1863

W. G. Anderson. Delaware, Louisiana, Hetzel, Commodore Perry, Valley City, Underwriter, Morse, Ceres, H. Brincker, Whitehead, Shawsheen, Lockwood, General Putnam, J. N. Seymour. General Putnam. General Putnam. Santiago de Cuba. Albatross.

Santiago de Cuba. Bienville.

Union. Restless.

McLellan. De Soto, Stonewall. San Jacinto.

Commodore. Seminole.

Queen. Beauregard, San Jacinto, Dale, Tioga, Tahoma, Huntsville, Wanderer, Eugenie, Sunflower, Sea Bird, Honduras, Marigold. Penobscot. '

Quaker City. Owasco. Owasco. Gettysburg. Calypso, Eolus. Chocura. Fort Morgan. Santiago de Cuba.

San Jacinto. Beauregard, Norfolk Packet. Chocura. Stars

and

Stripes,

Hendrick Hudson.

Beauregard.

Metacomet. Roebuck. Koebuck. Hendrick Hudson. Quaker City. Chocura.

De

Soto, Kittatinny. City, Memphis,

.

.

I

Powhatan, Flag.

Santiago de Cuba. Victoria.

Courier.

Mount Vernon,

State of Georgia. Huntsville. Brooklyn, South Carolina, Mercedita, Itasca. Sciota.

Hatteras.

Rachel Seaman, Kensington. Tahoma, Hendrick Hudson. Samuel Rotau. Eureka, T. A, Ward. Brooklyn,

St.

Louis.

Dale, St. Lawrence. Bienville.

April

Resolute. Magnolia. Coa'ir de Lion, Sagamore.

6,

Pawnee. Stars and Stripes, Mystic, State of Georgia. Powhatan, Housatonic. Paul Jones, Huron, Unadilla, Augusta, South Carolina, America, G. W. Blunt, New Ironsides, Flag, Stettin, Lodona.

Hunchback. Nov. Dec.

16, 1862 10, 1863

1864 1861 Nov. 26, 1864 Feb. 22, 1864 Feb. 29, 1S64 3,

June 11,

..do ..do

New

Santiago de Cuba.

1862 26, 1862 11, 1864 Oct. 19, 1863 Nov. 5, 1863

Nov. Nov. Nov,

..do ..do . .

Kingfisher.

Quaker Dec.

5

for.

18,

July July July

June

Orleans

Key West

36

55,967 89

June

April 22, April 22, April 22,

02 Key West 96 43

Itasca.

22, 22,

Orleans

Bienville.

Feb.

Mar, Mar. Mar.

. .

...do

New

James Adger,

Unadilla.

14, 14,

New

Iroquois,

Delaware. Primrose, Anacostia, Currituck, Satellite. Coeur de Lion.

Feb. .

Vernon, Niphon. Brooklyn.

1863 Oct.l 9, 1863 April 16, 1862 Oct. 16, 1862 Jan. 23, 1863 Oct. 13, 1893 Deo. 8, 1863 5,

....do

Key West

Mount

Nov.

Feb. Feb. Feb.

,

48 Boston

41

26, 1862

New York New Orleans. .

R. R. Cuyler. Cricket.

April 25,1863

.

.

98 16 44 07

93 15 33

1864

17, 1863 Jan. 31, 1863 Jan. 23, 1863 Jan. 11, 1864 Feb. 29, 1864 Dec. 14, 1864 Feb. 29, 1864 Mar. 17, 1864 May 7, 1864 June 7, 1864 Nov, 26, 1864 April 23, 1864 June 4, 1864

Boston

....do Orleans. ...do Philadelphia. New Orleans.

11 66 09 85 11

6,638 12 69,760 22 2,255 11

5.50

do

.

03

206 84 06 610,914 07 167 88 2,387 84 430 87 4,195 38 191,038 68 32,486 42

596 2,098

.

Key West

106 32 287 04 32,581 08 82 92 201 86 130 38 337 87 11,702 48 2,496 62

646

do

Key West....

57

7,027 89 623 59 2,252 99 88 86 34,144 08

1,039

Nov,

do

...

6,

Roebuck. Adolph Hugel.

Pursuit.

.do Philadelphia.

No proceeds

3,315 38,532 4,127 217 783 68

July

00 Philadelphia

95 44 01 55 02 61 02 79 82 37

6,090 1,753

Key West...

56 ...do 40 Washington,

7,479 86

4,437 1,074 871 1,680 9.463 1,227

Waiting for prize list of the Pursuit. Tmt ^Tfl.r DfiTiartment : not tiaid

Totan

\^

Oct. 23, 1863 Oct. 23, 1863 Jan. 6, 1864 Jan. 11, 1864 Feb. 16, 1864

—

8,699 42 4,353 65 6,698 85

04 62 388 17 918 66 620 60 2,228 42 2.441 08 666 44 1,374 46 1,121 50 108 85

66 43 94

10 Key West ... 75 Washington. 12 Philadelphia. 45 Springfield.. 58 New York

880 96 836 88 401 15

319 85 00 92 10

27 42 66 07 45 16 00 64 S6 96

$3,595 46 366,798 923 29,289

1,093 68

1.401 8,738 3,952 1,970 1,836 1,078

686 68 36,242 46

Merchandise, cargo of If.. Sch. Meteor Sloop Magnolia Sch. Maria Alberta .

32 25 72 87 54 38 53 00

$693 23 61 25

8,781 60 1,168 61 3,292 78

Sch. Monterey Str.

64

{ 92,213 47

Sch. Mary Elizabeth. Soh. Major B. WilUs.

Merchandise, 680 pieces

22 81

3.549 98 41,731 61 4,849 37 378 73 1,498 02 224 37

Sloop Maria

Sloop Mary Grey

Costs and Am'tfordis- Whereadjudi-«Cit;^? expenses. tribution. ^^°-

01 96 64 49 2,631 60 268,948 20 43.261 72 1,237 65 34,556 03 36,062 92 1,302 17 1,102 00 1,987 58 52 63 6,879 64 73,679 67 3,500 86 1,141 00 44,667 76 1.548 20 3,399 92 2,340 11 4,639 96 1,731 39 173,955 77

Sch. Louisa Sch. Lone

839

distribution.

$4,188 33 98 00 370,708 39 1,300 00 31,180 00

.

WAR.

CIVIL

Dan Smith.

San Jacinto. Jacinto. Iroquois. De Soto.

."^an

Waiting for prize

list

of the T. A, Ward.

Wn.ifintT for nrize list of tile

Hunchback.

THE NAVAL HlSTUUr

840

Gross pro-

Name.

ceeds.

Maggie Fulton

Str.

$1,107 71 689 88 1,913 69 47,939 13 4,290 66 20,251 94 33,446 11

Sch. Mary Jane Soh. Mattie* Sch. Miriam Sloop Minnie

Montgomery Mack Canfield

Str.

Sch.

Costs and Am'tfordis Whereadjudiexpenses. tribution. cated.

$377 09 122 390 3,465 619 2.069 3,028

83 29 84 67 22 13

$730 62 567 1,623 44,473 3,670 18,192 30,416

06 30 29 89 72 98

Sent to 4th Auditor for

Vessels entitled to share.

distribution

Key West

Mar.

.do .do

Feb.

17, 1864 29, 1864

Gem

of the Sea.

Tahoma. Annie.

....do ....do

June 9,1864

New

June

Mar.

Orleans

29, 1864 9.

1864

Itasca, fluntsville. De Soto.

....do

April 12, 1864

W. G. Anderson.

Springfield.. ...do ...do

April 23, 1864 Nov. 17, 1864

Argosy.

New Orleans

April 23, 1864 April 12, 1864

Merchandise, 4 mules and 1

buggy

,

Mules, 21 Mules, 13t

M. J. Smith Str. Minna Money. $627 26 t Sch. Martha Jane Sch. Mary Douglas Sch. Marion Sch. Mary Ann Sch. Mary Sorley Sch.

,

Sch. Maria Albert Sch. Mary Clinton Str. Str. Str. Str.

Sch.

Minnie Margaret and Jessie Matagorda Mayflower

§

Mary

Sloop Maria Louisa Sch. Miriam Sloop Mary Brig Minnie Sch.

365 00 00 00 65 21 627 25 21,130 14 4.865 75 381 96 116,544 74 103,083 46 3.866 94 10,432 43 353,943 42' 170,708 34 389,367 36 20,114 22 28,638 62 4,106 67 2,869 15 9,660 89 6,409 29 2,971 81 3,875 36 3,362 16 63,319 11 1,900 1.175 89,809 116,901

Mary Ann..

Sloop Mary Ellen Sch. Minnie Str. Mail

,

93 139 1,014 7,381 6,990

27 02 39 35 77 76 22 2,022 26 818 71 235 62 4,188 42 5,292 18 805 49 3,197 65 9.070 16 12,549 87 5,798 62 1,831 01 1,661 22 408 71 367 78 1,007 89 1,261 75 837 99 444 82 296 76 6,421 11

271 73 1,760 98

160 61 82,426 30 110,910 651 19,107 4,047 146 112,356 97,791 3,061 7,234 344,873 168,168 353,568 18,283 26,977 3.697 2,501 8,543 6,147 2,133 3,430 3,065 67,898

Conestoga.

44 Boston 03 Springfield. 88 Key West 04 New Orleans. ...do 44 .

.

Juliet.

32 Boston 28 New Orleans. 46 ...do 88 ...do 26 Boston. 47 New York 83 Boston 21 Key West .... 40 New York 86 Key West 37 .. do 00 ...do 64 Philadelphia. 82 New Orleans 53 Key West. ., .do 40 .do 00

Kennebec, Circassian. St.

Louis.

June 1,1864 Fort Henry. June 8, 1864 Virginia. June 17, 1864 Aroostook. July 19, 1864 Grand Gulf. July July

28, 1864 28, 1864 Oct. 29, 1864 Oct. 10, 1864 Oct. 17,1864 Dec. 3. 1864 Feb. 2, 1865 Mar. 22, 1865 Mar. 22, 1S65 Mar. 22, 1866 Mar. 22, 1865 April 18, 1866 April22, 1866 April 26, 1866 April 26, 1865 April 26, 1865

Sciota.

Rachel Seaman. Powhatan. Connecticut. Fulton. Keystone State, Nansemond. Magnolia. Union.

Mackinaw. Roebuck. Honeysuckle. Roebuck. Lodona. Itasca.

San Jacinto. Beauregard.

Honduras, San Jacinto (Fox, Sea Bird,

Two

Sisters).

1,238 10 1,660 03 830 67

6,981 77 6,986 43 4,251 33

New Orleans

Brig Napier

677 8.698 433 3,696

Key West

12,462 05 1,164 83 4,702 67

127 3,853 732 1,006

Sloop (no namell) Sch. Newcastle

488 66 34,921 85

188 09 2,686 62

300 56 32,234 73

9,631 27 4,710 68 2,000 00

691 39 317 92 316 86

9,039 88 4,392 76 1,684 15

Sch. Matilda Soh. Malta Sch. Mary Ellen. Sch. Mary Sch. Medora Sch Nelly

7,219 87 8,636 46 6,082 00 804 84

20 08 16 79

64 97 67 78

June

Orleans. Philadelphia .do

1865 Aug. 1865 Aug. 1866 Aug. 1866 Aug. 1866 Mar. 2, 1863 June 28, 1864

Washington. Key West

Oct. 16, 1862

..do ..do

New

26, 22, 16, 12, 21,

Penobscot. Glide.

Kanawha. Pursuit. J. P. Jackson, Stockdale.

Alabama. Mount Vernon, Mystic, Chippewa, Stars and Stripes.

Bark (slave, known*)

name

Nahum Stetson .. Sch. (name unknown)..

Brig

Sloop New Eagle Ship North Carolina Sloop Neptune, cargo of Str. Nicholai Ist Sloop {no name) Sch. New Year Sch. Napoleon,

Str.

Neptune

Str.

Nassau

Sch.

Nanjemoy

Sloop Nellie Str. Nutfleld Sloop Neptune Sloop (no name) Str.

Nan Nan

Sloop Nina Sloop Osceola Sch. Olive Str.

Ouachita

Sch. Odd Fellow Sch. Olive Branch Sloop Octavia Sch. Orion Sch. Ocean Wave Sch. Olive 8. BreezeK Sch. Ocean Bird, cargo of. Sch. Ora Monita

Sch.O.

K

Sloop Oscar Str. P.O. Wallis** Sch. Providence Sch. Prince Alfred Sch. Pride Property, lot of Property, lot of Property, lotoftt

8,008 10,850 15.669 33,226 196 16,908

60 00

17 88 63 18 1,071 87

,

40,820 68 71,968 63 35 GO 20,643 24 2,219 00 20,046 35 95 00 21,006 03 440 71 600 00 1,750 00 9,800 00 7,069 62 5,944 74 686 00 7 900 80 41266 69 2,078 05 282 31 856 20 2,890 70 32,079 00

929 90 8,618 20 2,918 06 2.043 74 6i;9 11

269 97

48 74 96 94 133 72 1,776 22 679 90 1,196 6,763 1,464 4,848

4,460 44 10,699 23

6,812 4,096 14,204 28,377 61 14,129 391

02 26 22 94

Commodore

. .

Nov. Nov.

.do .do York...

New

Dec.

....do ...do

.

.

,

.

Jan. 27, 1863 20, 1863 1863 1863 1864 1864 Mar. 17, 1864

.

.

Mar.

.

.

May

Washington 96 Key West 97 New York

Key West

1863

Dec. 26, Nov. 26, Feb. 29, April 12,

...do

New York

8,

Nov.

...do..

91

36,360 14 61,269 40

26, 1862 26, 1864

29, 1864 10, 1864

Morris.

Bainbridge.

Brooklyn, Massachusetts. Perry, Delaware, Hetzel, Louisiana. VaUey City, Underwriter, Ceres. H. Brinker, Morse, Whitehead, Shawsheen^ Lockwood, J. N. Seymour, General Patnam, Matthew Vasear, Sea Foam.

Commodore

Quaker

City.

Housatonic,

New

Ironsides.

Victoria.

Eureka. Sagamore. Stars and Stripes, Philadelphia, Louisiana, Hetzel, Delaware, Commodore Perry, Valley City, Underwriter, Commodore Barney, Hunchback, Southfleld, Morse, H. Brinker,.

Lockwood. Lackawanna. State of Georgia, Victoria.

No proceeds Washington 1,580 90

363 60 68 92

1,654 87 2,036 105

240 274 2,167 1,321

344 74 709 1,084

446 212 249 297 2,621

78 66 95 20 84 29 68 62 33 63 09 60 96 86 97

678 94 2,001 20 401 39 286 85 170 02 92 30

* Waiting for prize list of the Annie, a tender. t Waiting for prize list of the Conestoga. X Waiting for prize list of the St. Louis. g $54,426.59 distributed to owners, officers, and

19,062 34 1,866 40 18,390 77 7

18,970 335 369 1,475 7,632 6,748 6,600 611 7,191 3,182 1,632 69

08 24 16 06 80 16 23 16 38 47

New York

.

July

1864 Oct. 1864 April 26, 1866

.

Washington.

Key West

.

.

.do ,do

May

1,617 00 2,516 67 1,766 89

1,

1865

do

New York

July July Nov.

1863 1863 1863 1863 1802 Oct. 16, 1862 Oct. 13, 1863 Oct. 17, 1862

21, 21, 25, Dec. 17, Oct. 16,

.do .do

do

Key West ...do ...do

06 Philadelphia 96 Key West ....

71 606 24 2,692 84 29,457 07 31,232 76 250 96

19. 29,

.

.do

..do..

Washington.

399 09 177 67

.do .do .do

Memphis. Mouticello. Ktngflsher, Ethan Allen. Sagamore, Mercedita.

Quaker City. Pawnee.

.

Sisters (tender to the Magnolia). Norfolk Packet. Beauregard. Union.

April 26, 1865

San Jacinto. Hatteras, New London, J. P. Jackson.

Nov. July

Bienville.

Boston Philadelphia

Roebuck. New London, Massachusetts, R, B. Cuyler. New Loudon, Massachusetts, R. R. Cuyler.

Two

June 4, 1864 Boston St. Augustine Nov. 4, 1864 Mar. 22, 1805 Key West .

South Carolina. Sassacus. Sunflower, Honduras, J. L. Davis. San Jacinto. Nita.

1862 21, 1864 Oct. 19, 1863 Aug. 16, 1862 Oct. 19,1863 6,

Susquehanna. Ohocura. Reliance, Anacosiia,

William Bacon.

II

II

Waiting for prize lists of the Commodore Morris. Waiting for prize lists of the Two Sisters, a tender to the Magnolia.

crew of the Ful-

** Final decree not received.

OF THE Gross pro-

Name.

ceeds.

Sloop Pointer* Property, lot of Property, lot oft Sch. President Sch. Princeton Sch. Prize Sloop Pioneer Str. Patras, cargo of. Str. Planter Str. Patras Bark Pioneer Pianos 2j:

841

Sent to Costs and Am'tfordiS' Where adjudiAuditor expenses. tribution. cated.

4th Vessels entitled to share.

for distribution.

$86 29

$101 93

U

$16 64

Washington.

Reliance. T. A. Ward. Matthew Vassar.

92 64 58 00 26 134 00 976 65 69,943 42

269 37 236 46 1,293 16 916 96 237 64 1,068 18 6,336 82 16,872 00 4,077 41 2.913 81 103 21 134 01 1,198 86

32 600 30 1,308 74 62,450 82 181,818 58 29,922 59 28,487 44 30 79 841 61 68,744 56

8,980 85

1,225 00

7,766 86

New Orleans

Sciota.

233 16 3,126 14

Key West

Sunflower. Pursuit. Bienville, Princess Royal.

2,166 1,996 12,411 3,870 837 2,366 68,787 198,690 34,000 31,401

Sch. Paul Prize money....

WAR.

CIVIL

7B 13 28 84

1,897 1,711 11,117 2,963

17 31 98

....do ..

Oct. 19. 1863

do

Key West... ..

1862 1802 1863 1863 Doc. 9, 1863 Feb. 29, 1864 Feb. 29. 1864 April 14, 1864 Oct. 16, Oct. 16, Oct. 24, April 27,

do

...do.

New

York...

....do

Key West...

New York

.

.

...do Springfield..

Key West

.

April 16, 1864

Washington.

Oct, 29, 1864

.

Owasco.

Susquehanna. Octorara.

Portsmouth. Bienville.

Lackawanna. Bienville.

Monticello, Quaker City.

Great Western. Sagamore. Curlew, Gen. Pillow, New Era, Louisvillb, Mound City, Oonestoga, Marmora, Signal, I'ittsburgh, Cincinnati, Gen. Lyon, Romeo, Carondelet, Tyler, Petrel, Black Hawk and tugs.

Sch. Pancha Larissa Sloop Pickwicfe

Sch Peepo'Day Sch. Pet

_

Sloop Phantom Str. Pevensey, part of cargo Str. Princess Royal

336 3,488 19,820 621

66 84 25

3,510 4,134 3,336 10,147 8,807 38,338 8,895 3,212 7,778 36,065 84,719 1,294

34 92

April 22, 1866 Aug. 25, 1865 do Aug. 25, 1865 15.808 17 New Orleans.. June 26, 1805 417 78 Key West Aug. 12, 1865 4,765 34 New York Aug. 21, 1866 337,816 11 Philadelphia. Oct. 13, 1866

102 70 363 70 3,952 08 103 47 691 16 22,666 60

25 6,456 60 360,882 61

. .

—

Honeysuckle. Newbern, Unadilla, Augusta, Housatonic, America, G. W. Blunt ($10,000 decreed to Memphis and

Quaker City). Bice, 10.3 casts of.... Kice, 1,253 bags of.... Sch. Revere Sch. Reindeer Sch. Rambler Sch. Robert Bruce Sch. Reindeer, cargo of. Sch. Rising Dawn Sch. Rose Sch.R. 0. Files

Reliance Sch. Rising Sun Sch. Reindeer Sloop Richard Vaux Str.

Sch. Rebecca Sch. Bowena

896 33 1,098 1,744 1,644 1,384 6,981 2,051 1,213

73

90 99

17 29 70 40 40 60 02 24(1 00 380 00 2,022 41 6,563 01

2,614 3,036 1,690 8,603 7,423 31,356 6,843 1,999 7,019 33,234 78,325 1,047

87 87 70 63 62 53 69

758 92 2,831 15 6,394 27

246 162 164 612 929

93 20 82 04 96

77 226 1,410 4,623

01 36

New York

86 20 46 65 76 01 48 25 23 09 80 18 87 06

....do ....do ....do ....do ..do ...do

May

do

X

28, 1863 Jan. 23. 1863

Sept. 15, 1863 11, 1864 May 2, 1864 Feb. 4, 1884 Nov, 26, 1863 Jan. 11, 1864 Key West Oct. 16, 1862 ....do Oct. 16, 1862 -do Jan. 29, 1863 Washington.. Oct. 19, 1863 ....do April 20, 1862 Feb. 18, 1864 ...do Philadelphia.. Nov. 6. 1862 ....do Sept. 16, 1863

Jan.

Albatross, Norwich. Albatross.

Monticello, Maratanza, Mahaska, Arthur. Connecticut. Penobscot. W. G. Anderson.

Mount Vernon. Sagamore, Mercedita.

Kanawha. Huntsville.

Wyandank. Island BeUe, Satellite. Primrose. Bienville.

Pembina, Pawnee, Huron, Unadilla, H. Andrews. E. P. Hale, Ellen.

Sch. R. O. Bryan, cargo of

Bum,

8

bbls..

37

and small lumber sugar,

4,479 3,474 1,036 3,396 27,676 2,868 3,161 860

Ringdove Sloop Relampago No. 1 Sch. Royal Yacht Sch. Rebekah Sloop Relampago No. 2 Sch.

Sch. R. F. Renshaw§ Sloop Rosalie Sloop Richardsll

2,710

790 1,338 7,564 4,624

Sloop Ranger Sch. Rapid Sch. Reserve Sch. Restless Union Sch. Ripple Sch. RevereU

377

Eouen

Sloop Racer Sloop Resolute Sch. Roebuck Sch. Rebel Sch. R. H. Vermylea Sch. Rob Roy Rosin, 25 barrels, etc. Str.

Ruby

Sch. San Juan Sch. Specie Str.

371 13

838 66

83 28 85 01 74 08 65 35 86 26 12 11 42 27 36 00 72 13 63 63 38 36 36 81 61 85 91 19 18 22

4,022 67 3,104 37 885 66 2,807 38 25.022 64 2,432 01 2,713 96 737 65 2,274 89 681 60 1,161 73 6,787 20 3,650 95 36 73 24,919 20

26,986 766 38,662 6,350 663 9,071

114 6,220

628 20,494 14,286 2,728 10,214

60 65 51 39 28 09 61 00 76 76 85 31 37 00 66 46 26 38 25 02 69 89 43 47 00 86 86

38,260 94

Salvor

466 370 160 588 2,663

426 447 112 436 209 187 777 973 341 2.067

300 1,906 741 122

974 88 1,118 98 3,091 2,492 1.031 1,276 (a3,029 3,379 1,671 I

21,464 10

Sch. Sarah Sch. Susan Jane Sch. Sally Mears Sloop S. W. Green Sch. Sarah Lavlnia Sch. Southerner Sch. Sabine Shoes, cargo of, etc Str.

Sch. Sch. Sch. Sch. Sch. Sch.

• •

Swan Silas

Henry

Stonewall Sarah, cargo of Sarah and Oarohne.

Shark Soledad Cos

.

12,658 36 2,800 00 232 50 416 00 605 00 205 00 672 68 218,475 52 8,213 20 1,2U0 00 606 99 4,322 61 4,811 44 3,974 63

2,763 66 1,427 45

109 163 164 114 179 16,177 1.068 114 91 1,118 1,253 750

* Waiting for prize list of the Reliance. Waiting for prize list of the M. Vassar.

t

Boston..

Rhode

Island.

Jan.

13, 1863

Nov.

26,

June June June

9,

Gem

8,

Roebuck.

lot of

Sloop Richard

Str.

1,209 78

hhds

55 89 10 19 91 49 08 35 91

26 22 78

Springfield.

..

Key West ....do ...

do

....do ....do ...do

Boston

Key West.... Mar.

430 17,403 11,803 1,697 8,938 [

26 72 49 21 64 07 66 39 01 96

3,558 3,223

9,

Aug.

New

June 29,

May

Orleans

Key West

Aug.

Augustine Key West ...

1865

22, 1866 22, 1865

....do ....do ...do

1,

1866

16, 1865

1866

12, 1865

St.

Philadelphia. ..do

.do

440 90 392 202,298 2,165 ' 1,085 515 3,204

Mar. Mar. Mar.

Key West

19,782 88

,

Key West...,

..do ..do

S.

Chambers.

Jasmine. Louisiana. Octorara. Sisters.

Fort Henry, Wanderer.

De

Soto.

Kittatinny.

Commodore. Kanawha. Cambridge, Susquehanna. Keystone State. Beauregard. Beauregard. San Jacinto. Roebuck.

Quaker City. Stars and Stripes. Pawnee. Columbia. Proteus. Dale.

17,

1862

Jan. 14, 1863 26,

April 23. Oct. 19, Oct. 19, Oct. 19, Sept. 21,

1863

1864 1863 1863 1863 1862 Nov. 20, 1863 Oct. 6,1865 Feb. 17, 1863 Oct. 15, 1863 Oct. 23. 1863 Oct. 23, 1863 Sept. 15, 1863 Jan. 14, 1863 Feb. 17, 1863

Chambers.

W. G. Anderson.

Oct.

Nov.

...do ...do ...do ...do

New York

James J. S.

Sept', "ii 1866 21, 1864

July ,

,

do Washington. .. do

do do do

Battler, Petrel. of the Sea.

Two

1864 Mar. 17, 1864 New Orleans.. ApriU2, 1864 April 12,1864 ...do Mar. 29, 1864 Key West

.do

69 65 96 11 90 81 77 03 12 65 08 36 22 85

1864

June 22,

do ...do

31,842 67

9,794 1,372 122 251

17,

....do ...

465 46 Boston 64 .do

36,766 6,609 440 8,096 26 6,102

1864 1863 1863 4, 1863 Nov. 2, 1863 Feb. 29, 1864 Feb. 29, 1864

Susquehanna. Keystone State Keystone State, Seneca, Norwich, Alabama, James Adger, Shepherd Knapp, Roebuck. Pawnee. Quaker City. T. A. Ward. Primrose.

Wyandank, Jacob

Bell, Teazer.

Resolute.

Dan Smith.

Amanda Bainbridge. Tahoma. Tahoma, Wanderer. Hatteras. Bienville. Soutn Carolina. South Carolina,

Sam Houston.

§ Waiting for prize list of the Louisiana. ITWaiting for prize list of the Cambridge and Susquehanna.

THE NAVAL HISTORY

843

Gross pro-

Name.

ceeds.

Sloop Sarah Str. Scotia Str. Sunbeam

Sch.Sue Southern IndependSell. ence

Bark Sally Magee Sch. St. George Seoesh

Str.

$7,382 104,636 74,966 10,062

41 60 74 20

66,213 8,160 4,573 19,080

94 00 04 46

to 4th Where adjudi- Sent Auditor for

Costs and Am'tfordis expenses. tribution.

$1,243 75 10,939 98 16,611 69 1,716 13 4,244 3,762 2,015 1,394

46 98 65 77

cated.

$6,138 66 93,596 62 69,466 16 8,346 07

New

61,969 4,387 2,667 17,685

Boston. ... New York... .do

Jan. 27, 1803 Nov. 5, 1863 Nov. 20, 1863 Nov. 26, 1863

York...

....do ....do

..do

48 02 99 69

Vessels entitled to share.

distribution.

Philadelphia.

Deo. 1, 1863 Feb. 29, 1864 Feb. 29, 1804 Feb. 18, 1804

Key West

April

Matthew Vasaar, Sea Foam. Bestless.

State of Georgia, Mystic. Monticello.

Kanawha. Quaker City.

Mount Vernon. Canandaigua, New Ironsides, Powhatan, Wamsutta, Paul Jones, Lodona, Housatonic,

Sch. Southern Eights Sch. Star

664 24 800 00

Str. Stettin

226,393 10

Sugar, 13 bbls.;

1

420 71

133 63 168 61 23,921 08

631 49 202,471 42

Sch. Statesman

457 71,117 681 26,314 4,260 13,600

29 16 36 67 10 67

84 81 6,067 39 143 76 2,640 41 698 72 1,622 07

372 48 66,049 77 637 61 22,774 26 3,601 38 11,878 60

Scow, 1, and 69 bales cotton Sloop Southern Star Str.St. John's Sugar, 14 bbls., etc Str. Southern Merchant...

13,438 1,686 47,792 1,176 3,000

69 63 40 07 00

1,192 169 2,332 206

40 37 89 60 481 30

12,246 19 1,427 26 46,469 61 970 47 2,618 70

Shoes, 498 pairs*..

273 90

Sch. Segurt

3,160 00

Sundries, 12 boxes Bch. Stingray Sch Sylpnide Str. Scotia .

816 33,988 3,060 76,448 1,212

Sophia

Sch. Savannah Sch., 1; sloop, 1 Sch. Sea Bird Str. Str.

,.

Sumter Susanna

Sloop Swallow Sch. Sort No. 2 Str. Tubal Cain Sch. Trier

1,387

Sch. Two Sisters Sch. Theresa Tobacco, 18 boxes Sch. Three Brothers

3,698 2,990

329 320

Tom Sugg

7,000

Ship Thomas Watsont. Turpentine, 11 barrels. .

Sch.

Thomas

0. Worrellg. Tobacco, 2 hogsheads.

Tristram Shandy This tie Sch. Three Brothers Sch. Terrapin Sch. Two Brothers Sloop Theodora Sloop Telemaco Str. Str.

Str.

1.119

614 708 418,873 163,392 1,638 697 76 3,436 98,838 32,662 60,460 306,421

Union

660 6.781 67,936 30,301 641

Sch. Volante Sch. Velocity, cargo of.

Vixen

Sch. Wm. Mallory Sch. W. C.Bee Sch. William Sch. Wm. E. Chester. Sch. Wave Sch. Water Witch

666

140

Sch. Uncle Mose Sch. Victoria Str. Victory Sch. Velasco Sch. Venus Sch. Virginia Sch. Victoria Sch. Volantell

Str.

03 04 69 62 60 1,326 00 818 21

3,600 60,284 6,396 1,168 36,080 3,204 92 78,048 2,749 65,087

Sch. Spunky Sch. Susan Sch. SortKo.l Sch. (name unknown) Sloop (no namej

Str.

.

.

Whiskey, cargo o\\. Sch. Wave Sch. Winter Shrub Sch. Wanderer Sch. Wave, cargo of

.

York.

Huron,

Unadilla,

Fsia,

Stettin,

Augusta. Sagamore. Brooklyn. Bienville.

bbl,

molasaes Sloop Surprise Sch. Shot Str. Spaulding Sch. Sea Drift

Sch

.do...

New

1864 July 6, 1864 Mar. 22, 1804 12,

00 20 81 31 26 63 00 83 40 48 30 30 04 14 00 00 88 30 40 66 81 90 87 68 76 00 64

46 91 49 37 00 49 99 08 32

,365 11

621 86 ,127 00 526 19 '.884 26 ,324 97 ,298 74 ,250 26 731 30 633 48 001 90 485 80 430 60 ,137 00

*80 13J 113 tl,321 607 196 2,968 769 3,009

63

[

07J 86 98

16 96 02 359 26 244 96 272 62

237 96 6,297 60 484 02 203 34 2.059 63 227 00 92 00 3,676 36 196 87 8,006 83 369 86 684 34 626 23 95 23 116 92 4,027 70 636 67 127 11 137 93 156 44 6,801 26 2,539 07 193 69 183 23 76 76 94 83 857 19 7,298 84 2,336 92 2,049 68 6,422 92 871 95 1,260 36 9,245 42 2,267 87 629 96

144 20 179 47 3,031 02 1,567 29 2,470 04 6,963 04 2,590 35 1,968 95 1,938 33 126 46 821 59 773 28 704 26 707 09

1

Key West

Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb.

...do ...do Philadelphia

Key West

Mar. Mar.

.

.

..do

do Boston New Orleans

Mar. Mar. Mar. July

....do

Oct.

..do .

80 13J

...do

1,321 07J

...do

29, 29, 29, 29, 17, 17,

29, 1864 29, 1864 22, 1804 2,

29. 1864

June June July Nov. Oct. Oct.

7,

June

Boston Key West New York Key West do

June

Washington

.

.do Springfield.

.

21

New York

19 47 22 56 83 28 36

Key West

.... .

.

..do

13 67 21 36

29,

1864 1864 1864 1864 1806 1806 1866 1865

1865 Aug. 12, 1865 July 20, 1863 Oct. 15, 1863 Oct. 24, 1863 Oct. 14,1863 Oct. 19,1863 Feb. 18, 1864 April 12, 1864

Fort Henry. Fort Henry. Stettin.

Cayuga, Owasoo. Diana.

Brooklyn. Penobscot. Virginia.

Connecticut. Dan Smith, Huron, Midnight. Perry.

Mor%e.

De Soto. Pawnee, Columbine. Metacomet. Beauregard. Roebuck, Honeysuckle. O. H. Lee.

3,

Nita. (Waiting for prize of the Sea. Tioga.

list.)

Honeysuckle. Octorara. Albatross.

Currituck, Anacostia. Cricket.

Boanoke, Flag.

June

1,

1864

Washington.. Springfield

.

Boston ..do

Key West .... ...do ....do ...do

Wyandank, Jacob Feb. 17, 1865 Oct. 10, 1864 Jan. 14, 1865 Mar. 22, 1866 Aug. 25, 1865

Bell.

Key West. Kansas. Fort Jackson. Nita.

Roebuck.

No

Orleans

Key West... ...do

Boston do

No proceeds New York... 4,616 48,090 28,033 11

Tahoma.

No proceeds. Getn

47 83 65 44 96 81 91 08 30

299,998 46

1804

7,

17, 1864 19, 1864 12, 1864 7,

....do ....do ...do

New

Union. Itasca.

Gulf squadron. Mar.

Mar. 29, Nov. 4, Mar. 25, 4,912 79 St. Augustine Mar. 28, 964 97 Key West. .. April 20,

46 20 2,678 45 91,539 61 30,226 99 48,400 91

Tahoma. Hunts ville. Sagamore.

Genesee.

,

M

74,473 2,662 47,081 1,017 3,013 2,303 233 203 2,972 121 992 370 662 412,072 160,853 1,445 514

1864 1866

19,

,

619 06 Key West .... 31.019 88 New Orleans. 2,280 74 ...do 73,439 60 Boston 863 New York 1,080 04 ...do 645 69 Washington.. 3,288 09 Key West .... 3,302 05 St. Augustine 64,986 60 Philadelphia

33.020 73 2,976 97

1804 1864 1864 1864 1864 1864

do

proceeds. Roebuck. Hibiscus. (Waiting for prize Aug.'sil.isoV Quaker City. Feb. 17, 1803 J. S. Chambers. Feb. 17, 1863 Tahoma. Jan. 12, 1863 Kanawha. Nov. 6, 1863 Santiago de Cuba.

Feb.

Key West

.

Oct.

.

.do Philadelphia

Feb.

Key West

Nov. Mar. Mar.

17, J863 7,

1863

17, 1863

Rhode

list.)

Island.

Wachusett and Sonoma. Mercedita.

Western World, Gem of the Sea, Yacht Hope, Albatross, Henry Anderson, and E. B, Hale.

1,210 91 442 38 66,096 98 5,968 90 28,414 21 88,371 93 19,708 39 4,291 31 3,792 47 408 02 4,180 31 712 52 726 34 3,369 91

New York Key West

...

..do ....do..

-

..do

New York ...do

17,

1864

29, 1863

Philadelphia. .do .do .do

X § II

IT

Beauregard. Kensington, Rachel Seaman.

Rhode

14, 1865 Oct. 16. 1862 Oct. 16, 1862 Oct. 7, 1863 Oct. 10, 1863 Nov. 25, 1862 Nov. 6, 1863

Arthur, Sachem.

Nov. Nov. Feb.

George Mangham. G. W. Blunt. Hunchback. Whitehead. Sacramento.

Washington.

$80.13 >i paid as salvage to Samuel Butler. Prize list of Genesee waiting, t $l,321.07)i paid to James Taylor for raising and repairing voaaoi vessel. -Decreed to West

Gulf squadron informal.

...

....do

Mar.

25. 1802 6,

29. 17,

1863 1864 1864

Island.

Huntsville, Brooklyn, Mercedita, Itasca. Santiago de Cuba.

De Soto. Montgomery. Portsmouth.

E. B. Hale.

Waitmg tor prize list of the Ttoanoke and Flag Waiting forprize list of the Jacob Bell. Waiting for six prize lists. Waitiner for nri^ft

linl;

nf t>in nan,./Y» ut„— „i,

OF THE 27anie.

Sch.

W.

Y. Leitoh

Bark Winnifred

Wave Sell. Winona Sch.

Str.

Sch.

or Alert

Warrior and cargo

Wonder

Sch. William Sch. Wm. A. Kain Sch. Wild Pigeon Str.

Wando

Steam-tug Young America, Str. Young Kepublic Sch. Zavalla Sch. Zulima

Gross proceeds.

$1,180 39,110 19,£00 93,281

69 96 89 25

29,276 67 3,627 85 2,463 32 23,909 32 188 71 415,690 83 13,600 00 422,341 99 4,126 14 2,480 61

Costs and Am'tfor distribution. expenses.

$403 66 6.244 96 1,905 46

CIVIL WAR.

843

ER RATA Pafff!

29 41 77 96 185 266

Column

'Commodore 26 37

Kigbt Left

"comiug,"

moving,

.!2

"armed

armored

11

"vesselB," "fire," " vessels,"

Right

940 3K4

Riglit

2

:il5

406 417 446

Left

Last 9

RiRht

SO 37

relate,

vessels,"

vessels. iron-clads. return.

Federals,

"vessel,"

iron-elad.

Lieutenant-Commander Greer's name before that Lieutenant-Commanding Mui-phy. despotism, "depotism," insert

"later," " Peninsuhir,"

latter.

"enemy," " cut of,"

Insert in list of " Keokuk's " offtcers the i)age 391.

of

Peninsula, Confederates. cut off.

For Dnpont. read DuPont, wherever it occurs. For Gilmore (Gen. Q. A.}, read Gilimore, wherever on

Jan. Aldcn.

we.

'I."

36

315

315

CommaiKler precipitate,

63 14 22 31

:t06

Jas. Allien,"

"pfecipitated," "restate,"

1

290

Read

For

Line

Left

name

it occurs. of Acting-Chief Engineer "Winanp,